Conference Session

The Teacher as Manager: Best Practices for Culminating Design Experiences

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michelle Oswald Beiler P.E., Bucknell University; Arthur D. Kney, Lafayette College; David A. Veshosky, Lafayette College

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

AC 2012-3084: INTEGRATING THE CHARRETTE PROCESS INTO EN-GINEERING EDUCATION: A CASE STUDY ON A CIVIL ENGINEER-ING DESIGN CAPSTONE COURSEDr. Michelle Renee Oswald, Bucknell University Michelle Oswald, a LEED AP, is an Assistant Professor at Bucknell University in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Her focus is in sustainable transportation planning and sustainable engi- neering education. She completed her doctoral degree in civil engineering at the University of Delaware, along with a master’s of civil engineering degree, and a master;s of arts in urban affairs and public policy. She received a bachelor of science in civil and environmental engineering from Lafayette College.Dr. Arthur D. Kney

Conference Session

ABET: Reflections on Accreditation

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ryan Fries, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville; Sree Kalyani Lakkaraju, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville; Brad Cross, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville; Susan M. Morgan, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville; Andrea L. Welker, Villanova University

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

for Engineering Education, 2012 Survey of Civil Engineering Assessment Changes in Response to Revised ABET CE Program Criteria1. AbstractIn 2008, ABET, Inc. revised the “Program Criteria for Civil Engineering (CE)” included in theCriteria for Accrediting Engineering Programs to better reflect the Civil Engineering Body ofKnowledge for the 21st Century. CE faculty at Southern Illinois University Edwardsvilleconducted a nationwide survey during the summer of 2011 using the American Society of CivilEngineers‟ Department Heads Council list serve to determine if other CE Departments weremaking changes in their programs or assessment plans in response to the revised criteria. In theUS there are 224 accredited CE

Conference Session

Civil Engineering Poster Session

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Wei Zheng, Jackson State University; Huiru Shih P.E., Jackson State University; Gordon W Skelton, Jackson State University; Jianjun Yin, Jackson State University

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

a research subject andeducational practice in the context of Educational Psychology. It refers to active learning that isguided by motivation to learn, metacognition (awareness of one’s knowledge and beliefs), andstrategic action (planning, monitoring, and evaluating personal progress, and taking properaction). A wealth of research has supported that optimal academic performance is strongly tied tothe extent to which the learner uses SRL1. Equipping students with SRL abilities not onlycontributes to success in formal education, but also prepares them for lifelong learning2. Despitethe extensive research in the literature, SRL is still not well known and utilized by theengineering education community for facilitating student learning in

Conference Session

The Designer of 2020: Innovations in Teaching Design

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Matthew W. Roberts P.E., University of Wisconsin, Platteville; Michael K. Thompson, University of Wisconsin, Platteville; Philip J. Parker P.E., University of Wisconsin, Platteville; Barb A. Barnet, University of Wisconsin, Platteville

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

- Page 25.832.2riences1, but we do not distinguish between the two in this paper.course of the semester, the students performed five different evaluations of infrastructure com-ponents (e.g., pavements, bridges, etc.). These evaluations were intended to be simplified exer-cises modeled after the infrastructure assessments from the American Society of Civil Engineer’sReport Card for America’s Infrastructure.2BackgroundThe development of the I2I and I&S courses is the culmination of many years of effort by theDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Wisconsin—Platteville.In 2005, five faculty members from the department were awarded an NSF Department LevelReform (DLR) planning grant (EEC 0530506). The work carried

Conference Session

The Designer of 2020: Innovations in Teaching Design

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kevin G. Sutterer, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; Jennifer Mueller PE P.E., Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; Michael Robinson P.E., Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

thedepartment’s course lesson plans in the late 1980’s. Assessment of student learning aboutapplication of sustainable design principles became a specific criterion of the engineering impactstudent outcome in the department’s assessment plan in 2008.Results of student work assessment presented in the paper demonstrate that, although studentscould reflect thoughtfully on sustainability principles, they struggled to demonstrate rational,comprehensive application of these principles to the design process. The evidence suggested adifferent approach to learning sustainable design was needed. Dialogue with practitioners andindustry experts reminded the department that sustainable design is just “good engineering” thathas been present in the curriculum for

Conference Session

Reflections on the “Raise the Bar” Initiative (Part I) - Using a Decade of Experience to Chart the Future

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Monte L. Phillips P.E., American Society of Civil Engineers; Forrest M. Holly Jr. P.E., University of Iowa

