What are people saying about
CVEN 400?

“The capstone design course is a great way to better prepare the students for successful engineering careers.”

- Dr. David Trejo, Associate Professor, Zachry Department of Civil Engineering

"From project inception to completion, the class implemented the approaches taken by those in the engineering consulting field to find a solution and complete a project. This exposure was very helpful as it prepared me for the workforce and gave me an opportunity to learn and refine skills needed for professional growth in the engineering industry." 

- Luis Andres Jurado ’06, E.I.T. and Design Engineer

"Capstone courses are important for seniors because they are truly a culmination of everything we have learned in four years of study. The main thing students learn in capstone projects is how to apply what we have learned over four years from our textbooks to the real world." 

- Will Sisco '07

CVEN 400: Design Problems in Civil Engineering

Usually taught by:

Dr. David Trejo, Dr. Calvin Woods, Dr. David Ford, Dr. Gary Fry, Dr. Stuart Anderson

Average class size:

25-30 students

For students specializing in:

General engineering, construction engineering, geotechnical engineering, materials engineering, environmental engineering, water resources engineering

Course objectives:

Dr. Trejo's class: To integrate all civil engineering disciplines using a design format. Students will learn how to combine planning, permitting, environmental engineering, transportation engineering, conceptual design concepts, traffic engineering, roadway and bridge design, and construction planning for the development of a major portion of a civil infrastructure project.

Dr. Woods' class: Computations, some specifications and design drawings will be prepared for a land development project.  The elements of the development include distribution of potable water, collection of wastewater, surface water drainage, streets, parking lot, layout of two-story duplex housing units, voluntary cleanup of small illicit solid waste disposal site, detention pond for storm water runoff, and preparation of a final grading plan.  An illicit solid waste disposal site will be “discovered” on the site and two alternate plans will be developed for the site: Removal of the solid waste and disposal at an appropriate Landfill or covering the solid waste site with a clay cap, leachate collection system, and a high density polyethylene liner (HDPE).

Guest lecturers have included:

• Dr. Ralph Wurbs-Hydrology and Channel Design
• Dr. Yunlong Zhang-Traffic Analysis and Roadway Capacity
• Dr. Eyad Masad-Pavement Design
• Dr. J.L. Briaud-Foundation Design
• Dr. Ray James-Bridge Loading
• Dr. Mary Beth Hueste-Deck and Girder Design
• Dr. Joseph Bracci-Bent and Column Design

Industry participants have included:

• Mike Moore, P.E.-Kimley-Horn
• Chris Harris-Kimley-Horn

Course projects have inlcuded:

• Sims Bayou: Bridge, Roadway, and Channel Design, Estimate, and Construction Plan
• Land development projects including: structure design, water distribution and collection, solid waste dispoal, and final grading plan