Graduate Courses In Engineering Research Articles

Use of Web‐Based Tools to Enhance Collaborative Learning

AbstractThis paper reports on the implementation of a collaborative learning environment in a graduate course in construction engineering and management at the Department of Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering at the University at Buffalo. This course, which was restructured in 1998, follows a model that could be called “Web‐plus” because it takes advantage of Web‐centric technologies plus other value‐added activities such as studio classes, student's presentations, teamwork, and peer‐evaluations to generate a collaborative learning environment following a holistic approach. The paper examines the concept of collaborative learning and how it can be applied in an engineering setting. The pedagogical motivations and cognitive goals behind the implementation of this Web‐centric educational model are also explored. A detailed course description is presented including an explanation of MAESTRO, a software tutorial application, a review of the use of virtual portfolios and student‐based assessment during formative evaluations. The paper also summarizes the lessons learned from the implementation of this Web‐centric educational model.

Teaching desalination

Desalination is a multi-disciplinary engineering science that includes elements of heat, mass, and momentum transfer; thermodynamics; unit operations design; material engineering; energy conversion; water chemistry; corrosion; scale formation and fouling. This paper outlines desalination teaching through four main venues, which includes undergraduate engineering courses, graduate engineering courses, intensive training courses for engineers, and desalination research. The undergraduate and graduate engineering courses are taught as an elective component in the chemical/mechanical engineering curriculum. The contents of the undergraduate course provides the student with an overview of the desalination processes and elements of design, while the graduate course focuses on more detailed design calculations, process synthesis, process control, case studies, and use of computer packages for system design. The intensive training course for engineers includes introductory and advanced levels of instruction. The introductory training course includes historical background, process diagrams of thermal and membrane desalination processes, elements of design, performance parameters, associated processes, practice, and trends. The focus of the advanced training course is on the use of computer packages for system design, evaluation of real plant data, and cost estimation. The research program, which is part of the desalination education process, includes mathematical and experimental investigations that include system modeling, process control, study of fundamental phenomena, energy considerations, process synthesis, and use of new construction materials and chemicals.

Teaching Undergraduate Mechanics via Distance Learning: A New Experience

AbstractThe use of distance learning via televised instruction in engineering education dates back to the late 1960's when several universities, including Stanford, began offering engineering graduate courses through this medium. Graduate courses are often relatively small in enrollment, are offered to mature learners, and are generally less sensitive to technical difficulties. Undergraduate education, especially at the sophomore level, is vastly different in this regard. The students are less mature and in many cases have had no introduction to engineering. However, recent technological developments have provided universities with tools to consider undergraduate distance learning seriously. This paper describes the experiences of teaching Statics, the first mechanics course, to two classrooms in the same university simultaneously without a television to view the instructor. This is the first time this has been attempted in the State of Louisiana. The description of the media, the delivery system as well as assessment and outcomes based on statistical analysis of data collected are presented and analyzed in this paper.

Experiments with distance learning in software engineering graduate courses

This article reports on our experience to date with these two distance graduate courses in software engineering. We experimented with several technological tools to facilitate computer mediated communication: WebCT, electronic mail, a list server, and NetMeeting. We briefly discuss the methods used to evaluate the distance learning environments experienced by the graduate students, and make recommendations for future research and educational practice in distance learning environments.

A new qualitative metric for assessing advanced graduate courses in computer engineering and science

Presents a philosophy underlying the design of a few advanced and graduate courses at ASU in the subdisciplines of HDLs, communications networks, computer-aided design of digital systems, distributed systems, distributed algorithms, and modeling and simulation. The philosophy has given rise to a new metric-the extent and significance of the knowledge discovered by the students, towards evaluating the quality of such courses. Discovery refers to the knowledge that is brought out into the open by the student for himself/herself, and it is significant in that it becomes an integral part of the individual who not only gains invaluable insight and confidence in the subject matter but can improvise, reason, and apply it to other areas in creative ways. The article illustrates the application of the metric through a number of actual cases encountered during teaching at ASU.

The Zeus Mission Study — An application of automated collaborative design

The purpose of the Zeus Mission Study was threefold. As an element of a graduate course in spacecraft system engineering, its purpose was primarily educational — to allow the students to apply their knowledge in a real mission study. The second purpose was to investigate the feasibility of applying advanced technology (the power antenna and solar electric propulsion concepts) to a challenging mission. Finally, the study allowed evaluation of the benefits of using quality-oriented techniques (Quality Function Deployment (QFD) and Taguchi Methods) for a mission study. To encourage innovation, several constraints were placed on the study from the onset. While the primary goal was to place at least one lander on Europa, the additional constraint of no nuclear power sources posed an additional challenge, particularly when coupled with the mass constraints imposed by using a Delta II class launch vehicle. In spite of these limitations, the team was able to develop a mission and spacecraft design capable of carrying three simple, lightweight, yet capable landers. The science return will more than adequately meet the science goals established QFD was used to determine the optimal choice of instrumentation. The lander design was selected from several competing lander concepts, including rovers. The carrier design was largely dictated by the needs of the propulsion system required to support the mission, although the development of a Project Trades Model (PTM) in software allowed for rapid recalculation of key system parameters as changes were made. Finally, Taguchi Methods (Design of Experiments) were used in conjunction with the PTM allowing for some limited optimization of design features.