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

assignments, and possible multipleemployments, the EI should maintain ownership and assume continuity of his or her efforts toachieve and document progressive experience in the first few years of their career.The EI should prepare and frequently update a written plan for demonstrating the attainment of Page 25.1331.7all experiential outcomes. The plan should be a dynamic document, periodically revisited andrevised as necessary, and reviewed with mentors and, as appropriate, with their licensingjurisdiction. The plan should ensure development of a portfolio that documents experience anddemonstrates achievement and validation of the experiential

Conference Session

Reflections on the “Raise the Bar” Initiative (Part I) - Using a Decade of Experience to Chart the Future

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Stephen J. Ressler, U.S. Military Academy

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

integrate Policy Statement 465 implementation into theSociety’s broader strategic planning process. At this important juncture, there is a critical needto document the achievements of the past, discern key lessons learned, and chart an appropriatecourse for the future.PurposeThe purposes of this paper are (1) to summarize the decade-long process of developing andimplementing new accreditation criteria in support of the ASCE Raise the Bar initiative; (2) toidentify the principal lessons learned through this process; and (3) to provide recommendationsfor future developments in the accreditation domain of this ongoing effort to raise theeducational standard for civil engineering professional practice

Conference Session

Android TA: Course Automation and the Fate of the Professor

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jason Allen Toth, U.S. Military Academy; Joseph P. Hanus, U.S. Military Academy

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

the course covers the skills of determining site layout and access,establishing site contours and drainage, installation of utilities, elementary surveying, creation ofsite models using advanced civil engineering software, and the development of environmentalimpact statements 22. The course textbook is the Dewberry Company’s Land DevelopmentHandbook, Third edition. The course is structured around the seven steps of land developmentoutlined by Dewberry: 1) feasibility and site analysis, 2) programming, 3) conceptual design,4) schematic design, 5) final design, 6) plans submission and permitting, and 7) construction23.Course content is taught using traditional classroom instruction, homework problems, exams,and a major engineer design project

Conference Session

Going Viral: Effective Instructional Techniques in an Online Environment

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Blair J. McDonald, University of Texas, Pan American

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

, developing one might be good…for the studentsand the program.SituationA Civil Engineering Program was recently introduced in a College with five other wellestablished and supportive engineering departments. The new program immediately experiencedunpredicted growth. After the first year the three new professors hired to operate the programfound themselves trying to advise 237 declared majors at the same time they were learning allthe ins and outs of a new campus and a new degree plan. The time for helping students “one onone” quickly disappeared. Not all of the 237 students were Rhodes Scholars, in fact, many haddeficiencies of some sort and some found ways to enroll in courses well above their academicability.A quick inventory of program resources

Conference Session

Expanding Access and Opportunities for M/30

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Terrence L. Chambers P.E., University of Louisiana, Lafayette

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

the debates on this issue it seems that the parties are talkingpast each other using specialized definitions and not really engaging each other in meaningfuldebate. As a result, the Raise the Bar Initiative is stalled and the planned implementation datehas been slipped from 2015 to 2020. This paper sets forth a comprehensive five-step plan toreconcile the competing interests in the Raise the Bar debate, proposing a politically feasible wayto close the industry exemption, retain the BS degree as the first professional degree, andsimultaneously restore 30 hours of engineering content subsequent to the BS degree and prior toregistration as a PE. The key to the proposal is to focus first on Raising the Bar for EngineeringInterns, after which

Conference Session

ABET: Reflections on Accreditation

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Karl F. Meyer, U.S. Military Academy; Allen C. Estes, California Polytechnic State University; Paul Francis Mlakar, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

the results of your assessment and tell the PEV where tolook for further information as required.6. Efficiently Collect and Present Examples of Student Work. During an ABET visit,perhaps the most daunting task a PEV must perform is examining documentation. Werecommend communicating with the PEV in advance of the visit and explaining the plan forpresentation of student work and course materials. If the PEV has specific needs, identify themearly and be prepared. With only about three hours available at most to review documentation,the PEV will need to focus on specific areas to answer questions raised during review of the selfstudy. We recommend the following as an efficient way to present documentation:  One notebook for each CE student

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Transportation and Geotechnical Engineering

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Yusuf A. Mehta, Rowan University; Leslie Ann McCarthy P.E., Villanova University

