Project Summary

The goal of this project is to develop a model instructional program, using Structural Engineering and Structural Health Monitoring as a test bed, that can be used to educate civil and environmental engineering (CEE) students in the fundamental principles and technology of field monitoring and measurements (FMM) and to utilize monitoring technologies and FMM data to evaluate performance and behavior, analyze problems and design CEE systems. This goal will be achieved by: (1) developing and implementing a modular-based transportable Structural Engineering FMM Instructional Unit for CEE students in a manner that enhances the students’ achievement of the traditional expected learning outcomes for the two affected courses and (2) developing a community of scholars that has an interest in and will contribute to the further development of FMM instructional materials.

As proposed, a Structural Engineering FMM Instructional Unit will be developed to consist of 1) educational modules that will help students develop knowledge, comprehension, and an ability to apply the use of FMM systems and data and 2) assignment modules that will require their use in higher order analysis and design problems in Structural Engineering; the chosen CEE subdiscipline because of team expertise and access to FMM data. The education modules will encompass fundamental concepts applicable to FMM data and applications across all fields of CEE as well as to structural engineering specifically. The assignment modules will be specific to structural engineering. These modules will be introduced into the curriculum in a vertically integrated fashion through an existing required structural analysis and reinforced concrete design two-course sequence at both Louisiana State University (LSU) and University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL-Lafayette). The implementation of the FMM content is designed to have a minimal impact on the current content of the courses. Considering the gain that can be achieved in student competency in an area of increasing importance and use, as indicted by the results of national and local surveys of CEE professionals conducted by the investigators, the trade-off seems reasonable.

In collaboration with the Louisiana Transportation Research Center (LTRC), several active structural engineering field monitoring sites with real time data acquisition systems have been identified. These sites provide accessibility to the monitoring data through on-line systems. Problem-based assignment modules will be developed for these field monitoring installations. A Professional Advisory Panel of local and national FMM experts will aid in the identification of topics for and vetting of the education and assignment modules. An External Evaluator will be used to direct the evaluation plan. The project builds upon the results of a preliminary study that encompassed courses in reinforced concrete design, shallow foundation design, and water quality analysis. The results of this study clearly demonstrated the viability of introducing FMM education within the existing curricula framework.

Intellectual Merit. The challenge of the project is to achieve the stated expected learning outcomes by developing and implementing a set of education and assignment modules (i.e., collectively termed a Structural Engineering FMM Instructional Unit) into two required structural engineering courses in a synchronous and asynchronous manner. The instructional materials will be developed and presented in a manner that will enhance the potential for their transportability to and adoption by other institutions. Quality Control and Quality Assurance of the instructional materials will be achieved through close coordination between the investigators, the Advisory Panel, and the External Evaluator aided by the results of a formative evaluation of the Prototype Structural Engineering FMM Instructional Unit and a summative evaluation of a Revised Structural Engineering FMM Instructional Unit over a two academic year cycle at both LSU and UL-Lafayette. During the second year of the project, the Unit will be introduced and assessed at four diverse partner institutions. The project collaborators at the partner institutions will be used in an advisory capacity throughout the development and implementation stages of the project. The results of this project will serve to establish an instructional model upon which subsequent sub discipline instructional units in environmental, geotechnical, transportation, and water resources can be developed.

Broader Impacts. Since this project addresses what is judged to be a national need, two activities will be given significant attention: 1) as noted above, developing and implementing the instructional materials in a manner that maximizes their potential for adoption at other institutions and 2) building a community of interested and contributing scholars. The latter effort will encompass targeted proactive activities at the State, Regional, and National levels. The on-line assignment and case histories libraries developed by this project can be expanded by contributions from professionals nationally. Further it is recognized that the instructional materials can also be used for professional workforce development purposes through various avenues, including the American Society of Civil Engineers and state departments of transportation.