Teaching boundary element methods in acoustics

The boundary element method (BEM) provides a powerful tool for the numerical solution of sound fields, because (1) it maps the domain equation on the boundary and thus reduces the problem dimension by one, (2) it provides a nonreflecting boundary on an arbitrary radiating surface, and (3) pressure, velocity, and intensity can be calculated at every field point from the boundary data. The author’s concept of teaching BEM in a graduate engineering course is to provide a link with subjects taught in undergraduate engineering mechanics such as rod vibrations, reciprocity principle, influence functions, and finite elements (FE). These subjects are generalized to the field equations of acoustics and elastodynamics. The associated integral equations are derived from the dynamic reciprocity principle. Their kernels are fundamental solutions which turn out to be influence functions of a full space. Boundary formulations of rods and beams recall well-known FE matrices. The fluid–structure interaction of interior and exterior acoustics is formulated by adopting the unsymmetric allocation approach of BEM and a symmetric hybrid BEM which is based on a multifield varational principle. Waves and vibrations in a flexible pipe and the sound radiation from a vibrating tire are treated as examples.

Computational Intelligence for Optimization

The field of optimization is interdisciplinary in nature, and has made a significant impact on many areas of technology. As a result, optimization is an indispensable tool for many practitioners in various fields. Conventional optimization techniques are well established and widely published in many excellent textbooks. However, there are new techniques, such as simulated annealing, mean field theory, and genetic algorithms, which have proven to be effective in solving global optimization problems. Computational Intelligence for Optimization is intended as a technical description of the state-of-the-art developments in advanced optimization techniques, specifically simulated annealing, mean field theory, and genetic algorithms, with emphasis on mathematical theory, implementation, and practical applications. Most of the theories covered in this work and their applications are widely scattered in journals, technical reports, and conference proceedings of various fields, making it difficult for people new in the field to find easily. The authors have brought together a comprehensive and organized treatment of these techniques, thus filling a gap in the scientific literature. Computational Intelligence for Optimization is suitable for first-year graduate courses in electrical and computer engineering, computer science, and operational research programs. It may also be used as a reference work for practising engineers, scientists, operational researchers and other specialists.

Analysis of System Requirements Negotiation Behavior Patterns

ABSTRACTRoughly 35 three‐person teams played the roles of user, customer, and developer in negotiating the requirements of a library information system. Each team was provided with a suggested set of stakeholder goals and implementation options, but were encouraged to exercise creativity in expanding the stakeholder goals and in creating options for negotiating an eventually satisfactory set of system requirements.The teams consisted of students in a first‐year graduate course in software engineering at USC. They were provided with training in the Theory W (win‐win) (Boehm‐Ross, 1989) approach to system requirements determination and the associated USC WinWin groupware support system (Boehm, et al, 1995)(Horowitz, 1996). They were required to complete the assignment in two weeks.Data was collected on the negotiation process and results, with 23 projects providing sufficiently complete and comparable data for analysis. A number of hypotheses were formulated about the results. Some of the hypotheses addressed the use and potential improvement of WinWin features. Others addressed more general process issues, e.g. that the uniform set of initial conditions would lead to uniform results. This paper summarizes the data analysis, which shows that expectations of uniform group behavior were generally not realized.In terms of goals for relevant Capability Maturity Models (CMM's), this implies that the System Engineering CMM's Level 2 goal of Planned and Tracked processes is more realistic than the Software CMM's Level 2 goal of Repeatable processes.

International Postgraduate Program of Water Resources Engineering in Asia

Over the course of three decades (1961–90), the Water Resources Engineering (WRE) Program of the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand has conferred master’s degrees to about 650 students and doctoral degrees to 22 students. Many of its alumni are now employed in national development projects or hold key government positions in their home countries in Asia. Its academic curriculum covers a broad range of graduate courses in water resources engineering, with primary emphasis on the applications of scientific knowledge. The program, through its intensive academic curriculum, its wide range of courses available, its emphasis on professional development and research projects of practical relevance to Asia, its international faculty staff, and resources provided mainly by developed countries, has succeeded in bringing modern technology to developing countries of Asia and has assisted them in developing their water resources infrastructure. However, from the perspective of the interdisciplinary nature of WRE, of changes in technology, growing complexities in engineering problems, and environmental concern, the program should evolve towards multidisciplinary training in order to meet the needs of Asia in the twenty-first century.

