Collection

2009 Northeast Section Meeting

Authors

Michael Casey

and interpret the resulting data,” theprogram outcome (k) suggests that computing skills and knowledge be indexed to the needs ofindustry. Defining the current computing skills and knowledge needed in modern civilengineering practice has been the goal of numerous studies, which are described below.Abudayyeh et al.1 presented results of surveys conducted by the ASCE Technical Council ofComputing and Information Technology Committee to assess the current computing componentof civil engineering curricula. Data from the 2002 survey as well as past surveys from 1995,1989, and 1986 were discussed. The surveys requested practitioners and educators to commenton the relative importance of specific computing applications and skills. Table 1

Collection

2009 Northeast Section Meeting

Authors

Neville Jacobs

kept the cost down by buildingmost of it from very basic materials, such as piecesof wood, threaded rods, paper clips, cheap motorsand brass fasteners. Two years later thedocumentation was finished, and it was ready to betried out. Figure 1 2-LegRobot Figure 1 shows a finished operational 2-leg robot. Surprisingly, though all robots are builtusing the same manuals, this finished robot will be different to any other 2-leg robot in the competition,and will behave differently as well (details later). Over the years, the design has beenimproved and expanded, such that a team orteacher seeking more challenge can go beyond the2-leg robot, and build a

Collection

2009 Northeast Section Meeting

Authors

Scott C. Pender; Andrew J. Foote

from countries like China and India. To introduce that concept, Figure 1 will show the beginning of the study. To show one ofthe many interesting features that the table shows is that there are less people in manufacturingwith more skill. The table clearly indicated a decrease in what the government labels asmanufacturing. What the tables do not indicate is the growth in the services and tech sector. Alsoleft out is the fact that manufacturing employees though fewer are being paid 30% more thanthey were just ten years ago. So, we cannot necessarily take these tables to show merely theimmense decline in manufacturing numbers but also the staggering increase in efficiency as well. Throughout the second chapter we take a close look

Collection

2009 Northeast Section Meeting

Authors

Philip L. Brach; Ahmet Zeytinci

was that it could easily be modeledin the classroom with minimal equipment. The only piece of scientific instrumentation necessarywas a sound meter, which can be purchased for under $50 or slightly more for a more precisemodel. However, this is not necessary since the study of the effectiveness of a barrier dependsonly on relative sound levels. Figure 1 shows a schematic of the test set-up. Figure 1 experimental Set-UpAny random noise generator may be used to simulate the road noise but a simple AM/FM radiowill serve very well. Setting the radio to a frequency with static only provides adequatesimulation of vehicle sound. We constructed sound barriers using common materials such asbrick, cardboard, foam, cork

Collection

2009 Northeast Section Meeting

Authors

Luanna S. Gomez

difficultieswith rigid body dynamics among science and engineering students and among teachers expectedto teach the topic of balancing to precollege students. In 1995, we began to examine student performance in solving the types of mechanicsproblems assigned in the introductory calculus-based physics course. We hoped to developtutorials that would help students learn how to solve such problems, especially those that requiremore than rote application of memorized algorithms. In 1996, the Physics Education Group wasconsulted by faculty in the College of Engineering about ways in which they could improveinstruction in the sophomore engineering mechanics courses.1 We volunteered to advise them onthe development of supplementary instructional materials