History of Civil Engineering

Code:

EC0005

Acronym:

HECI

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Civil Engineering

Instance: 2013/2014 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Civil Engineering
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Civil Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIEC	151	Syllabus since 2006/2007	1	-	2	30	52

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

OBJECTIVES:
To motivate for the understanding of civil engineering endeavours. To initiate a professional attitude. To contribute for the understanding of the evolution and development of the foundations of Civil Engineering.

Learning outcomes and competences

SKILLS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES:
To familiarize the civil engineering student with the History of his profession is an important factor for knowledge. But also facilitates their socialization with other students of the University and that are preparing for other professional experiences. Anticipate what might happen later when confronted with other experts in their profession: architects, builders, other engineers, etc.

Working method

Presencial

Program

• Becoming an engineer and the differences between Civil Engineering and the other fields of engineering.
• The Ancient World: evolution of the constructive concepts applied to bridges, aqueducts, highways, buildings and hydraulic and harbour works.
• The constructive evolution in the Middle Ages.
• Basic problems of Statics and the foundations of the Theory of the Strength of Materials.
• Building techniques of Renaissance and Baroque.
• The advent of Civil Engineering in the 17th and 18th centuries: building materials, statics applied to construction and Hydraulic Engineering evolution.
• The origins of the Structural Analysis and the evolution of Mechanics (1750-1850).
• The Industrial Revolution: coal, steam, railways. The new materials: iron, steel, reinforced concrete.
• Civil Engineering from the 19th century to the present.
• Achievements of Civil Engineering in Portugal. Guest speakers will present some classes on specific themes, such as bridges, large dams, harbours, airports.

DEMONSTRATION OF THE SYLLABUS COHERENCE WITH THE CURRICULAR UNIT'S OBJECTIVES:
The curricular unit aims to contribute for the understanding of the manifestations of Civil Engineering in all world, without making a first approximation to its techniques, methods and procedures. It is intended that students start a professional experience of Civil Engineering, even in a phase of the course in which the learning themes still have an introductory and general character.

Mandatory literature

Hans Straub; A history of civil engineering
J. G. Landels; Engineering in the Ancient World, University of California Press; Berkley and Los Angeles, 2000
J. Laginha Serafim; Engenharia civil em Portugal
Luís Madureira; Hidroelectricidade, Edição da REN, 2001
texto Helder Carita ; fotog. Homem Cardoso; Pontes em Portugal
Manuel de Azeredo e Maria Augusta Azeredo; As pontes do Porto. ISBN: 972-752-056-1

Complementary Bibliography

José Maria Brandão de Brito, Manuel Heitor, Maria Fernanda Rollo; O Engenho e a Obra; Uma abordagem à história da Engenharia em Portugal no século XX, Instituto Superior Técnico – Publicações D. Quixote; Lisboa, 2002
Eduardo R. Arantes e Oliveira; Engenharia e Vida, Revista mensal sobre Engenharia Civil, Construção e Desenvolvimento; Iniciou a sua publicação em Abril de 2004; Director: Prof. Eduardo R. Arantes e Oliveira; Loja da Imagem, Lisboa

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures to expose different topics of the curricular unit, supported on a "power point" presentation with images illustrating examples of the evolution in construction in different times of human history. It is also shown how some types of equipment and infrastructure, where the intervention of Civil Engineering is crucial, were developed to address technical problems related to design and construction techniques. The following teaching examples are used: Bridges of Porto and Dams in Portugal. At the end of the semester a study visit is taken to a construction site that gives both an idea of the nature of the technical problems involved and reveals itself as a Civil Engineer must interact with other professionals.

DEMONSTRATION OF THE COHERENCE BETWEEN THE TEACHING METHODOLOGIES AND THE LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Topics covered in the curricular unit are introduced gradually in classes, being complemented with conferences with distinguished experts and conducting a study visit. In this way students deal with technical problems and learn how a Civil Engineer must interact with other professionals.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Teste	100,00
Total:	100,00

Eligibility for exams

Achieving final classification requires compliance with attendance at the course unit, according to the MIEC assessment rules. It is considered that students meet the attendance requirements if, having been regularly enrolled, the number of absences of 25% for each of the classes’ types is not exceeded.

Calculation formula of final grade

FM = Mark at the test

Observations

Working time estimated out of classes: 1 hour