Civil & Environmental Engineering

Program Chart (PDF)
Department Web Site

T. El-Korchi, Interim Head
Professors: T. El-Korchi, F. L. Hart, J. C. O’Shaughnessy, M. Ray
Associate Professors: L. D. Albano, J. Bergendahl, P. Jayachandran, R. Mallick, P. P. Mathisen, R. Pietroforte, J. Plummer, G. F. Salazar
Assistant Professor: M. Tao
Adjunct Faculty: J. Hall, L. Malloy
Emeritus Profesors: F. DeFalco, R. Fitzgerald

Mission Statement

The Civil Engineering program at WPI prepares graduates for careers in civil engineering, emphasizing professional practice, civic contributions, and leadership, sustained by active life-long learning. The curriculum combines project based learning environment with a broad background in the fundamental principles of civil engineering. Students have the flexibility to explore various civil engineering disciplines and career opportunities.

Program Educational Objectives

  1. A graduate should be able to apply the fundamental principles of mathematics, science, and civil engineering to analyze and design a component, process or system.
  2. A graduate should have the interpersonal and communication skills, an understanding of ethical responsibility, and a professional attitude necessary for a successful engineering career.
  3. A graduate should have the ability to engage in life-long learning.
  4. A graduate should have an appreciation for the interrelationships among basic knowledge, technology, and society.

Program Outcomes

  1. Preparation for engineering practice, including the technical, professional, and ethical components.
  2. Preparation for the future changes in civil engineering.
  3. A solid understanding of the basic principles of civil engineering
  4. An understanding of appropriate scientific concepts, and an ability to apply them to civil engineering.
  5. An understanding of the engineering design process and an ability to perform engineering design, which includes the multidisciplinary aspects of the engineering design process, the need for collaboration and communications skills, plus the importance of cost and time management.
  6. Demonstration of in-depth understanding of at least one specialty within civil engineering.
  7. Understanding of options for careers and further education, and the educational preparation necessary to pursue those options.
  8. Understanding of options for careers and further education, and the educational preparation necessary to pursue those options.
  9. An ability to learn independently.
  10. The broad education envisioned by the WPI Plan, and described by the Goal and Mission of WPI.
  11. An understanding of civil engineering profession in a societal and global context.

Program Distribution Requirements for the Civil Engineering Major

The normal period of undergraduate residency at WPI is 16 terms. In addition to the WPI requirements applicable to all students (see WPI Degree Requirements), students wishing to receive the ABETaccredited degree designated “Civil Engineering” must satisfy certain distribution units of study in the areas of mathematics, basic science, and engineering science and design as follows:

RequirementsMinimum Units
1. Mathematics and Basic Science (Notes 1,2).4
2. Engineering Science and Design (including the MQP) (Note 3,4,5,6).*6

Notes:

  1. Mathematics must include differential and integral calculus, differential equations, and probability and statistics.
  2. Must include at least one course in physics, two courses in chemistry, and one course in an additional science area.
  3. A minimum of 4 units of work must be within the Civil Engineering area. All CE courses including the MQP, ES 2503, ES 2800, and ES 3004 are acceptable within the Civil Engineering area.
  4. The curriculum must include at least one engineering science course outside the major discipline area. Courses acceptable to satisfy the requirement of outside-of-discipline course are those taught in other engineering departments. The course must be 2000-level or above and cannot include ES 2501, ES 2502, ES 2503, ES 2800, and ES 3004.
  5. All students are required to include an appropriate laboratory experience as part of their overall program. This experience can be met by the completion of two undergraduate CE lab courses, selected from among the following: CE 2020, CE 3024, CE 3026, CE 4046, CE 4054 and CE 4060. Alternately, an appropriate laboratory experience could also be accomplished by a student through careful planning of course, project and laboratory work and approval by petition through the Department Program Review Committee.
  6. Must include 1/3 unit of Capstone Design Experience.

Subareas of Civil Engineering

Structural and Geotechnical Engineering

The practice of structural engineering involves the analysis and design of buildings, bridges and other structures which are generally a part of all civil engineering systems. Geotechnical engineering encompasses a broad spectrum of interests including the design, analysis and construction of foundations for buildings and other structures, highway embankments, dams and waste containment facilities. It also considers tunnels, ground water development and engineering in the ocean environment.

