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GOALS
This class introduces Civil engineering students to
concepts and technologies in modern computing and engineering information processing.
Students will learn how to communicate online, transfer files over the Internet,
and to write, compile and test simple object-oriented computer programs
that can solve engineering problems in a networked environment.
COURSE CONTENTS
For the Fall Semester 2009,
the course contents will be as follows:
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Computing in Civil Engineering (1 week).
How has computing changed over the past 20 years?
What's cool about computing in the 2000-2008 era?
How are computers and computing technologies changing the way
engineering companies conduct their day-to-day business? Real-World Examples.
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Problem Solving with Computers (1 week).
Complementary strengths of man versus machine.
Pathway from problems to solutions with computers (i.e., problem statement,
algorithm development, software development, software execution, finding errors,
interpreting results).
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Basic Concepts (1-2 weeks).
hardware components in a simple computer;
storing information on computers;
high and low level computer languages;
compiled programs versus intepreted programs;
text editors; principles of good software development.
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World Wide Web Development (2-3 weeks).
Basics of computer networks.
Brief history of the Internet and WWW.
World Wide Web Browsers and servers.
Search engines and how to use them.
Looking ahead to the "Semantic Web."
Design of Web pages, HTML and XML tags, use of Google Maps. Examples.
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Object-Oriented Software Development with Java (6-7 weeks) :
Introduction to the principles of object-oriented
software development (i.e., abstraction, objects, classes,
encapsulation, information hiding, class hierarchies, inheritance).
What is Java? How does it work?
How to write, compile and run a simple Java program.
The Java language, including variables, constants, and data types,
program control (i.e., branching and looping constructs),
arrays, classes and objects.
Standalone Java programs and Java applet programs.
Java development environments (JDK).
Introduction to Java Collections and the Java Foundation Classes,
including Java Swing and Java 2D.
All students will develop a home page on the World Wide Web.
Students will use the basic features of Java to
solve simple engineering problems,
and design web pages that incorporate Java applets.
IMPORTANT
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Be sure to check the General Information
section for expectations on homework, computer programs, and midterm/final exams,
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