Incorporation Of A Comprehensive Design Experience In The Integrated Engineering Project Design Model

The Civil Engineering program at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez aware of the ABET EC2000 educational objectives has developed a capstone course in which the students have the opportunity to address a real world problem with a real world engineering solution methodology. As part of this process, the students develop each year a unique integrated engineering project design experience incorporating also the sustainable design features in the development of a wide variety of projects including but not limited to commercial, industrial, residential, sport facilities, etc. In order to gave the students real projects, a partnership was also created between the CE program, the industry and government. Faculty and engineers from the industry, the Municipality of Mayagüez and other local companies along with government agency representatives had worked together directing students into this new learning experience. A summary of all the different activities the students have been involved are presented. The activities begins with the creation of the company, the feasibility analysis of the selected site for the proposed use, and the development of conceptual drawings, preliminary drawings, and final drawings, along with a cost estimate and specifications for the selected alternate solution. It must be pointed out that due to the limited amount of time, the level of construction drawings are limited to a complete set of plan drawings of the site plan, architectural, structural and transportation but without the level of detail and quality in the drawings. The mechanical, electrical and plumbing drawings are limited also to the site information. The specifications are also limited to the architectural, site and structural.