An educational program leading to preparation for a career in structural and geotechnical engineering must necessarily include in-depth studies in the basic sciences, mechanics of materials, structural analysis, and design, computer applications, and engineering properties of construction materials. The important courses in this area are CE 2002, CE 3006, CE 3008, CE 3010, CE 3026, CE 3044, CE 4007, and CE 4046. Structures generally are a part of large engineering projects and systems. A valuable component of an engineering education involves the interface with other engineering areas. Knowledge of subject matter contained in CE 3020, CE 3050, CE 3059, and CE 3070 is useful for the structural or geotechnical engineer. Major Qualifying Projects in this field often focus primarily on either structural or geotechnical aspects, although many projects integrate the two areas, in addition to construction project management. Representative recent MQP topics include comparative building design and integration of design and construction.

Environmental Engineering

Environmental engineering is that branch of civil engineering involved with environmental quality control. The practicing environmental engineer is concerned with planning, design, construction, operation and regulation of water quality control systems related to water supply and treatment, and waste water collection and treatment. The environmental engineer is also concerned with solid waste management, public health, radiological health, and air pollution control. The Civil Engineering Department at WPI emphasizes water quality aspects of environmental engineering. Key courses of this subarea are CE 3004, CE 3059, CE 3060, CE 3061, CE 3062, CE 3074, and CE 4600. Further depth in this field can be obtained by taking CE 4060, CE 4061, and other appropriate courses in chemistry, biology and biotechnology, chemical engineering, and fluid mechanics. The student should attempt to obtain some social science background, particularly in economics and possibly in law. Other engineering areas will enhance the environmental component of large projects. Courses such as CE 3010, CE 3020, CE 3050 and CE 3070 will be helpful. Recent MQP topics have focused on multimedia contaminant transport, pollution prevention, water quality issues, biosolids, and environmental impact.

Transportation Engineering

Transportation engineering is concerned with finding solutions to transportation problems such as designing and constructing safe, stable and durable pavement to carry large volumes of traffic vehicles that will be used in the 21st century. The highway infrastructure system in the US plays an important role in the commerce, economic development and security of the nation. These systems are deteriorating at a fast pace because of age, heavy increase in use and loading and deferred maintenance. While the highway infrastructure systems needs to be enhanced and maintained in order to provide the mobility needs of the nation, improvements must also be safe, efficient and environmentally benign.

A comprehensive set of courses is offered for providing both basic and in-depth knowledge in transportation engineering. The principal emphasis of transportation engineering at WPI is on traffic engineering, highway design, highway and roadside safety, principles of drainage and construction materials and pavement management. Students can gain basic understanding from breadth courses and in-depth knowledge about specific topics by taking depth courses. Breadth courses in this area are CE 3050 and CE 3026. Depth courses are CE 3051 and CE 4054.

The transportation engineering sub-area offers a wide range of MQP topics, which involve practical application of design principles in solving real-world problems. Recent MQP topics include structural design of airport pavements, use of non destructive testing in pavement design and evaluation, design of durable asphalt pavement mixtures, a study of parking needs and options on the WPI campus, an analysis of traffic accidents in Worcester, an economic study of the pros and cons of having trees in highway medians and ride quality study.

Urban and Environmental Planning

The principal emphasis of urban design at WPI is the spatial arrangement of sites, neighborhoods, communities and regions, expressed through comprehensive site and development plans. These show the recommended uses of land such as residential, business, industrial, and recreational. The preservation of open space is also a major concern.

Key courses of this subarea are CE 3070, CE 3074, and CE 4071. Further depth in this field can be obtained by taking CE 4046 and selected graduate courses. An understanding of the other engineering areas will enhance the urban design area. Courses such as CE 3010, CE 3059, CE 2020, and CE 3026 will be helpful. Recent MQP topics include highway route selection, highway environmental impact, design of residential area and design of new towns, and GIS applications to planning.

