The subject of this course is computer science, in this case, the computer systems applied in civil engineering. Given it is a pretty broad subject, we are going to limit the course to a number of areas that can be a good starting point for you. Computer science will have a big impact on your work. It will, of course, perform functions that we all already know: it will help us make 2D and 3D plans, it will help us organize our projects and it will be essential in information management. But in addition, it will be essential to collect data on our works and the environment through the addition of instruments and sensors. We will have to process data automatically and to get interesting information from it. This will help us making decisions. Sometimes, we will use Artificial Intelligence and similar data analysis techniques for decision making. And in general, Computer Science will provide us with tools to effectively explain and publish the results of our work and show them to our customers.



Within the structure of our Degree, this course is included in the basic training module, along with Calculus and the likes. In these basic courses, in addition to the basic skills that will be useful to us in our profession, we will acquire the skills that we will need in many other courses. For example, the computer science will help us in the courses of Electrical Technology, Surface and Underground Hydrology, Fluid and Hydraulic Mechanics, Topography and Urbanism and Spatial Planning.

The specific competence of the course is the following:



M01CM03: Basic knowledge of programming and the use of software, operating systems, databases, and computers applicable in civil engineering.



This is the specific competence that was defined for this course when our Degree was designed. As you can see, it is very general, but we see it not as a negative feature, but as an opportunity: it allows the flexibility required by the field of Information and Communication Technologies. A student from ten years ago and a present one, both of them, will acquire the ability to apply that knowledge, but the tools have changed a lot in ten years time.



This competence is linked to the following general one of the degree:



G001: Have the scientific-technical aptitude for the performance of Civil Engineering and know the functions of advice, design, and calculation.



These competencies shall be supplemented by the following Learning Results:



LR1: The student uses strategies consistent with scientific methodology to solve computer problems: he or she performs qualitative analyses, uses appropriate terminology, uses abstraction, and creates models.



LR2: The student uses information about computer processes, analyzing and expressing ideas properly, using oral and written language and appropriate graphic methods.



LR3: He or she uses computer tools correctly, applying them to engineering problems.



LR4: The student designs and implements computer systems that meet established specifications, generating appropriate documentation.



In addition to the competencies and Learning Results of the course, the following competencies of the UPV/EHU Catalogue of Transversal Competencies (e.g. AA) and Learning Results (e.g. AA01) will be addressed during the course:



AA: Autonomy and Self-regulation

AA01: He or she shows self-confidence and motivation to successfully develop the tasks proposed around a specific learning.

AA02: He or she is able to perform a complex task independently, using self-management and regulatory techniques.



GK: Social Commitment

GK01: The student analyses the social and environmental impact of scientific and technical actions, and professional decisions and proposals.



KO: Communication and Multilingualism

KO01: The student follows bibliographic reference citing standards according to academic context (APA, Vancouver, ISO...).

KO02: He or she expresses ideas effectively in communication, maintaining consistency between verbal and non-verbal language.



EE: Ethics and Professional Responsibility

EE01: He or she keeps confidential about the academic and professional data employed in various contexts of activity and relationship.



IF: Information Management and Digital Citizenship

IF01: The student uses digital environments in cooperation for academic and research work.



BE: Innovation and Entrepreneurship

BE01: The student creatively proposes innovative solutions to a situation or problem.

BE02: He or she designs an innovation project around civil engineering, responding to the needs and demands raised.



PK: Critical Thinking

PK01: The student identifies the underlying problem of a situation, collects the information necessary to understand it objectively, and selects the relevant elements.



TL Teamwork

TL01: Shows a respectful attitude in the expression and reception of the ideas expressed within the group.

TL02: The student identifies the roles, organization, and operating standards of a working group that pursues common objectives.

TL03: He or she performs team tasks responsibly to achieve collective goals and results.

TL04: He or she effectively coordinates meetings using collaborative skills such as shared and rotating leadership.



Learn more about the UPV/EHU Catalogue of Transversal Competences at the following link:



https://www.ehu.eus/documents/1432750/12757375/Zeharkako+gaitasunen+katalogoa.pdf

The agenda of this subject consists of five topics, which are listed below. These topics are dealt with in classroom sessions and computer sessions, and they are not entirely sequential, so we could be working on a particular subject in the lab and the previous or next topic in the classroom.



1.-Computers in the civil engineering around us

2.-Basic programming

3.-Programmable devices and sensors

4.-Operating Systems

5.-The Latest Trends in Information Technology and Communications

The methodology of the course is active and the evaluation is continuous. During the four-month period, computer practices and classroom exercises will be carried out to acquire skills. Although half the hours in class are by definition master classes, the resolution of exercises, teamwork, and discussion of problems will be the usual dynamics. In class we will also conduct tests, live demos and activities related to your contributions. The subject is face-to-face and attendance is mandatory. It is also mandatory to monitor eGela activities in accordance with established deadlines.



One of the pillars of the evaluation methodology is to ensure student progression. To achieve this, a practical exam must be passed and you must deliver an individual work. The purpose of the practical exam is not to ensure the ability to use a particular programming language, but to demonstrate the ability to implement simple applications in the context of the course.



