Month: January 2020

Professional Practice and Design Students Developing Solutions for Local Issues

January 31, 2020

As students approach graduation, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering offers a unique experience to prepare students to enter the work force. Through the 4910 course, students are given the opportunity to solve real world issues in the local community. For Spring 2019, two sections of 4910 are working on two separate issues in Salt Lake City area.

Dr. Steve Burian, Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is leading students in a Water and Environmental Engineering project with the City Creek Water Treatments Facility. Dr. Burian's class is working to develop an idea and preliminary engineering design of a water supply solution to maximize the yield of City Creek as a water supply source for Salt Lake City. Students are provided engineering and global objectives for them to meet as they work on solutions for the project.

Dr. Doug Schmucker, Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is leading students in a Civil Engineering project, working to develop concepts and preliminary engineering design of a replacement bridge at 200 S over the Jordan River in Salt Lake City.  Dr. Schmucker noted some items the students will need to consider as they move forward. “The bridge’s location adjacent to the historic Albert Fisher Mansion and Carriage House adds important architectural, heritage, and destination criteria to the replacement the project.  The recently completed Jordan River Parkway Trail must also be accommodated in the design as are fairly difficult demands from adjacent water infrastructure.”

Previous projects presented by students have been implemented to resolve issue identified in the community. This experience provides students a taste of the real world because they are working with industry professionals and solving relevant issues. Not only does this give students real world work experience, but they are also helping the community.

 

Keep checking in with us, will provide updates on the progress of the projects through the semester.

ASCE Civil and Construction Career Expo a Major Success

January 28, 2020

More than two dozen companies attended the Civil and Construction Engineering Career Expo on January 22, 2020 at the University of Utah. Students from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering were invited to meet with potential employers.

With graduation around the corner, Civil Engineering students are eager to start their career in the industry, just as companies are ready to hire recent college graduates. Civil Engineers are in high demand due to the rapidly growing industry. The need for Civil Engineers through 2026 is predicted to grow by 11% throughout the nation. 60% of the University of Utah’s Civil Engineering students graduated with job offers in Spring 2019

Career fairs provide a convenient and purposeful networking opportunity for both students and professionals.

CvEEN Working with Salt Lake City Engineering Office to Engage Future Engineers

January 22, 2020

In collaboration with the Salt Lake City Engineering Office, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is coordinating outreach efforts to inspire future engineers. The Salt Lake City Engineering Office recently purchased a DVD copy of Dream Big: Engineering our World for every elementary school in the Salt Lake City School District.

“It is a really exciting and expansive activity,” said Jennifer Weidhaas, Associated Professor for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. “Over the current academic year, we will visit 30 elementary schools and interact with more than 60 5th grade classes. Our hands-on demonstration is really fun for the students and ties in the Dream Big movie and the Utah Core Standards in earth science. Students and teachers really enjoy the visits.”

Having pre-watched the Dream Big video, the in class visit by the Salt Lake City engineers, faculty and students of the Department of Civil and Environmental focus on elementary students designing and building towers out of modeling clay and coffee stirring sticks. The students are challenged to build the tallest or largest volume building that can withstand a shake table earthquake test.

“One of the goals of the SLC Engineering Office in purchasing the movie was to expose elementary students to the possibilities in engineering. They are also looking to encourage minorities and females to consider pursuing opportunities in this exciting and rewarding career field,” noted Weidhaas.