Lawrence Technological University

What value does a real-world project bring to students?

Real-world projects bring realistic constraints and unique challenges based on local agency requirements. They also researched on societal, cultural, and economic requirements in designing projects. The students have to research on local agency codes and design requirements when designing real-world projects. Students will gain experience in working with other team members in different civil engineering subdisciplines to design a complete project incorporating all the requirements of the project including structural, geotechnical, water resources, transportation, and construction.

How do you decide which projects to work on?

Generally, student teams select projects based on their preferences. This student team was interested on working on a real-world project. They got to know about this project from an ASCE student chapter presentation by a project planning team.

How did this project prepare students for professional practice?

The student team members researched the local agency requirements for their design. This aspect is different from normal classroom learning activities since each local agency has their own guidelines for designing different infrastructure facilities. This experience alone provides valuable experience to students for their professional practice. The team was also collaborating with practicing engineers to gain experience in how certain design tasks are practiced in the professional practice environment.

What advice do you have for other programs wanting to add similar collaborative projects to their curriculum?

The collaborative nature of this project provides students with unique skill sets required for professional practice. Collaboration with their team members, faculty advisors, and practicing engineers will be a valuable experience for their professional practice in the future.

What did you like best about participating in this project?

My favorite thing about participating in this project was seeing how all the civil engineering disciplines connect and come together to create one cohesive project.

What did you learn?

I learned how society, culture, the economy, and the environment influence projects and that projects have an impact on those factors as well.

How did the participation of professional engineers improve the experience?

The participation of professional engineers helped the team make connections between what we learned in classes and what is practical in the industry. It also helped us think critically about real life situations and how the best solution can be determined.

What do you think the engineers learned from working with students on this project?

I think engineers were able to see a new perspective and learn how students approach different situations.

Why did you get involved with the project?

I am always happy to provide a practicing engineer’s perspective on viable/creative engineering solutions to get from concept to completion. I also really enjoy working with students who have a passion for civil engineering.  This reinforces why I chose this profession and how I can help mentor the next generation of civil engineers.

How did you assist the students in the project?

I was able to provide critical feedback during presentations and small group sessions on the engineering challenges and potential practical, real-world solutions during the project. Specifically, I enjoyed working with the geotechnical-focused student on the soil challenges within the site, pushing him to use geotechnical engineering and construction principles to provide cost-effective construction solutions.

What did you learn from working with the students?

I learned that these students’ future employers will have the opportunity to mentor and train some very talented young engineers! In addition, the collaboration required to pull off an engineering project of this magnitude requires a commitment to each other and open/frank communication, which I can use as a model within my firm for project collaboration.

What did you want students to learn from working with you?

The appropriate engineering solution may not always be the first idea or the most common approach. Engineering solutions are often born out of initial failure or a trial and error approach during design, which can result often in engineering innovation and a cost-effective, practical solution.