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

Design – AASHTO-Empirical 12 9, 10 and 11 Design AI Mechanistic-Empirical 13 9, 10 and 11 MEPDG software 14 Graduate Presentations Table 2 Undergraduate Course Outline at Villanova University Topic Design Theories Tools & Software Supporting ReadingIntro to Course and Land Land use, topography, roadway GoogleEarth; Census Chapter 4 pp. 183-189,Use Planning classifications ACS 198-206Travel Demand Planning Trip generation; planning Websites; Census ACS Chapter 4 pp. 206-214

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Transportation and Geotechnical Engineering

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rhonda K. Young, University of Wyoming; Kristen L. Sanford P.E., Lafayette College; Shashi S. Nambisan P.E., Iowa State University

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

. Page 25.349.1 c American Society for Engineering Education, 2012 Core Concepts and Learning Outcomes in an Introductory Transportation Engineering Course: An Evaluation of Pilot ImplementationsAbstractOver the last two and a half years, about 20 transportation engineering educators from 13different colleges and universities across the United States have been working collaboratively onan initiative to develop and implement a set of core concepts and learning outcomes for a typicalintroductory transportation engineering course. This group has developed knowledge tables forthe core concepts associated with traffic operations, transportation planning, geometric design

Conference Session

Reflections on the “Raise the Bar” Initiative (Part I) - Using a Decade of Experience to Chart the Future

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jeffrey S. Russell, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Thomas A. Lenox Ph.D., American Society of Civil Engineers

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

1998 whenannounced in the ASCE News in November 1998. The rationale and the plan for implementingthe new policy may not have been clearly articulated by the leadership of ASCE to its members.Subsequently the Task Committee for the First Professional Degree (TCFPD) was charged todevelop a vision of the full realization of the new ASCE Policy 465 – and a strategy forachieving this vision. The work of the TCFPD resulted in explicit guidance to ASCE to moveforward with the Raise the Bar initiative to include a recommendation for a refined ASCE Policy465:4 ASCE supports the concept of master's degree or equivalent as a prerequisite for licensure and the practice of civil engineering at a professional level.While ASCE’s TCFPD was working

Conference Session

Going Viral: Effective Instructional Techniques in an Online Environment

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Stephanie S. Ivey, University of Memphis; Rachel Margaret Best, University of Memphis; Charles V. Camp, University of Memphis; Paul J. Palazolo, University of Memphis

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

Transforming a Civil Engineering Curriculum Through GIS IntegrationIntroductionThe role of Civil Engineers is evolving beyond that of a technical professional with recognitionthat civil engineers play a critical role in the planning, management, and development of theinfrastructure of a community. One critical element of Civil Engineering, as demonstrated byrecent reports developed by the American Society of Civil Engineers and the National Academyof Engineering1, 2, 3, is the ability to visualize the impact that design decisions will have not onlyon the technical aspects but also on economic, social, environmental, and politicalconsequences. Geographic information systems (GIS) enable users to visualize some of

Conference Session

Reflections on the “Raise the Bar” Initiative (Part I) - Using a Decade of Experience to Chart the Future

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kenneth J. Fridley, University of Alabama; Kevin D. Hall, University of Arkansas; James K. Nelson Jr. P.E., University of Texas, Tyler

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

“writing within the curriculum” in 300- and 400-level courses, 9 hours of humanities, literature,and fine arts, 9 hours of history and social and behavioral sciences, and 12 hours of naturalscience and mathematics to include 2 hours of laboratory.The curriculum was designed to adhere to the constraints and have its graduates fulfill theoutcomes. One of the features of the new curricular design was creating a total of 18 semesterhours of senior “plan of study” electives the curriculum. Of the 18 hours, a minimum of 6 hoursmust be civil engineering “design-designated” electives and a maximum of 6 hours may be“professional practice” electives. The department maintains a listing of approved design-designated courses (which include a significant design

Conference Session

Going Viral: Effective Instructional Techniques in an Online Environment

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Norb Delatte, Cleveland State University

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

construction was superior to that used today, and some roads, bridges, and buildings two millennia old are still in use. Their mastery of concrete using natural volcanic cement made it possible to build strong bridge piers and harbor jetties under water16. One key source is the Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius17 which provides an overview of city planning and construction practices in the early Roman Empire.  Engineering in the new world (Maya, Inca, etc.) – recent discoveries relating to Mayan water supply systems show some of the extent of engineering development in the Americas. The extensive road networks of the Incas were roughly comparable to those of the Romans. In many

Conference Session

Reflections on the “Raise the Bar” Initiative (Part II) - Using a Decade of Experience to Chart the Future

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Stuart G. Walesh P.E., S. G. Walesh Consulting

