Course Syllabus

Instructor

Tripp Shealy, Ph.D. 

113 Patton Hall

tshealy@vt.edu

Office Hours: M W 1pm- 4pm or by appointment: calendly.com/tshealy

Meetings

M, W: 4pm-5:15pm

Students may leave if the guest lecturer or I have not arrived after 5 minutes.

Syllabus Content:

1. Description
2. Goals
3. Learning Objectives 
4. Expectations
5. Logistics
6. Academic Integrity
7. Disability Accommodations
8. Course Grading

Course Description

Students will learn to leverage technologies and data during design, construction, and operation of infrastructure systems to better meet societal needs. The course begins with why smart sustainable infrastructure is needed and outlines both concepts and barriers for a more sustainable future. Students then design their own process to engage infrastructure stakeholders (local officials, planners, community groups, and the public) and explore cutting-edge technologies for design and construction. Students will learn basic data science techniques and practice with large, real-world existing infrastructure data. The course also offers students an opportunity to explore a specific topic related to smart sustainable infrastructure more deeply through an individual project.  

Goal

The goal is for students to leverage technologies and concepts for sustainable infrastructure to better meet societal needs now and in the future.

Learning Objectives 

1. Understand current challenges and barriers to a sustainable future and the role of infrastructure towards meeting this goal;
2. Explain concepts, theories, and methods to achieve more sustainable infrastructure;
3. Design a process using appropriate technology to gain feedback during design, construction and operation of infrastructure systems and services;
4. Interpret data about existing infrastructure performance and problems;
5. Develop skills for continued learning about smart sustainable infrastructure.

Expectations

Smart typically denotes physical assets connected to the Internet through sensors (smart parking meters, smart streetlights, smart water use) but the expectation here is for you to go beyond sensors and think more holistically about how technology and data can inform more sustainable engineering decisions during the design, construction and operation of infrastructure.

General Expectations

I promise to engage with activities that let me: connect learning to my world, see and share what’s around me, challenge myself and others, reflect on my learning, and create positive change.

I promise to continuously contribute information in multiple forms so that the learning outcomes are achieved. The more I contribute, the faster the positive evolution of the specialization.

I promise to use Google as a favor to each other (and to myself). I will Google my ideas and obstacles, and I will Google for more information on specific topics. I won’t ask a question before Googling it. If I don’t find the answer, at least I will have a better question.

I promise to share my perspective so that I’m not just consuming knowledge, I’m also helping to create it.

Logistics:

Discussion Posts

Posts to canvas should be less than 100 words; bulleted lists are ok; use a tone and level of professionalism you would use in an e-mail to a co-worker; Try to make the biggest statement with the fewest words. Mark Twain once began a letter apologizing for it's length because he didn't have enough time to make it shorter. 

Assignments 

Assignments are to be completed prior to the following class period. Expect at least one reading important for class participation (and part of your grade). Some assignments will include group work or individual research. Late assignments are deducted 5 points a day. 

Google

In addition to the assigned reading, you should constantly use Google. You won't have to memorize as much, but I will expect you to have Googled everything. Google your project ideas, Google your obstacles, Google for more information on specific topics. Don't ask a question before you Google it. You'll either find the answer or come up with a better question.

Laptops/Tablets/ Smartphones 

Please bring your laptop/tablet/smartphone to class. We will use the Internet and Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) regularly to search for examples related to class topics and communicate your findings with classmates. Please do not look at facebook, etc… (there’s lots of research on multitasking to support this policy).

Academic Integrity

I expect you to uphold the Virginia Tech Honor Code at all times.

This includes neither giving nor receiving unauthorized assistance on assignments and exams. If you have doubts about whether or how the Virginia Tech Honor Code applies to a particular assignment or examination please ask for more specific guidelines from the instructor before submitting the work for evaluation. This code embodies a spirit of mutual trust and intellectual honesty that is central to the very nature of the university and our shared values.

Disability Accommodations

If you need adaptations or accommodations because of a disability (e.g. learning, attention deficit disorder, psychological, physical, etc.), or if you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case of the building must be evacuated, please notify me through email or discuss with me in person the first week of class.

Grading

• 10% Participation
• 35% Discussions and Assignments 
• 40% Projects (5%, 10%, 25%) 
• 15% Exams (15% each)

The learning and creating are the biggest rewards for the time you invest in this experience, but there are a few additional incentives.

Class attendance, participation and preparation are required. You will receive a grade for your class participation and preparation (just showing up does not guarantee full credit for a class period). Preparation includes completing discussion posts prior to class. You will receive 100% credit for “thoughtful effort.” If I don't think you've put in thoughtful effort, you will receive 50% credit for the discussion post. Unexcused absence from class will result in no credit for that class. Please email me or discuss with me in person to determine what constitutes an excused absence.

Participation (10%)

Participation is not the same as attendance. You are expected to participate in discussions during class about assigned readings and videos. 

Discussions and Assignments (30%)

Discussions and assignments are typically included after each module. You must turn them in prior to the following class period, unless otherwise noted in the instructions.  

Projects (40%)

You will have three projects. More detail about projects will be given in class time. Unexcused late projects will be deducted 10% for each day they are late (ex. 3 days late = 30% deduction). Project 1 (Bright Spots) is 10% of your total grade. Project 2 (Op-Ed) is 5% of your total grade. Project 3 (Infrastructure Insights) is 25% of your total grade. 

Exams (20%)

Exams will be designed as opportunities for you to show your ability to evaluate (Exam 1) and synthesize (Exam 2) using the course material. Each exam is 10% of your total grade. All topics covered in class, assigned videos, and readings are "fair game" for the exam. If you regularly participate in class and complete the videos, readings, assignments and discussion questions the exams should be straight froward. 

Grading

A 94-100; A- 90-93; B+ 87-89; B 84-86; B- 80-83; C+ 77-79; C 74-76; C- 70-73; D 65-69; F 64 and below

Final grades are rounded up. Meaning, 93.1 = A and 92.9 = A-.  

Late Discussions and Assignments 

My goal is for you to focus on learning and not grades. Part of the learning process is being accountable for due dates. Because there are many opportunities to submit discussions, assignments, and quizzes and missing one of these will not likely affect your final grade I do not accept late discussions, assignments, or quizzes. If you plan to miss an exam please email me at least 48 hours prior to the exam date so we can set a time for you to take the exam. Not emailing me and after the exam date asking to retake the exam will result in minus ten points. 

Course Outline

Week	Drivers for Sustainability
1	First Day Thoughts
1	The World’s Biggest Problems
2	Urban Growth
2	Resources Constraints
3	Public Health
	Sustainable Infrastructure Concepts
3	Resilience
4	Elegance
4	Complex Systems
5	Biomimicry
5	Green Infrastructure
6	The Envision Framework
6	Infrastructure Bright Spots Project
	Current Challenges
7	Urban Sprawl
7	Clean Energy
8	Outdated Infrastructures
8	Environmental Justice
9	Exam 1
	Making Smart Infrastructure
9	Charrette process (Without Technology)
10	Collective wisdom (Leveraging Technology)
10	Visualization during Construction
11	Citizens as sensors
11	Smart and connected cities
	Working with Smart Infrastructure Data
12	Open-source data
12	Data wrangling 101
13	Data wrangling 102
13	Infrastructure insights (project work day)
14	Thanksgiving Break
	Strategies for Success
15	Communicating your findings
15	Managing stakeholders
16	Leveraging points for change
16	Final Presentations
	Projects
3-6	Bright Spots
11-13	Infrastructure of the Future Op-Ed
9-16	Infrastructure Insights