Simulating neural networks with Mathematica

From the Publisher: application, in the context of the interactive Mathematica environment. Readers will learn how to simulate neural network operations using Mathematica, and will learn techniques for employing Mathematica to assess neural network behavior and performance. For students of neural networks in upper-level undergraduate or beginning graduate courses in computer science, engineering, and related areas. Also for researchers and practitioners interested in using Mathematica as a research tool. Features Teaches the reader about what neural networks are, and how to manipulate them within the Mathematica environment. Shows how Mathematica can be used to implement and experiment with neural network architectures. Addresses a major topic related to neural networks in each chapter, or a specific type of neural network architecture. Contains exercises, suggested projects, and supplementary reading lists with each chapter. Includes Mathematica application programs (?packages?) in Appendix. (Also available electronically from MathSource.) Table of Contents Introduction to Neural Networks and Mathematica Training by Error Minimization Backpropagation and Its Variants Probability and Neural Networks Optimization and Constraint Satisfaction with Neural Networks Feedback and Recurrent Networks Adaptive Resonance Theory Genetic Algorithms

Federal technology transfer: Teaching it

This paper recommends development of teaching materials and cases on technology transfer for undergraduate and graduate courses in business and engineering. Its focus is the process of transferring technology from the federal laboratories to business organizations.

Training public health engineers in developing countries.

THE SHORTAGE of public health engineers in the developing countries is the most acute and urgent among all other health disciplines. The inauguration of the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade 1981-1990 by the United Nations in November 1980, followed by a soaring demand for public health engineers, has further aggravated the situation. The conventional public health engineering training system, that is practised in almost all higher learning institutions, including those located in the Third World, consists of a graduate course in civil engineering, followed by a post-graduate course in public health engineering. This system that has been functioning quite satisfactorily in the developed countries, has failed to produce these required engineers in the developing countries. The appropriate training technology for public health en gineers, discussed in this paper, that has been successfully experienced in Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Nigeria, can provide a sound solution for the acute shortage problem. This solution is based on the performance of the whole training at the graduate level only in a Department of Environmental Engineering, established in the Faculty of Engineering. Developing countries universities that provide engine ering studies, should adopt this solution in order to eliminate the long-term problem of acute shortage in public health engineers in these countries.

Educating Engineers in Information Activities: requirements and models

SUMMARY This paper presents two models of educating engineers in information counselling and information management. It describes the main aspects of the professional roles in these fields and it shows which qualifications are required. Subsequently, a postgraduate programme in information science which qualifies for these functions is illustrated. It is realized at the University of Konstanz (Federal Republic of Germany). Finally, an alternative form of education in information science, namely a subsidiary subject within a graduate course in engineering, is discussed. It has been recommended by the participants of a delphi-poll which has been executed to evaluate the Konstanz postgraduate programme.

Review of "Systems Engineering Models of Human-Machine Interaction by William B. Rouse", North Holland.

The author had three goals for the book: "to emphasize the current state of the art", "to provide a treatment of a highly mathematical topic while avoiding calculus, differential equations, Laplace and Fourier transforms, and so on", and, "to include basic tutorials on the modeling methodologies of interest and thus avoid requiring the reader to consult other basic sources." The book is based on the lecture notes of a graduate course in Industrial Engineering offerred at the University of Illinois to mostly engineering and psychology students. The author feels that the material in the book is "nicely complemented by having students pursue a series of small design projects in which they have to choose among the various available models, resolve measurement problems, and so on."

Administrative experiments: The experience of fifty-eight engineers and engineering managers

Fifty-eight engineers and engineering managers designed, as part of the requirements of a graduate engineering course, administrative experiments based upon a management problem of their own choosing and the application of methods of scientific experimentation. Their control over the choice of problem increased the likelihood that the problem would be one of immediate importance and relevance to their administrative responsibilities; the use of the methods of scientific experimentation would increase the likelihood of credible results. A definition and explanation of the term `administrative experiments' is presented, and a description of the experimenters and their experiments, including the changes proposed, the results desired, and the problems encountered, is provided.