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

aligned with anexplicit vision for the relevant organization and its stakeholders.Expect and Deal With Set BacksEngineers know how to plan—how to identify and link the steps needed to achieve an objective.Consistent with that tradition, Raise the Bar leaders developed a plan, part of which is shown inthe following figure, to develop the BOK and use it to achieve the ultimate objective which is toimplement ASCE Policy Statement 465 in 55 licensing jurisdictions. Page 25.1328.5 Example curricula Accreditation

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Transportation and Geotechnical Engineering

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

James L. Hanson, California Polytechnic State University; David J. Elton, Auburn University

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

highly prescribed timeline of project deliverables to keep thegroup interactions active and on schedule. The required deliverables ranged from quiteminor (e.g., documentation of confirmed planned meeting time for the group) to moresignificant (e.g., submission of draft report from one university to the other). A lessdetailed timeline was used for the first exercise in Fall 2011. The second interaction thatsame term reverted back to the highly prescribed timeline for collaboration, whichproduced more timely results.Team communications were monitored closely for evaluation of the project activities. Apublicly announced dedicated email account was established that was required to becopied for all email correspondence of the teams. This method

Conference Session

The Designer of 2020: Innovations in Teaching Design

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

James H. Hanson, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; John Aidoo, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

order the projects. Thefaculty then make team assignments based on student preference. The teams create three writtenreports and make three oral presentations to communicate their design (Table 1). Table 1. Primary deliverables from capstone design teams at RHIT Deliverable Week Due Key Content Proposal 4 Description of problem, client's goals, Proposal Presentation 6 and team's plan to achieve those goals. Progress Report 13 Progress to date: typically preliminary Progress Presentation 15 feasibility study, geotechnical investigation, description of options for

Conference Session

The Teacher as Manager: Best Practices for Culminating Design Experiences

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

James B Guthrie P.E., California Polytechnic State University; Allen C. Estes, California Polytechnic State University; Jill Nelson P.E., California Polytechnic State University; Brent Nuttall P.E., California Polytechnic State University

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

vision, space planning, and the integration/synthesis of building systems, a. Apply and balance real world constraints in the development of the building concept. b. Select and configure appropriate building systems based on the constraints and interdisciplinary criteria: (structural, mechanical, electrical, civil, exterior cladding). c. Use current industry-standard tools and technologies in the creation and presentation of a team generated design including verbal, graphic and digital presentations. Page 25.8.6

Conference Session

The Teacher as Manager: Best Practices for Culminating Design Experiences

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

William P. Manion, University of Maine; Judith A. Hakola, University of Maine

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

multiple buildings, including a community center; an improved traffic pattern; a water management plan. Our objectives include achieving LEED certification and a 50-year life expectancy. 4. To design a multipurpose athletic complex at Old Town High School, including an artificial turf field, a 400m track, 2500+ overall seating for spectators, a double-sided press box and an addition to the current parking lot. We used commercial prefabricated grandstands that met our specifications but designed all other elements of the project. 5. To design replacement pedestrian footbridge for the existing Peterbilt Bridge in Township 3 Indian Purchase near Millinocket, Maine. The project included researching applicable

Conference Session

Expanding Access and Opportunities for M/30

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Andrea L. Welker PE, Villanova University; Leslie Ann McCarthy P.E., Villanova University; John Komlos, Villanova University; Alfred Andrew Fry

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

) • an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice (ABET k, BOK 8)Educational OutcomesTwenty-six educational outcomes were developed based upon the ACRL standards3, 4. Theseoutcomes are divided up by what we expect a student to be able to do by year; however, some ofthe outcomes are assessed more than once.By the end of the sophomore year, the students should be able to:1. explore general information sources to increase familiarity with a topic2. identify key concepts and terms that describe the information need3. define a realistic overall plan and timeline to acquire the needed information4. read text, select main ideas, and restate textual concepts in their own words5. identify

Conference Session

Hey You: Effectively Engaging Students in the Classroom

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jeffrey A. Laman, Pennsylvania State University, University Park; Mary Lynn Brannon, Pennsylvania State University, University Park; Irene B. Mena, Pennsylvania State University, University Park

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

enrollment for students; 3) offerextended open-ended problems to promote development of creativity and innovation skills; and4) include writing within coursework to stimulate a broader world view. Evaluation of thisactive learning plan was completed through comparison of past quiz and exam performances.Four semesters of data are now available for comparison. In addition, it is expected that lessonslearned through this careful redesign and evaluation of CE441 will be directly translatable to thecapstone course that all students enrolled in CE441 take each spring. This capstone experienceoffers two open-ended structural engineering design problems that are solved by groups of threeor four students. Success and new findings from Fall 2011 CE441 will be

Conference Session

ABET: Reflections on Accreditation

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Kevin G. Sutterer, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; Michael Robinson P.E., Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; James H. Hanson, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology; Michael C. Reeves P.E., Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc.; Andrew B Twarek P.E., Ruby+Associates, Inc.