Construction Engineering and Project Management

The civil engineering program in construction engineering and project management is directed to students whose interests lie in the design engineering process but who are also concerned with the problems in social science, management, business, labor and legal relations, and the interaction of governmental and private interests as they relate to major construction projects.

Because of the multidisciplinary nature of the program, students are encouraged to complete courses in management. Information and control systems are important to construction management, and competence in utilizing computers in these areas is expected. Students are encouraged to work with the profession through projects and other activities. Key courses in the area are CE 3006, CE 3008, CE 3020, CE 3021, CE 3022, CE 3023, CE 3024, and CE 3030. An understanding of other engineering areas will enhance a construction engineering and management program. Courses such as CE 3044, CE 3050, CE 4071, and CE 3059 will be helpful. Typical project topics include computers in construction, prefabricated buildings, rehabilitative construction strategies, scheduling of construction projects, cost evaluation of construction, and integration of design and construction.

Environmental Concentration

Coordinators: Profs. Bergendahl, Hart, Mathisen, O’Shaughnessy, and Plummer

Civil Engineering majors may choose to focus their studies by obtaining an Environmental concentration. An Environmental concentration in the CEE Department focuses on the planning, design, construction, operation and regulation of water quality control systems related to water supply and waste treatment. Additional areas of focus include hydrology, hydraulics, solid and hazardous waste management, waste minimization, public health and air pollution control.

Students electing to pursue the Environmental concentration follow a general curriculum in Civil Engineering, with emphasis on the environmental engineering sub-area. Such preparation leads to a degree recognized by the professional accrediting organization, ABET (Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology), and is an excellent start for entry-level professional placement or
graduate study in environmental engineering.

The Environmental concentration is earned by completing six courses from the following list (or alternate courses through petition) plus an MQP in the environmental area. Typical MQPs include the analysis and design of innovative wastewater, water and solid waste treatment systems, disinfection processes, water quality monitoring and control system designs, water resources systems and groundwater studies.

CE 3059 Environmental Engineering
CE 3060 Water Treatment
CE 3061 Wastewater Treatment
CE 3062 Hydraulics
CE 3070 Urban and Environmental Planning
CE 3074 Environmental Analysis
CE 4060 Environmental Engineering Laboratory
CE 4061 Hydrology
CE 4071 Land Use Development & Controls
CE 4600 Hazardous and Industrial Waste Management
CHE 3201 Kinetics and Reactor Design
CHE 3920 Air Quality Management

Master Builder Program

The Master Builder program has been designed to educate engineers with technical competency and management proficiency, able to effectively participate and play a leadership role in multi-disciplinary teams within the increasingly complex and demanding architectural/engineering/construction industry. These professionals are prepared to effectively integrate the planning, design construction and management of constructed facilities. They should be able to work for clients such as private developers and public agencies, traditional design, construction and facilities management firms as well as with integrated design-build firms.

Combined-Degree Program Five-Year Program

High school seniors can be admitted to the combined-degree Master Builder Program as freshman, allowing them to complete both a bachelors of science and master of engineering degree in civil and environmental in five years.

Graduate Internships and Co-Op Program

A unique graduate internship program is available, allowing students to gain important clinical experiences in a practical engineering and research environments. Students are able to earn income, alternating work and on-campus classroom and laboratory activities.

Projects

A great variety of projects are available to civil and environmental engineering students. Students should select project topics which are related to their subarea of emphasis. Project work is an extremely important part of civil engineering education, and the WPI Plan provides an excellent opportunity to strengthen this aspect of undergraduate education. Project activities are a combination of design, sponsored research, laboratory investigations, field work, and internship activities with governmental agencies and private industry. Students may become involved in project work at an early stage of the education program, and should have some Major Qualifying Project activity either under way or well in mind by the end of the junior year. The objectives of such work should include the development of the student’s ability to analyze comprehensive situations, consider alternative solutions, define key problems, pick out major variables, and estimate orders of magnitude for reaching decisions. A major objective is the development of sound judgment and skill, incorporating engineering economics and social factors into problem solving.

