CIVIL CONTEST Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty of Engineering and Architecture American University of Beirut

GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS

(April 25, 2003)

GENERAL

 This booklet contains the guidelines and regulations for the Contest.  Updates and additional information will be communicated to participating teams by e-mail. They will also be posted on the Conference/Contest Website below.  A Registration Form is included with this booklet. Fill and send to the e-mail below.  Sponsorship Forms is also included. It is suggested to print this whole booklet and present to the sponsor(s), along with the Sponsorship Form, for their information.  Inquiries and suggestions can be sent to the e-mail address below.

Contact Mounir Mabsout for further information (Office 511, Ext 3474, [email protected])

CEE-AUB-FEA 1 25/4/2003 Check Conference/Contest Website for updates at (http://staff.aub.edu.lb/%7Ewebfea/feasc)

CEE-AUB-FEA 2 25/4/2003 CIVIL CONTEST

(2ND FEA STUDENT CONFERENCE – MAY 30-31, 2003)

If you have any questions on the guidelines and regulations, or if you have any doubts on whether your civil system model/components satisfy the requirements, check with Mounir Mabsout (Office 511, Ext 3474 [email protected]).

Aim and Theme: Design a civil engineering system, and build a demonstration model, which deals with technological advances in Civil Engineering, or referring to Smart/Intelligent Systems. All fields in Civil Engineering are welcome (Structures/Earthquakes, Geotechnical/Foundations, Water/Hydraulics, Environmental/Assessment, Transportation/Traffic, Construction/Robotics, Information Technology…). Links with other engineering disciplines may prove desirable and beneficial (Mechanical, Electrical, Computer, …).

Participants: Contest is open to all CEE undergraduate students, in groups of three to four contestants. Teams can be formed from various classes (1st year to 4th year). The names of the participants (including the class and e-mail) and a label for the group should be submitted to the e-mail ([email protected]) as soon as possible. Associates from the various Depts of FEA (ME, ECE, Arch, GD, EM) can be consulted as needed and should be acknowledged. Registration Form included with this booklet.

Ideas: Numerous ideas for projects can be explored. The web may be a great source. Search for Civil (or specific area in Civil) Engineering – Technology – Smart Systems – Contest, … Components/Devices/Equipment which can be included: Sensing, monitoring, and data acquisition; computers/software, web-cam, and pattern recognition; dampers, earthquake isolation, and hydraulic systems; smart and “new” materials/structural components, …

CEE-AUB-FEA 3 25/4/2003 System/Model Requirements: The system will be judged for its relevant use of technology, in addition to its Civil Engineering soundness. The system can be an application of recently adopted technologies, or a creative innovation which can have potential application. “Fantasy” will be tolerated and encouraged for as long as the system can show actual or future prospects for application. A model of your system should be built, and a demonstration will be required during the contest presentation. One or two posters describing the project are required (see “Poster” section).

Constraints: • System/Model should be of reasonable size, say to fit in a (fictitious) box of 1x1x1 m. One may have additional equipment (laptop, sound system, cameras, …) attached to the model. A space requirement which exceeds the size proposed should be noted (see section on “Your Requirements”) • System/Model should be stand-alone (i.e. provide your own base for a building or bridge; your own stand for a camera, your own laptop/sound system, etc…); see also section on “Your Requirements”. • No limitations on weight. Consider however transportation practicality.

Poster: The system/model should be outlined in one or two posters in which you should give a brief description of the model highlighting its main features. You can also include descriptive figures or pictures of the model and its making, as well as pictures of the team at work. Your poster should include an acknowledgment list of your supporters (Faculty, Personnel, Associate Members, Sponsors, …)

Eng’g Labs and Shops: Support can be provided by the FEA Civil Labs and Shops. Coordinate with Mr. Hemi El-Khatib (Labs) and Mr. Joseph Nassif (Shops) to make sure that no classes are scheduled when you need the facilities or the support of the Labs/Shops personnel.

CEE and FEA Faculty: You may (and are encouraged to) consult and get advice from Faculty members from the CEE or other FEA Departments, as relevant to the specialty of your project.

Sponsors: You may (and are encouraged to) seek support from a Sponsor (Company/Firm, Individual). This can be in the form of material, components/devices/equipment, or as you/sponsor see fit. Sponsors label should be displayed on your project model and poster, and sponsors will be acknowledged during exhibition/evaluation ceremony; they will also be listed with your team and project in the official “Proceedings of The 2nd FEA Student Conference”.

CEE-AUB-FEA 4 25/4/2003 Grading: To be announced later. Refer to the section on System/Model Requirements for the time being.

Prizes: Symbolic Prizes (to be announced later) will be given to the first three winner teams. Special awards may be given to particular features, and all teams will be awarded certificates for participation.

Your Requirements: A reasonable space will provided to display your model during the exhibition/contest; space for projects which exceeds the normal (as defined in “Constraints”) should be requested in advance. Special equipment/devices such as electrical wiring or outlets (Voltage), computer projection/screens, table, lighting, water, etc., should be requested in advance.

Contest Date and Location: The contest is part of the activities of “The 2nd FEA Student Conference” scheduled on May 30-31, 2003. Systems/Models will be exhibited during the two days of the Conference in Bechtel Wing D (tentative) and the evaluation will be conducted by a Jury of CEE and FEA faculty and guest members between 4:00 and 6:00 PM on Friday May 30, 2003 (tentative). Final location and time of exhibition/contest are being coordinated with Conference activities, and will be announced later.

Your Guests: You are welcome to invite family and friends to attend the exhibition/contest/conference.

Contact Mounir Mabsout for further information (Office 511, Ext 3474, [email protected]) Check Conference/Contest Website for updates at (http://staff.aub.edu.lb/%7Ewebfea/feasc)

CEE-AUB-FEA 5 25/4/2003