CE 491/2/3: Senior Projects

Disciplines:  Structural, geotechnical and hydraulic engineering

Additional prerequisites:  none

Project
The use of wood for high-rise construction seems impossible and at present is not allowed by California code. Yet, recently a 9-story building was built in UK entirely out of wood using new cross-laminated lumber technology. This senior project would involve design of similar type of structure on the site zoned for commercial construction in Los Angeles, CA. It would include architectural, structural and civil engineering design and investigation of the feasibility of this new technology for this project. The primary objective is to determine feasibility of this type of construction in high – seismicity areas.

For more information Email Advisor

Disciplines: Structural, geotechnical, and transportation, engineering

Additional prerequisites:  None, enrollment in CE 424 during Fall 09 helpful

Project
The Alameda Corridor is a major rail project designed to increase flow of freight traffic into and out of the ports of Los Angles and Long Beach. The east extension covers rail improvements from downtown Los Angeles east into San Bernardino County. At grade street-railroad crossings cause large traffic delays and safety problems especially with the increased rail traffic projected over the next several decades. These problems have generated many grade separation projects where the road is moved either above or below the railroad line. Students in the project will design one such grade separation in the Industry-Pomona-Ontario corridor. The project is comprehensive and will require traffic analysis, vertical alignment of street and railway, geotechnical analysis, and structural design of a bridge, foundations, abutments and retaining structures.

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Discipline: Structural engineering

Additional prerequisites: CE 406 highly desired

Project
Although nothing can be done to prevent earthquakes, precautions can be taken to mitigate their destructive effects.  This project will study seismic protection methods by using energy dissipation devices (dampers).  Dampers will prevent the structure from large displacement and acceleration so that the structure can maintain its function when excited by a severe ground motion.

Shake table experiments will be conducted to effectively illustrate the structural impact of earthquake ground motions.  Seismic analyses will be done through SAP2000.  Comparisons will be made between the experimental measurements and the seismic analysis results.

This project provides a good opportunity for students who are interested in Structural Earthquake Engineering.  Such a group project will help students learn the fundamental principles of Structural Dynamics and the state-of-the-art approaches in seismic design.

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Disciplines: Geospatial, geotechnical, environmental, and structural engineering

Additional prerequisites:  none

Project
The San Gabriel Mountain Range receives approximately twenty-eight inches of rainfall per year.  Currently this mountain range remains largely undeveloped with limited facilities to collect and redistribute the volume of water dispersed over it.  The objective of this project is to design a system that will manage this precipitation and optimize recharge and distribution to improve the water supply for Southern California.  The project goals are:

• Maximize available water resource
• Improve groundwater recharge
• Minimize flood damage and debris flow

The project would require students with skills in many areas including:

• Geospatial engineers familiar with GIS to survey and interpret topographic maps and manipulate databases.
• Geotechnical engineers to determine soil properties, analyze slopes, and retaining walls.
• Environmental engineers to analyze regional hydrology and design water transmission systems
• Structural engineers to design reinforced concrete walls, channels, and pipes.

For more information Email Advisor

Disciplines: Structural, geotechnical, transportation, general civil, and geospatial engineering

Additional prerequisites:  none

Project
The project involves the design of a multi-level, multi-use athletic facility for the City of San Gabriel and Mission High School in the western San Gabriel Valley.  The high cost of land, the lack of open space, and the need for improved recreational facilities in the historic Mission District require an integrated vertical design instead of a sprawling, ground level layout.

The project includes a street level track and field over a subterranean parking structure over a gymnasium and pool facility.  Design of the foundation, support structure, shoring/retaining, utilities, grading, drainage, and off-site improvements are required.  Cost estimating, value engineering, boundary/topographic surveying, and permitting are also included in the project.  The City of San Gabriel, County of Los Angeles, and private consultants will be reviewing the plans, specifications, and estimates prepared for the project by the Cal Poly design team.

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Disciplines:  Transportation engineering

Additional prerequisites: CE 223

Project
A real-life feasibility study will be conducted for interchange improvements. The study will include: site investigation, needs assessment, traffic and environmental analyses, alternative identification and analysis, preparation of geometric approval drawings, construction phasing plan, advanced planning study, and cost estimates. Students are required to make presentations to Caltrans, ITE Southern California and ITE San Bernardino and ITE Riverside.