Each civil engineering student must complete a capstone design experience which draws on past course work, involves significant engineering design, and relates to the practice of civil engineering. Normally, this will be accomplished as part of the MQP. At the time of registration for the MQP, the project advisor will indicate whether this project will meet the capstone requirement. If not, the advisor will provide an additional 1/3 unit of capstone design (not MQP) work to meet the requirement. Alternatively, another MQP which meets the requirement could be selected.

Civil Engineering Area Consultants

Structural and Geotechnical Engineering
L. Albano
T. El-Korchi
P. Jayachandran
M. Tao

Environmental Engineering
J. Bergendahl
F. Hart
P. Mathisen
J. O’Shaughnessy
J. Plummer

Transportation and Urban Planning
T. El-Korchi
R. Mallick
M. Ray

Construction Engineering and Management
L. Albano
R. Pietroforte
G. Salazar

The civil engineering part of the program has requirements, although no unique courses are specifically required to complete the program. Nevertheless, certain courses normally are considered a part of a civil engineering education, unless a strong basis for deviation exists. Consultation with an advisor will help an individual to construct a program that both meets WPI and ABET requirements and also provides a breadth and professional training in areas of interest. To provide guidance in structuring a program, the following courses normally should be considered as a basic expectation for all civil engineering programs:

CE 1030 Fundamentals of Computers and Civil Engineering (Cat. I)
CE 2000 Analytical Mechanics I (Cat. I)
CE 2001 Analytical Mechanics II (Cat. I)
ES 3004 Fluid Mechanics (Cat. I)
CE 2020 Surveying (Cat. I)
CE 3041 Soil Mechanics (Cat. I)

The following courses should be considered as fundamental to most civil engineering programs:
CE 2002 Introduction to Analysis and Design (Cat. I)
CE 3026 Materials of Construction (Cat. I)
CE 3030 Fundamentals of Civil Engineering AutoCAD (Cat. I)

The courses listed below are designed to develop a professional base for more advanced work in the specialty areas, as well as to provide a terminal knowledge for students who wish to select areas of concentration in other disciplines. Student programs should include as many of these courses as possible to provide a breadth of understanding across the major civil engineering disciplines.

CE 3010 Structural Engineering (Cat. I)
CE 3020 Project Management (Cat. I)
CE 3059 Environmental Engineering (Cat. I)
CE 3070 Urban and Environmental Planning (Cat. I)

A cohesive program should include a selection of courses in the professional areas noted below. The student should incorporate courses in as many areas as practicable to develop a program that has both substance and breadth. Many of the courses have interactive applications in two or more engineering disciplines.

Construction Engineering and Management
CE 3021 Cost Estimating, Scheduling, and Cost Control (Cat. II)
CE 3022 Legal Aspects in Design and Construction (Cat. II)
CE 3023 Architectural Engineering Systems (Cat. I)
CE 3024 Control Surveying (Cat. II)

Environmental Engineering
CE 3060 Water Treatment (Cat. I)
CE 3061 Waste Water Treatment (Cat. I)
CE 3062 Hydraulics (Cat. I)
CE 4060 Environmental Engineering Lab (Cat. I)
CE 4061 Hydrology (Cat. II)
CE 4600 Hazardous and Industrial Waste Management (Cat. II)

Geotechnical Engineering
CE 3044 Foundation Engineering (Cat. II)
CE 4046 Experimental Soil Mechanics (Cat. II)

Structural Engineering
CE 3006 Design of Steel Structures (Cat. I)
CE 3008 Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures (Cat. I)
CE 4007 Matrix Analysis of Structures (Cat. I)
CE 4017 Prestressed Concrete Design (Cat. I)

Transportation and Planning
CE 3050 Introduction to Transportation Engineering (Cat. I)
CE 3051 Introduction to Pavement Materials Design and Management (Cat. I)
CE 3070 Urban and Environmental Planning (Cat. I)
CE 3074 Environmental Analysis (Cat. II)
CE 4054 Soil and Bituminous Materials Laboratory (Cat. I)
CE 4071 Land Use Development and Controls (Cat. I)

Maintained by webmaster@wpi.edu
Last modified: February 05, 2009 11:11:54