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

engineering community and as stewards of society, are primary program constituents.Many engineering programs make use of industry professionals to affirm program educationalobjectives and to provide input about general preparation of engineering graduates. For example,program industry advisory boards need to cyclically affirm overall program educational Page 25.230.3objectives and participate in program strategic planning, and sometimes teams of industryprofessionals participate in evaluation of student learning through capstone projects (Scales etal., 1998; Napper and Hales, 1999). These efforts are more “top level” reviews or evaluations ofthe

Conference Session

Expanding Access and Opportunities for M/30

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Brock E. Barry P.E., U.S. Military Academy; Scott M. Katalenich, U.S. Military Academy; Brad C. McCoy, U.S. Military Academy

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

attainment of a Body of Knowledge (BOK) as the minimumentry level achievement prior to the practice of civil engineering at the professional level. ThePolicy defines the term “professional level” as meaning the active participation in the practice ofcivil engineering as a licensed member of the engineering community.5 The BOK report, now inits second edition (BOK2), defines “practice” as a licensed professional engineer to include, butnot limited to, activities such as planning, design, investigation, teaching, applied research,management, public administration, and operation2. Although the list of “practice” related Page 25.1188.2activities may

Conference Session

Android TA: Course Automation and the Fate of the Professor

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Pil-Won On, University of Missouri, Columbia; Hani A. Salim, University of Missouri, Columbia

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

calculatedformula-based type of questions.ConclusionThe online course is currently being implemented in the Spring 2012 semester. It is planned toconduct the same survey that will be disseminated at the end of the semester. The responses willbe referenced to compare with the students’ experience from the face-to-face class in the Fall2011 semester and will also be considered for future improvement. One of the revisions currentlyin-progress based on the student feedback from the Fall 2011 semester that is not addressed in Page 25.1374.7this paper in detail is changing the setup in a weekly test. However, due to a limitation formodification on a proprietary

Conference Session

Innovations in Teaching Transportation and Geotechnical Engineering

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Susan Conrad, Portland State University; Timothy James Pfeiffer P.E., Foundation Engineering, Inc.; Tom Szymoniak, Portland State University

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

students for engineering practice, the importance of writing isoften emphasized. The need for improved writing skills is a regular finding in surveys ofemployers and graduates.1,2,3 Practicing engineers note the importance of communication skills,including writing, for advancing their careers.4 Accreditation criteria since 2000 have alsoreflected the importance of writing.Within civil engineering practice, writing takes on an even more important role than in manybranches of engineering. There is a vast array of writing behind any civil engineering project –qualifications proposals, cost proposals, scoping notes, technical memos, design reports, site visitreports, reports for regulatory agencies, e-mails among the team, plan sheet notes and

Conference Session

The Teacher as Manager: Best Practices for Culminating Design Experiences

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Tonya Lynn Nilsson P.E., Santa Clara University; Kevin D. Hall, University of Arkansas; Ronald W. Welch, University of Texas, Tyler

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

50%responding departments answered yes. Of 40% Percent Respondingthe two departments who responded no, 30%one plans to implement a capstone coursewithin one to two years. The other has no 20%plans to implement. 10

Conference Session

The Designer of 2020: Innovations in Teaching Design

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mikhail Gershfeld S.E., California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; Charles B. Chadwell, California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo; Sean P. Brophy, Purdue University, West Lafayette

Tagged Divisions

Civil Engineering

”. In2009, British Columbia adopted Wood First Initiative: Wood First Act (2009 LegislativeSession: 1st Session, 39th Parliament, 2009)[5]. This initiative requires that wood is consideredas the primary building material in all new publicly-funded buildings in accordance withapplicable building codes. This first step in Canada’s fascilitation of the wood use action plan isalso spilling into the United States. The Northwest states are debating similar initiatives and theState of Oregon attempted, although unsuccessfully, to adopt similar legislature in 2011.In February of 2008, the Wood Products Council (WPC), a cooperative venture of the majorwood associations in North America in partnership with research organizations and governmentagencies