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Session 2615

Geo-environmental Engineering - An Integral Part of Civil Engineering Beena Sukumaran Rowan University

Abstract

All sophomore students at Rowan University are introduced to engineering design and experiments through a series of integrated lectures and laboratories. The class described in the following paragraphs, is one in a series of engineering clinics offered in the freshmen to senior years. Sophomore students are exposed to a variety of engineering principles, experimental methods, and design tools not typically encountered in the sophomore level. The objective is to introduce them to an incrementally progressive design experience. In this particular sophomore clinic, students were introduced to the basic principles governing the design and construction of a landfill. This design experiment focussed on introducing the EPA regulations governing the siting of landfills, the importance of soil identification, the soils that would be ideal for locating a landfill on, design and construction of a landfill and the various geosynthetics that are used in landfill construction. The introduction of a design course early on in the engineering curriculum enable students to get an idea of the complexities involved in the design and construction of an engineered facility. They also get an early introduction to geo-environmental courses.

Introduction

Rowan University is developing an innovative engineering curriculum that will produce engineers that are suited to meet the needs of a challenging workplace in the 21st century. The students develop their technical knowledge, communication skills, awareness of social implications, life long learning ability and ethical judgment. This breadth of skills is needed by graduates who will become effective leaders in areas such as infrastructure enhancement, and environmental preservation. To best meet these needs, the engineering curriculum at Rowan University emphasizes: (i) "hands-on" and team oriented education; (ii) inter and multi- disciplinary education; (iii) use and incorporation of state-of-the-art technologies; (iv) and improving technical communication skills. To achieve these objectives, the four engineering programs of Civil, Chemical, Mechanical and Chemical Engineering include a common engineering clinic throughout their eight semesters of study.

The Sophomore Engineering Clinic has laboratory and design components in at least two of the major engineering disciplines. In addition, the students are expected to improve their technical presentation skills. The semester long sophomore clinic course taught in the spring focussed on design of landfills and wastewater treatment. The module dealing with the design of landfills introduces basic engineering principles governing the design of an engineered facility. Even though it is traditional practice to introduce students to this topic in the senior year, this course was structured towards introducing sophomore students to design of an engineered structure.

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Sukumaran, B. (1998, June), Geo Environmental Engineering An Integral Part Of Civil Engineering Paper presented at 1998 Annual Conference, Seattle, Washington. 10.18260/1-2--7145