For more information Email Advisor

Disciplines:  Transportation engineering

Additional prerequisites:  none

Project
The project is a 200,000 square foot Home Depot. You as a registered Traffic Engineer are asked by your City Council to respond to the citizens who are vehemently opposed to the development because it will clog their streets and add hundreds of seconds of delays to during their commute hours.

Students are to prepare a Traffic Impact Analysis Report using 4-Step Transportation Demand Modeling procedure listed as follows:

• Trip Generation
• Trip Distribution
• Trip Assignment
• Modal Choice

For more information Email Advisor

Disciplines:  Structural, geotechnical and transportation engineering

Additional prerequisites:  none

Project
This project covers the design of a bridge including approaches to carry two light rail lines over the Los Angeles River.  This bridge replaces an old freight bridge in the same location.  The area is heavily congested with limited right of way.  Students will have to design the vertical alignment of the rail line to avoid several obstacles.  Earth retaining structures will be required for approaches to the bridge.  Several alternative bridge designs must be evaluated for feasibility, cost and risk.  Design of the deep foundations for the bridge piers will be required.

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Disciplines: Geotechnical and environmental engineering

Additional prerequisites:  None. Experience with Environmental Phase I and Phase II projects a plus.

Project
The project involves the redevelopment of a contaminated commercial site in Los Angeles, California.  The project requires a complete geoenvironmental investigation to determine the subsurface conditions including types and levels of contaminants.  It also requires research of environmental regulatory and compliance issues.  Students will design the best strategy for development of the site including hazard mitigation plans, land use plans, while considering both environmental and cost risks.

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Disciplines: Geospatial, hydrology/hydraulics, structural and environmental engineering

Additional prerequisites:  none

Project
The Paradise Valley project is located in Riverside County, approximately 15 miles east of Indio and north of the Salton Sea.  The site has a desert climate with extreme variations in temperature and precipitation.  Paradise Valley lies in an alluvial plain within the Salton Sea watershed.

A land development company prepared initial planning documents to build a master-planned community at the project site.  The proposed development is planned to be built over several years.  Of the 5,300 acres parcel, approximately 2,500 acres is proposed for development and about 2800 acres (53.3%) will be left relatively pervious for land uses such as golf courses, parks and open space. The total drainage area draining toward the project site is about 61 square miles.  This project requires design of flood control channel systems within the project site, water quality basin, and levees to protect the planned golf course on the western border of the project site. The Project goals are to:

• Develop rainfall depths for a 100-year frequency 24-hr duration storm.
• Generate 100-peak discharges at key locations and at freeway crossings (i.e., I-10).
• Scour depth computations at major flood control channels.
• Develop a plan on how to exit runoff water at the downstream end of the project site so its effect is minimal on the downstream property and to promote groundwater recharge.
• Compute levee height and depth at the western side of the golf course.
• Work effectively as part of a team towards their solution to a real-world problem, and to most importantly, have fun in the learning process.

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Disciplines: Strucutral, geotechnical, & civil engineering

Additional prerequisites:  none

Project
This project involves the design of a 6 story hospital tower with a basement. The tower was originally designed before the current recession. The owner’s financial constraints now require redesigning the project at two thirds of the original budget. Students will be required to develop several alternatives to reach the new budget constraints, select the best alternative and then complete the design. Students will be meeting with the architect, mechanical/electrical/plumbing designer, and construction contractor to determine design requirements and review design alternatives.

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Disciplines:  Environmental engineering

Additional prerequisites:  CE 431

Project
During the 2007-2008 academic year, a team of enthusiastic students designed and constructed a functional water treatment plant producing 1440 gallons of water per day. The plant includes such unit processes as: chemical coagulation and rapid mixing, flocculation, sedimentation and filtration.

The objective of this Senior Project is to add a disinfection unit process, such as chlorination, ozonation or UV radiation, to the existing plant so that the product water meets the EPA safe drinking water requirements. This project is a "hands-on", meaning the students will research and design the process, order equipment and supplies, perform construction and startup activities and operate the entire plant.

Project scope includes:

• Research and document alternative disinfection processes
• Visit water treatment plants in Southern California and interface with industry
• Collect and compile data for design
• Prepare a preliminary and final design reports, and construction plans
• Procure equipment and supplies and construct the project
• Perform project planning and project management

For more information Email Advisor