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Community Design and Analysis: Resiliency in Transportation and Water Resource Systems in Germany and Holland

Rotterdam, Netherlands

Dates and Deadlines

Term: 
Summer
Start Date
6/1/2020
End Date
6/26/2020
Deadline
2/14/2020

Information

Area of Study: 
Architecture, Civil Engineering, Community and Regional Planning, Construction Engineering, Construction Management, Environmental Planning & Design, Mechanical Engineering, Sustainability Studies
Program Type: 
Faculty-Led
Language of Instruction: 
English
GPA: 
2.75
Language Prerequisite: 
No previous language experience required (classes offered in English)
Advisor Name: 
Annette Mares-Duran
Faculty Name: 
Michael Angel Gonzalez (Civil Engineering)
Advisor Email: 
amares2@unm.edu
Faculty Email: 
magonzo@unm.edu

Overview

Resiliency and Reconstruction of Transportation Systems in Berlin & Munich; Life Below Sea Level: How the Dutch Have Learned to Live with Water

The courses will be provided in summer 2020 with recruiting students in the fall 2019 semester and logistical preparations made in the spring 2020 semester. The proposed program will contain two courses for a total of six credit hours: (1) CE 491/598 (001) Resiliency and Reconstruction of Transportation Systems in Berlin & Munich, Germany and (2) CE 491/598 (002) Life Below Sea Level: How the Dutch Have Learned to Live with Water. These courses will be cross listed as SUST 402/502, CRP 462/562, WR 595, and ME451. These courses are exclusively in the summer. However, preparations will be made during the spring semester as per the timeline.

Course #1: Resiliency and Reconstruction of Transportation Systems in Berlin & Munich, Germany: This course will provide an overview of the history of infrastructure construction techniques in Europe with an emphasis on the resiliency of transportation systems and refurbishment activities due to events including the country's reunification, population growth, and urban development. The integration of international sustainable and reconstruction practices will be evaluated and demonstrated through literature review, lectures, and site tours. The methods for practical application of the European techniques on US construction sites, including similarities and constraints will be incorporated into all presentations. Themes will include different department focused areas such as Mechanical, Architecture, and Water resources throughout the daily locations.

Course #2: Life Below Sea Level: How the Dutch Have Learned to Live with Water, Amsterdam & Rotterdam, Netherlands: The course will explore the Dutch relationship with water over three time periods: Pre-20th Century, 20th Century, and Contemporary. The Pre-20th Century period will be referred to as "Windmills and Canals" and we will explore the gradual process of Dutch mastery of agriculture, drainage, ship building, and exploration. The 20th-Century period will be referenced as "Battling the Sea" and will emphasize the Dutch effort to protect themselves from the North Sea including the construction of the North Sea Barrier, which is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. The Contemporary period will be referred to as "Room for the River" and will explore the shifting Dutch mentality towards living with water by increasing the buffering capacity of the natural infrastructure including levee setbacks and moving houses from flood-prone areas. Themes will include different department focused areas such as Mechanical, Architecture, and Water resources throughout the daily locations.

Programmatic Outcomes: At the conclusion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Apply the principles and practices of resilience theory to infrastructure design and planning processes in a global context.
  • Develop a deeper understanding the world by examining the historical and contemporary philosophies and practices of European communities.
  • Articulate their role as future engineers, architects, planners, and resource managers in a global context

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Academics

Academics

Each Program Course is (3) credit hours for a total of (6) credit hours for the summer 2020 UNM-GEO SAAC SOE CCEE Program

Course #1 (Germany) Learning Objectives

1.      Students will be able to explain the differences in construction philosophy between US, Europe, and Germany.  Particular attention is dedicated to understanding the variations in job site safety, sustainable principles, and restoration reconstruction techniques.

2.      Students will be able to explain the evolution of the construction techniques and their impact on project efficiency.

3.      Students will be able to comprehend the significance of construction material selection relative to design and the impact on project management.  The selection of equipment and prediction of results will be a significant portion of the evaluation.

 

Course #2 (Holland) Learning Objectives

1.      Students will express the role of resiliency in the coupled ecological and social systems using specific examples from the course.

2.      Students will learn to schematize the coupled natural and human systems in the Netherlands using specific examples from the course.

3.      Students will characterize and appraise ways in which human systems and ecological systems interconnect in the Netherlands and in the United States.