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Session 2649

Developing a Course in Pavement Design and Management that Incorporates Recent Technologies and Meets Industry Demands

Maher M. Murad

University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

Abstract

The area of pavement design and management has seen important changes over the years that are the results of numerous federally funded research programs and changes in professional practices. Most road networks are largely in place, and the more urgent focus of various transportation agencies is on cost-effective ways of maintaining the existing networks. Consequently, pavement design and management has become a "hot" area of research and professional development.

A pilot project involving the development of a new technical elective that incorporates recent innovations in pavement design, management, and especially maintenance has been undertaken at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown (UPJ). The course offers an important career path for students and insights into current practices in an important field of transportation. Interested students who take the course may have an employment advantage, especially with State Departments of Transportation. At a higher level, the course aims to ensure that the Civil Engineering Technology (CET) program not only meets accreditation requirements, but also meets the demands of industry. The development of the course also keeps the instructor abreast of the profession and allows exploring research opportunities in this area.

The major steps followed in the development process included a literature review of recent articles and books dealing with aspects of pavement design and management, contacting government and private agencies regarding current technologies and professional practices, and designing exercises utilizing the latest standards employed in the industry for hands-on student training.

Background

The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown offers 4-year B.S. degree in Civil Engineering Technology (CET). The program has five areas of concentration: Construction, Environmental, Management, Structural/Foundation, and Transportation. The curriculum of at least one of the concentration areas must be completed in order for a student to graduate from the program. The current curriculum for students electing to concentrate on Transportation includes three required courses: Elementary Surveying, Civil Computations (computer applications of surveying), and Highway Surveying and Design. In addition, students focusing on transportation are expected take two more courses offered to students as technical electives: Transportation and Photogrammetry.

Proceedings of the 2003 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2003, American Society for Engineering Education

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Murad, M. (2003, June), Developing A Course In Pavement Design And Management That Incorporates Recent Technologies And Meets Industry Demands Paper presented at 2003 Annual Conference, Nashville, Tennessee. 10.18260/1-2--12070