Fundamentals of Earthquake Engineering: Book Review

In the introduction to Funckrll7entrrl.s of Eurtl7qunlce Engineel.i~ig, Professors Newmark and Rosenblueth express their hope that this book will serve as a guide to those who must cope with the effects of earthquakes, will supplement the education of other engineers, and will help open avenues of research. It appears that each of these objectives has been admirably met in the three general parts making up this reference and graduate text: Dynamics (progressing from simple linear systems to nonlinear systems and hydrodynamics, with an outline of the numerical methods employed); Earthquake Motions and Structural Responses (including the behavior of materials and structural components under earthquake loading, and emphasizing a probabilistic framework to describe tlleoretical seismology and earthquake characteristics); and, Design (concepts in earthquake-resistant design). While the title indicates that fundamentals are being considered, some preparation and revision will be required on the part of most readers. This is particularly the case in the second and third parts when state-of-the-art material is often presented. Fortunately, a series of examples and problems with answers is provided in the first part that will assist in establishing the required background for what follows. The specific topics of inost interest to geotechnical engineers would include: hydrodynamics (particularly the discussion on tsunamis); characteristics of earthquakes; seismicity; probability distributions of response spectral ordinates (including the effect of local soil conditions); behavior of soils (detailed section 012 liquefaction); and all of the third part on design. Each topic is provided with a survey of the literature so the reader can obtain more detail as required. Problems that require further research are indicated where appropriate. This book should be in the reference library of anyone interested in earthquake engineering or structural dynamics, and should find wide acceptance as a text for graduate courses in earthquake engineering.

Talkback TV at southern methodist university: Four years of experience

During the past four years several thousand professional employees of industries within a 60-mi radius of the Southern Methodist University (SMU) campus at Dallas, Tex., have participated fully as degree-seeking students in SMU's on-campus engineering graduate courses--without leaving their places of employment. The "talkback TV" system through which this is accomplished is described and evaluated from the standpoint of the students, the professor, the educational administrator, and the industrial employer. Inclusion of neighboring liberal arts colleges among course recipients and originators offers a further dimension of program enrichment at the undergraduate level.

Continuing Education in Electronic Materials Science--One Approach

A basic understanding of the preparation and properties of electronic materials has become vitally important to a growing number of practicing electrical and electronics engineers. Any university that seeks to meet the needs of practitioners in those areas must make electronic materials science a significant part of its continuing education program. The continuing education program at the Institute of Technology of Southern Methodist University consists of more than sixty graduate engineering courses offered each semester to industrial plants within a 60-mile radius of Dallas via a closed-circuit talkback-equipped television network. This paper describes a one-semester televised course in semiconductor materials technology, which emphasizes the preparation, purification, crystal growth, characterization, and processing of materials commonly encountered in semiconductor electronics. The main objective of this course is to provide the practicing engineer in the semiconductor industry and the beginning graduate student in electronic sciences with a sound knowledge of the scientific principles underlying materials technology.

CYCLOIDAL PROPULSION AND CONTROL FOR SHIP HANDLING TUGS

Naval Engineers JournalVolume 82, Issue 3 p. 52-69 CYCLOIDAL PROPULSION AND CONTROL FOR SHIP HANDLING TUGS MR. T. H. SARCHIN, MR. T. H. SARCHINSearch for more papers by this authorMR. H. G. TRYNER, MR. H. G. TRYNERSearch for more papers by this author MR. T. H. SARCHIN, MR. T. H. SARCHINSearch for more papers by this authorMR. H. G. TRYNER, MR. H. G. TRYNERSearch for more papers by this author First published: June 1970 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-3584.1970.tb04342.x THE AUTHORS T. H. SARCHIN is Head of Research and Development, and Special Ship Type Section in the Concept Design Division, Naval Ship Engineering Center. B. S. Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Washington, Graduate courses in aerodynamics, mathematics and mechanical engineering in the Washington, D.C. area. Naval Architect to project engineer on all types of naval ships in the Preliminary Design Branch, Bureau of Ships 1938–1961. Head of the Hydromechanics Section in the Preliminary Design Branch, Bureau of Ships 1961 to 1966. Head of the Special Ship Type Section, Concept Design Division, Naval Ship Engineering Center 1966 to 1969. Member of SNAME and the Association of Senior Engineers, NAVSHIPS. Registered professional engineer in the District of Columbia. H. G. TRYNER is Chief Pilot Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Graduate of the Pennsylvania Nautical Schoolship “Annapolis” in 1939. Four months graduate work with the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey in Puget Sound, Washington. Acquired Master's License (Oceans) in 1946. Served in maritime service until World War II, then in U. S. Navy. Completed war duty as Commanding Officer of an AK with rank of Lieutenant Commander. Several years post war service in harbor tugboat field and as marine surveyor. Pilot—Panama Canal; Captain and Pilot—St. Lawrence Seaway icebreaker and ship assistance tug; Pilot and Chief Pilot—Philadelphia Naval Shipyard 1962 to present. AboutPDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Volume82, Issue3June 1970Pages 52-69 RelatedInformation