Masters of Engineering Concepts of Engineering Practice
Lecture Notes
All guest lectures are courtesy of the person named, and are used with permission.
WEEK # |
SES # |
TOPICS |
SPEAKERS |
1 |
L1 |
Subject introduction, resume writing (PDF) |
E. Adams |
S1 |
The MIT career services |
D. Rosencrans |
|
2 |
L2 |
Technical writing (PDF) |
E. Adams and D. Levey |
L3 |
Project evaluation 1 (PDF) |
E. Adams |
|
S2 |
Boston's water distribution system as a black box: impact on water quality and effect of ozone |
W. Sung (MWRA) |
|
3 |
L4 |
W. Vicens (CDM) and P. Shanahan |
|
L5 |
Oral presentation |
E. Adams |
|
S3 |
Mullholland's dream |
Video: Cadillac Desert: Mulholland's Dream (Water and the Transformation of Nature) |
|
4 |
L6 |
Project evaluation 2; in-class discussion |
A. Chow and E. Adams |
S4 |
Integrated engineering design and construction |
J. P. Chakar (Buro Happold) |
|
5 |
L7 |
Project management 1 (PDF) |
C. Ho (Arup) |
L8 |
Project evaluation 3 (PDF - 1.4 MB) |
S. Murcott |
|
S5 |
Issues in the structural engineering of tall buildings |
R. McNamara (McNamara/Salvia) |
|
6 |
L9 |
Project management 2 (PDF) |
C. Ho (Arup) |
S6 |
Live design: mitigating extreme events |
G. Dasgupta (Columbia University) |
|
7 |
L10 |
D. Orton (VHB) and M. Wiseheart (PowerAdvocate) |
|
L11 |
Project management 3 |
E. Adams |
|
S7 |
Water reclamation and recycling projects in California |
M. Van Horne (RMC Water and Environmental) |
|
8 |
L12 |
Engineering and construction industry 1 (PDF) |
C. Helliwell |
L13 |
Engineering and construction industry 2 (PDF) |
C. Helliwell |
|
S8 |
Mulch biowalls for enhanced bioremediation |
J. Travers (Parsons) |
|
9 |
L14 |
Chase an engineer; group discussion |
E. Adams |
L15 |
Engineering and construction industry 3 |
C. Helliwell |
|
S9 |
Green buildings at MIT; presentations |
W. Henry |
|
10 |
L16 |
Negotiation 1 |
A. Chow and E. Adams |
L17 |
Negotiation 2 |
E. Adams and A. Chow |
|
S10 |
Expectations for a structural engineering graduate |
E. Nelson |
|
11 |
L18 |
Professional ethics 1: basis for decision making; student skits (PDF) |
E. Adams |
S11 |
The first steps after a failure |
D. Peraza (Exponent) |
|
12 |
L19 |
Professional ethics 2: student debates on case studies |
E. Adams and A. Chow |
S12 |
Untitled |
D. Farnsworth (Arup) |
|
S13 |
Final proposals (to client); student presentations |
|
|
13 |
L20 |
Student presentations (cont.) |
Assignments
This section includes assignment instructions, as well as an example of student work.
ASSN # |
TOPICS |
FILES |
ASSIGNED DATES |
DUE DATES |
1 |
a) Write resume draft b) Final resume |
|
L1 |
a) S1 b) S2 |
2 |
a) Project evaluation b) Financing a skyscraper |
Assignment 2a spreadsheet (XLS) Assignment 2b (PDF) |
L3 |
a) L5 b) L6 |
3 |
a) Engineer selection b) Memo (choice/reason) c) Written trip report and thank-you letter d) Class discussion |
(PDF) |
L4 |
a) S3 b) S4 c) S7 d) L14 |
4 |
a) Group letter of intent b) Draft proposal c) Final proposal |
|
S3 |
a) S5 b) S9 c) S13 |
5 |
a) Activity network exercise: individual assignment b) Bridge construction: group presentation |
(PDF) |
L7 |
a) L9 b) L11 |
6 |
Profile of an industry company |
(PDF) |
L12 |
L15 |
7 |
Professional ethics debates |
(PDF) |
L18 |
L19 |
8 |
Critique of oral presentations |
|
S13 |
L20 |
Study Materials
Lecture 3
The four notes in this section are courtesy of Carl Martland, and are used with permission.
Notes on Project Evaluation (PDF)
Notes on Equivalence (PDF)
Notes on Risk and Uncertainties (PDF)
Notes on Infrastructure Costs (PDF)