Site visit richly adds practical context to lab instruction
Friday, February 24, 2023
Students in civil engineering and surveying technologies, accompanied by three faculty members, visited an active construction site south of campus in Allenwood this past week. The students were able to view erosion- and sediment-control measures, collect surveying data, and watch site preparation and the erection of precast concrete columns at the expansive project in the Great Stream Commons development.
Instructor Ruth A. Hocker spoke to students about on-site provisions for erosion and sedimentation control, and postconstruction stormwater management; David J. Fedor, assistant professor, and the last class of surveying technology students performed a drone survey and located the site’s GPS base station; and Drew R. Potts, assistant professor, discussed the unique precast concrete column and foundation system of the building. Additionally, characteristics of soils studied in the lab were experienced firsthand.
"The presence of articulated dump trucks and sheep’s foot rollers were the first indication that a hands-on learning experience awaited," faculty said. "Students have a new appreciation for the cohesiveness of soil as it collected on their shoes and boots."
The visit was made possible by Corey M. Johnson, a 2014 civil engineering technology graduate and a project engineer with LIVIC Civil, who prepared the permits and site plans. Penn College offers associate and bachelor's degrees in civil engineering technology through its School of Engineering Technologies.
Instructor Ruth A. Hocker spoke to students about on-site provisions for erosion and sedimentation control, and postconstruction stormwater management; David J. Fedor, assistant professor, and the last class of surveying technology students performed a drone survey and located the site’s GPS base station; and Drew R. Potts, assistant professor, discussed the unique precast concrete column and foundation system of the building. Additionally, characteristics of soils studied in the lab were experienced firsthand.
"The presence of articulated dump trucks and sheep’s foot rollers were the first indication that a hands-on learning experience awaited," faculty said. "Students have a new appreciation for the cohesiveness of soil as it collected on their shoes and boots."
The visit was made possible by Corey M. Johnson, a 2014 civil engineering technology graduate and a project engineer with LIVIC Civil, who prepared the permits and site plans. Penn College offers associate and bachelor's degrees in civil engineering technology through its School of Engineering Technologies.
– Photos provided
Surveying technology students, with drone in hand, enjoy a working field trip ... to a very big field!
Seemingly in miniature, construction equipment nearly gets lost in an aerial photo's depiction of scale.
Silt socks snake across the parcels, providing sediment and erosion control.
A pleasing pattern of tread marks
The project's scope is manifested in a trailer-to-trailer parade of precast concrete.
Hiking the perimeter
Potts (with clipboard at right) and students document the occasion.
Students will benefit in class from digital surface models captured during the drone flight.