The exam and individual work will take place throughout the course and have a minimum grade to pass. If the exam is not passed in the first, it may be repeated on the official examination day of the ordinary call. If any of the works is not passed, including the group work, there will be a second chance in the extraordinary call.



Prior to the practical examination, one or more example exams will be available with their corresponding resolutions and the qualification figures to be used by teachers. In this way, the student will be able to evaluate himself or herself with greater control over the progression. In the case of the "real" exam, the qualification will be accompanied by the exam resolution, a copy of the files delivered by the student and recommendations for improvement, in order to better monitor his or her learning process.



In addition to practical analysis and individual work, a group work will have to be delivered, as we will explain in the evaluation section. It will also have intermediate deliveries so that you can receive our feedback and make corrections. Of course, we are strict with the deadlines of the work and no delivery beyond the deadline will be allowed.



In addition to the mentioned group work, teamwork and student collaboration will be common in other individually evaluated activities too. In laboratory practice, you will cooperate with your peers, even if the progression is measured individually. Similarly, even if the delivery of the myRIO work is individual, it is very common to work together between two or three students.



Even if the evaluation items are associated to either classroom or laboratory sessions, the work will be interrelated. This course is very practical, hands-on, because we learn by doing. That is why we underline that participation is mandatory, both in classroom sessions and in lab sessions.



Finally, we would like to point out that the course belongs to everyone, to the teacher and to the students, and in the event of any incidence (which, unfortunately, we learned a lot about with the COVID-19 pandemics), we will have the opportunity to adapt the rules laid down here, always involving, agreeing, and communicating with the students in the decision.

• Continuous Assessment System
• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Individual works (%): 30
  • Team projects (problem solving, project design)) (%): 50
  • Practical Exam (%): 20

ORDINARY CALL



The evaluation of the course is continuous, based on the acquisition of competences and during the four-month period students will have the measure of the acquisition of their skills.



In this course we will carry out many activities, both in the classroom and in the laboratory, but the total qualification of the subject will revolve around the evaluation of three main activities:



1.-LabVIEW practical exam: 20% (minimum mark 50%)

2.-MyRIO individual exercise: 30% (minimum mark 50%)

3.-Group work on an innovative idea: 50% (minimum mark 50%)



The student has the right, in accordance with the regulations, to refuse continuous evaluation. The deadline for doing so is the ninth week of the four-month period. Within this period, the student, from his or her official email address at the UPV/EHU, must send an email to the Coordinator of the course. If a student decides not to take the practical exam, he or she shall be deemed to be tacitly renouncing the continuous evaluation.



The student also has the right, in accordance with the regulations, to refuse the call. The deadline for doing so is five weeks before the end of the four-month period. Within this period, the student, from his or her official email address at the UPV/EHU, must send an email to the Coordinator of the course. Continuous-assessment students who fail to do so shall have a suspended qualification, even if they do not deliver any work.



Students who refuse continuous evaluation must deliver their individual work and myRIO project two days before the official day of the regular call exam. In addition, he or she shall undergo a practical examination on the official day of the ordinary call, and on the same day he or she shall present orally the individual work equivalent to the group work. If he or she refuses continuous evaluation and does not finally take the test, the student shall have the qualification of No Show. The student shall have detailed information on the final evaluation in the information documents of all the main activities of the evaluation.

EXTRAORDINARY CALL



In the extraordinary call, the student shall refrain from performing the approved parts again, that is, the grades of all the parts shall be retained, both in the continuous evaluation and in the final evaluation.



The date assigned for the extraordinary call shall be the last day for the delivery of improved versions of the works. The guide for each work shall set out the criteria for the delivery of the extraordinary call. In the case of the exam, it may be carried out on the appointed day and time (either continuous or final).



A student who does not deliver improved work in an extraordinary call and does not take the test shall have the qualification of No Show.

You will find the basic material of this subject in eGela:

https://egela.ehu.eus/

In principle, with what you find there and the information you are going to look for on the Internet on your own, the course can be well worked out. However, we have a number of recommended books and websites for you, so that you can go deeper on the subject.

Basic bibliography

https://egela.ehu.eus/

In-depth bibliography

Doering, Ed (2013) NI myRIO Project Essentials Guide. Washington DC, USA:National Technology and Science Press.

Lora, Vittorio (2019) Python for Civil and Structural Engineers. Venetto, Italy: Independently Published.

Fox, Charles (2018) Data Science for Transport. A self study guide with computer exercises. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.

Journals

Computers and Structures ISSN: 0045-7949 Available online at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/computers-and-structures

Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering ISSN:0887-3801 Available online at: https://ascelibrary.org/journal/jccee5

Web addresses

For learning LabVIEW:
https://www.ni.com/
https://labviewwiki.org/wiki/Home

For learning myRIO:
https://www.ehu.eus/es/web/tutorial-myrio/home
https://www.ni.com/docs/en-US/bundle/labview-myrio-toolkit/page/myriohelp/myrio_get_started.html

In general:
https://informatics.industriainformatika.pw/