West Fuala Plant Expansion
Abu Dhabi, PA

Reflection

Course Reflection:

The Senior Thesis Capstone project of the Architectural Engineering Department was a comprehensive course that included and applied work all my previous years and courses here at Penn State.

The course starts in the fall with 3 assigned technical reports that are required subsequently for the first part of the senior capstone thesis. It is the step in which we, students, gather all types simple and complex information about the construction process and the design component of the building to be constructed. All the other AE options (breadths) are included so that by the end of the fall semester, the student would be able to identify and understand each part of the building, its breakdown and reasons. With this knowledge, the student would end the semester by proposing design changes that will solve issues or further enhance the project.

The Second part of the semester is where real engineering comes into place. We start by basically identifying (construction) issues, proposing the changes and then researching and figuring out a way to proceed with this design changes and everything in between these steps. The Engineering perspective was not just about doing applied math or calculations but more about critical thinking, problem identifying and solving in addition to having to consider all factors for any proposed design change; which can be as micro as how to connect the new proposed members in the design change and finding a manufacturer, or as macro and major as a financial analysis or a schedule analysis from a Value Engineering perspective.

This course brought everything together into one project and took the knowledge learned from theoretical to applied and realistic knowledge. This was also the case with the way this course was conducted which was not just as any class from the perspective of exams and home works on a deadline, but more realistic in the sense that the student has a project and a flexible time which he has to monitor and work around to deliver the final report of all the analyses by the end of the entire course.

I believe that It is the utimate final course for an Arichtectural Engineering Student that prepares him/her before entering the construction industry.

 

CPEP Reflection:

The CPEP was a very simple and very useful tool to present my Senior Thesis work throughout this course. With the CPEP website, the deliverables are easy to find on the front page and easily accessible for my advisor throughout the course in addition to an easy presentation of my thesis work to future employers.

 

ABET Outcome Survery:

ABET Outcomes for AE 481W/482	Outcome not able to be assessed	Level of ability demonstrated but below acceptable	Minimum acceptable level of ability demonstrated	More than minimum level of ability demonstrated
	(Score of 0)	(Score of 1)	(Score of 2)	(Score of 3)

a. An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering				3
b. An ability to analyze and interpret data				3
c. An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs				3
e. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems				3
f. An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility				3
g. An ability to communicate effectively			2
h. The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context				3
i. An ability to engage in life-long learning				3
j. A knowledge of contemporary issues				3
k. An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice				3
o. Engineering design capabilities in at least two (2) of the (3) basic curriculum areas of architectural engineering, and that design has been integrated across the breadth of the program				3
p. Communication and interaction with other design professionals in the execution of building projects			2