Introduction to Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering Design

Edward S. Neumann earned his PhD in the Urban and Regional Planning program in the Department of Civil Engineering at Northwestern University, where he received a Resources for the Future Doctoral Fellowship. He served as Director of the Harley O. Staggers National Transportation Center at West Virginia University. He also served as Chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering for ten years, and as Director of the Transportation Research Center at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). A licensed civil engineer in Nevada, he is a recipient of the James Laurie Prize from the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Wayne T. Van Wagoner Award from the Institute of Transportation Engineers, and was named Outstanding Engineer in Government/Education by the Southern Nevada Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He has taught capstone design in civil engineering and introduction to engineering courses for over 42 years.   Jeffery J. Jensen earned his masters and bachelor degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Since 2000, Mr. Jensen has been teaching the following courses at UNLV: Introduction to Civil Engineering, Introduction to Surveying, CAD tools for Civil Engineering and GIS Applications for Civil Engineers. He received an Eisenhower Grants for Research Fellowship, ITE District 6 Fellowship and ESRI User Conference Student Assistantship. Mr. Jensen is a licensed secondary teacher and professional engineer (PE) in civil engineering within the State of Nevada.

Preface

About the Authors

Acknowledgments

1. Civil Engineering Infrastructure Systems

Historical Perspectives

The Infrastructure of Civilization

Civil Engineering as a Learned Profession

Design of Systems, Components, and Processes

Feasibility Assessment

Detailed Design

Construction Drawings

Goals that Guide Design

Performance

Safety

Health

Sustainability and Environmental Protection

Economic Efficiency

Acceptability to the Public

Conclusion

Summary

Key Terms

Exercises to Develop Design Skills

2. Sustainability and Design—Writing Skill Assessment

Introduction

Philosophical Perspectives

Sustainability Issues Related to Design

Methods for Assessing the Achievement of Sustainability Goals in a Design

Carbon Footprint

Life-cycle Analysis

Environmental Impact Assessment

Additional Considerations

Climate Change

Environmental Protection

The 3Rs

Sustainable Communities

Sustainability Strategies

Summary

Key Terms

Exercises to Develop Design Skills

3. Climate Change

Introduction

Measurement of Temperature Change and Carbon Dioxide Concentration

Factors that Influence Atmospheric Temperature and Climate

Modeling of Climate Change

Potential Consequences and Risks Associated with Climate Change

Implications for the Design of Civil Engineering Infrastructure Systems

Summary

Key Terms

Exercises To Develop Design Skills

4. Federal Laws and Acts

Introduction

The Federal Legislative Process

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

Clean Water Act (CWA)

Wetlands Portion of Clean Water Act (Section 404)

Executive Order 11988—Floodplain Management

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

Clean Air Act (CAA)

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)

The Surface Transportation Bill

Summary

Key Terms

Exercises to Develop Design Skills

5. The Phases of Design

Introduction

A Framework for Organizing Civil Engineering Design

Critical Thinking

Phases of the Design Process

Needs Assessment and Problem Definition—Phase 1

Establishment of Design Goals—Phase 2

Generation of Alternative Solutions—Phase 3

Evaluation of Alternative Solutions—Phase 4

Selection of a Solution and Recommendations—Phase 5

Verbal and Graphic Communications—Phase 6

Implementation of the Solution—Phase 7

Project Management, Communications, and Teamwork

Summary

Key Terms

Exercises to Develop Design Skills

6. Needs Assessment and Problem Definition—Report 1

Introduction

What Basic Needs Will a Design Meet

What Physical Design Characteristics Should be Examined

What Opportunities and Challenges Does the Site Offer

Who are the Gainers and Losers

What are the Political Realities

Clients, Constituents, and Project Approval

Public Agencies and the Private Sector

Public-Private Partnerships

Non-Profit Groups

Techniques to Assist With Problem Definition

Principles of Problem Definition

Methods for Defining Problems

Conclusions

Summary

Key Terms

Exercises to Develop Design Skills

7. Establishment of Design Goals—Report 2

Introduction

Writing Goal Statements

Characteristics of Design Goals

Quantifiable

Independence

Generality

Hierarchical

Categories of General Design Goals

Performance Goals

Safety Goals

Health Goals

Sustainability and Environmental Protection Goals

Economic Efficiency Goals

Public Acceptability Goals

Design Codes and Standards

Ranking and Weighting of Goals

Summary

Key Terms

Exercises to Develop Design Skills

8. Synthesis and the Generation of Alternatives—Report 3

Introduction

Breaking the Design Problem Down into Components or Sub-Problems

Techniques to Assist with the Generation of Solutions

Providing Evidence that Design Goals are Being Met

Summary

Key Terms

Exercises to Develop Design Skills

9. The Evaluation of Alternative Solutions—Report 3

Introduction

Goals Matrix

Computing Decision Scores

Trade-Off Analysis

Summary

Key Terms

Exercises to Develop Design Skills

10. Development of Site Maps and Data Bases

Introduction

Step 1—Downloading Usgs Dems for the Base Map

Step 2—Importing Dems into Esri Arcmap

Step 3—Mosaicking Dems Using Esri Spatial Analyst Extension

Step 4—Clipping Dems to Depict Project Boundary

Step 5—Smoothing the Raster Image

Step 6—Creating Contours Using Esri Spatial Analyst Extension

Option A: Convert Z Unit from Meters to Feet

Option B: Z Factor Conversion from Meters to Feet

Step 7—Selecting Styles/Symbolization of Major and Minor Contours

Step 8—Attaching Contour Labels

Step 9—Exporting Contours to KML

Step 10—Viewing Contours in Google Earth

Summary of Steps

Software Licenses

Conclusion

Summary

Key Terms

Exercises to Develop Design Skills

11. Site Evaluation and Use of Contour Lines

Introduction

Site Characteristics of Importance

Location and Boundaries

Land uses Surrounding the Site

Previous and Current Uses

Topography and Morphology of the Site

Drainage Patterns and Floodplains

Geotechnical Features

Environmental Resources

Existing Utilities

Historic and Cultural Features

Summary

Key Terms

Exercises to Develop Design Skills

12. Abstraction and Modeling

Introduction

Iconic Models

Analog Models

Symbolic Models

Modeling Software

Theories, Laws, and Empirical Relationships

Summary

Key Terms

Exercises to Develop Design Skills

13. Licensure, Ethics, Liability

Introduction

Safety

Licensure

The Code of Ethics

NSPE Code of Ethics

ASCE Code of Ethics

Legally Binding Design Codes

Contract Law

Tort Law

Summary

Key Terms

Exercises to Develop Design Skills

Appendix A—NSPE Code of Ethics for Professional Engineers

Appendix B—ASCE Code of Ethics for Civil Engineers

14. Team Management, Communications, and Leadership

Introduction

Planning

Organizing

Directing and Communications

Controlling

Keys to Effective Teamwork

Summary

Key Terms

Exercises to Develop Management and Leadership Skills

15. Undergraduate and Graduate Curricula and Programs

Introduction

Accreditation of Undergraduate Programs

Required Courses and Elective Courses

Cad

Capstone Design

Undergraduate Extracurricular Opportunities

The Graduate Degree Program

Other Post-Graduate Program Options

Summary

Key Terms

Exercises to Enhance Preparation for Life-Long Learning

Appendix A: Writing Assignment to Assess Writing Skills—Designing to Achieve Sustainability

Appendix B: Rubric for Team Report 1—Problem Definition

Appendix C: Rubric for Team Report 2—Design Goals and Constraints

Appendix D: Rubric for Team Report 3—Design

Alternatives and Evaluation

References

Index