Drawings

A design drawing package is not required during the first semester.  However, it is expected that sketches, figures, plates, etc. will be needed to clearly convey the alternatives considered and recommended.  These should be neatly hand-drawn or produced electronically and bound into the report either within the text portion or in pockets as appropriate.  Standard sheet sizes should be used for the drawings.  Drawings should include a scale, title block, etc. as appropriate.

Specifications

Outline specifications (titles only) shall be provided with the final submittal of the first semester.  The specification titles should be ordered to correspond to the CSI system.  More information on specifications will be provided in the CE Practice course.

Engineer’s Cost Estimate

An estimate of construction costs for the alternatives considered shall be provided in the final project report to support the recommendation made.  Cost considerations should also be included in the interim report. More information on cost estimates will be provided in the CE Practice course.

Project File

A project file shall be maintained.  This file is to include a copy of all meeting minutes, correspondence, calculations, project data, phone memorandum, etc.  The project file will be turned in with the final written submittal

Project Cost Tracking

Each team will negotiate a fee for the completion of the proposed project.  A proposed fee structure shall be presented to the course coordinators.  The proposal should include salaries, overhead costs, profits, and miscellaneous expenses.  Additional information on preparing a proposal will be provided in the Civil Engineering Practice Course.  Time will be allocated during the September 13 meeting in CE Practice to work on proposal.  The proposal is due at the end of the September 14 work session.  Teams are expected to track the project costs throughout the term for comparison with their original negotiated budget.  The project cost data will not be graded for accuracy of the original budget but must be provided with the final report and available during progress meetings.  The cost tracking data can be included in the project file.

Progress Reports

Brief progress meetings will be held with each design team on a weekly basis to monitor job status.  Only one member of the design team must be present at the meeting (although all are welcome).  A brief (three pages maximum) written report should be provided that states progress to date, upcoming tasks, and identifies needed information.  Note that teams do not need to wait for a progress meeting to direct information requests to the course coordinators.

Design Schedule

A project design schedule should be developed early in the project and updated at regular intervals.  The schedule should be available at the progress briefing.

Interim Planning Report

The interim submittal is a written report that provides the client with information on progress of the project up to that point.  You may think of it as an expanded progress report.  It should include all work up to the week prior to submittal.  It should include an analysis of any alternatives considered, calculations, drawings, etc.  You are attempting to provide the client with a summary of what has been accomplished to date and the direction the project might take.  The report is not just a collection of everything you have done with a staple in it.  Instead it should be an organized document that conveys the progress of the work.  It may include preliminary findings and recommendations, costs, etc.  Oral presentations will also occur with the interim submittal.  Due to time constraints, these will be brief, limited to 10 minutes for presentation and 5 minutes for questions.

Final Planning Report

The final planning report is the written presentation of the semester’s work.  It should include a description of all of the alternatives considered and the final recommendation.  It should include any drawings needed to present the alternatives.  Calculations required to justify the findings should be included as appendicies.  Outline specifications for the selected alternative and cost estimates for all alternatives should be in the appendix.  Presentations of the work will occur during the final week of classes.  Each team will be allocated 30 minutes for the presentations including 10 minutes for questions from the client.

Peer Evaluations

Each student is expected to participate equitably in the development of the team design.  In order to evaluate the level of participation, each team will evaluate team members three times during the semester.  Peer evaluations for each individual will be computed as the average of all responses and will be incorporated into the final scores.