China Megastructures and Megacities
Location of Program: China, Hong Kong Year: 2012Program Director(s): Rick Balling, Grant Schultz
Participating Major(s): Civil and Environmental Engineering
Summary:
The China Megastructures and Megacities students participate in a design and research experience unmatched by any other in the nation. In the Megastructures program students are taught the skills to design tall skyscrapers, large bridges, and other structural masterpieces. The Megacities students learn about and are exposed to transportation planning and analysis of: public transportation, airports, high-speed rail, pedestrians, freight, and highway systems of international megacities. All of this is achieved through international experience, research, professional interactions, evaluation, and design.
Recap of the Year:
In 2012 the students began their experience Winter semester with a one-time per week Preparation course (CE En 471B) and the assigning of their structures and transportation projects. Classes began in earnest in Spring term with four days per week intense megastructure and megacity classroom learning. Students prepared reports and began their design and then shared their knowledge with the class prior to embarking on a 16 day trip to China and Hong Kong. The area visited on the trip included: Beijing, Tianjin, Three Gorges Dam (Yichang), Shanghai, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong.