48310 Introduction to Civil Engineering

The objectives of this subject are: to ensure a general understanding of the role of the civil engineer in the provision of basic infrastructure necessary to support the development and maintenance of urban and rural settlement; to provide a sound foundation for further education in the processes of design, construction, operation and maintenance of community infrastructure; to provide an understanding of the need to consider the demands and expectations of the community, while having due regard for both the developed and fragile natural environment; to ensure an understanding of the need to develop the necessary individual and multidisciplinary skills in civil engineering project analysis and development; and to develop effective verbal and written communication skills.

Lecture content includes civil engineering and the environment, phases of civil engineering work, drawings and specifications, loads and deflection, uses and behaviour of construction material (concrete and steel), building dynamics, soils and civil engineering, soil retention structures, roads and traffic engineering and water engineering.

Field work and associated design exercise: two sessions (each of three hours' duration) of basic surveying and levelling in the field, followed by one three-hour session of design work involving catchment area calculation, stormwater run-off estimation, longitudinal section plotting, and pipe gradient design using basic formulae. This segment serves as an introduction to surveying, hydrology and urban stormwater management subjects.

Seminar presentation: two sessions (each of two hours' duration) for presentation of a short discussion paper on a civil engineering topic of individual choice. Use of audiovisual aids is encouraged.

Laboratory sessions: two sessions, each of one-and-a-half hours' duration, involving demonstration of water engineering and building dynamics.

Projects – Discovery: two formal sessions, each of three hours' duration, and supplementary work in group format to develop experimentation and understanding of the engineering process.

Site visit: all students must attend an all-day site visit of a civil engineering project or operational facility to gain an appreciation of the workplace. Practising civil engineers and other professionals accompany the students in outlining the necessary skills required to design and construct an engineering project or operational facility. Site visits may include inspection of the following facilities after construction: water treatment plant, wastewater treatment plant, water storage dam and associated power station. Site visits may also include the following during construction: arterial road (freeway/motorway), road bridge, transportation facility (light rail), commercial or industrial building, coastal engineering structure (coal loader or harbour structure).

Assessment: Typically assessment in this subject involves model construction and testing, presentation, class attendance and spaghetti bridge testing. The survey assignment involves: design, field day attendance, design analysis and final examination.

Typical availability

Autumn semester, City campus
Spring semester, City campus