CCE 102: Sustainable Infrastructure

Preface

This book consists of course notes and homework assignments for Civil and Construction Engineering 102: Sustainable Infrastructure at Brigham Young University.

The primary focus of this course is to help you develop an informed awareness of sustainability, a multifaceted issue confronting all human societies. We will explore how different cultures view and approach this problem, and how infrastructure and policy solutions to sustainability challenges may differ across cultures. It is likely that the best solutions to sustainability challenges will vary across cultures, and respecting diversity in backgrounds and cultures will benefit all of humanity as we seek for and implement these solutions.

This is a primarily discussion-based course, with the instructor modeling respect for cultural viewpoints while at the same time challenging students to confront and develop their own perspectives, values, and responsibilities towards social, environmental, economic, and global issues in infrastructure and society.

The learning outcomes for the course are:

1. Infrastructure and Society Describe how civil infrastructure and the built environment can foster (or inhibit) a sustainable society, including efforts to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
2. Project Decision Frameworks Apply decision frameworks to evaluate projects from a life-cycle perspective, considering trade-offs and impacts of the built environment on society and the natural world.
3. Engineering Economics Apply the principle of time value of money to identify financially sustainable infrastructure investment decisions.
4. Ethical Stewardship Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts. (CE / ABET Student Outcome 4)
5. Teamwork Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives. (CE / ABET Student Outcome 5)

These learning outcomes map onto the Foundation Document Learning Outcomes for Global and Cultural Awareness in the following ways:

1. Students will acquire informed awareness of the interplay of multiple cultures, languages, and nations as we explore built environment and infrastructure solutions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
2. Students will engage in thoughtful reflection of that awareness in a structured, guided manner under the direction of a faculty member, as evidenced by student written assignments comparing stakeholder reactions to infrastructure projects in different cultures.
3. Students will develop greater empathy and charity as they gain a broader perspective on sustainability and development issues and learn to see themselves from another’s point of view by considering the objectives of various cultures in infrastructure development.

Students will reflect on these issues through personal essay assignments. Additionally, students will participate in class, group, and online discussions, complete quantitative homework assignments, and complete a group project case study.