11/21/2024 10:13:28 AM	APTE 191 Course Outline as of Summer 2025	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  APTE 191	Title:  PROB SOLVING CIVIL TECH
Full Title:  Problem Solving in Civil Engineering Technology
Last Reviewed:1/25/2021

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		8 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  APTECH 191

Catalog Description:

Approaches to problem solving in Civil Engineering Technologies including quantitative reasoning coupled with direct applications to problems encountered in land surveying, civil engineering, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), construction, and related engineering technologies.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Course Completion of MATH 150 OR Standard first year high school algebra course with "C" or better

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Approaches to problem solving in Civil Engineering Technologies including quantitative reasoning coupled with direct applications to problems encountered in land surveying, civil engineering, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), construction, and related engineering technologies.

(Grade Only)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Course Completion of MATH 150 OR Standard first year high school algebra course with "C" or better
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Define and solve algebraic, geometric, and trigonomentric problems in the fields of civil engineering, land surveying, geospatial, and construction technologies.

2. Describe and evaluate measurement data using descriptive statistics and exploratory data analysis.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Solve problems involving triangles, polygons, curves and curve elements, terrestrial baselines (vectors), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), GPS signal vectors, matrices, and measurement

    data.

2. Calculate curve elements, arc lengths, and areas of sectors and segments.

3. Analyze and solve problems relating to the dimensions of geometric solids such as earth volumes, cut and fill, tailings, and concrete form work.

4. Solve linear equations and inequalities with one, two, or three variables such as those found in trilateration methods of GPS ranging.

5. Solve systems of equations by using various methods.

6. Evaluate and solve ratio and proportion problems found in the civil engineering, land surveying, geospatial, and construction fields.

7. Evaluate and summarize measurement data using descriptive statistics and exploratory data analysis methods.

Topics and Scope

I. Review of Fundamental Concepts Found in Geospatial Problem Solving

    A. Real number system

    B. Scientific notation and engineering notation

    C. Exponents and radicals

    D. Algebraic expressions and properties

    E. Linear equations

    F. Ratio and proportion

II. Review of Graphing Concepts

    A. Functions used in land surveying

     B. Graphing linear equations

    C. Distance and slope formulas

    D. Coordinate systems used in geospatial mapping

III. Review of Geometric Concepts

    A. Lines, angles, distance, and direction

    B. Triangles, quadrilaterals, polygons, circles, ellipses, and other geometric figures

         1. Orientation

         2. Areas

         3. Volumes

    C. Arcs, arc length, and curves

         1. Arc definitions

         2. Curve types and curve elements

         3. Rays and cardinal points

    D. Vectors and scalars

         1. Vector components

         2. Vector and scalar arithmetic

         3. Complex numbers

IV. Review of Trigonometric Concepts

    A. Trigonometric functions of an angle

    B. Radians and angular measure

    C. Right triangle solutions: Pythagorean Theorem

    D. Oblique triangle solutions: Law of Sines/Cosines and identification of ambiguities

    E. Application of trigonometric functions

         1. Angular and linear measures

         2. Areas and volumes

         3. Arc distances, curve lengths, and curve elements

         4. Expressing scalar and vector quantities

          5. Graphing simple trigonometric functions

V. Systems of Linear Equations Found in Surveying and Geospatial Problems

    A. Examples of linear equations and systems of linear equations

    B. Methods of solving systems of linear equations

         1. Algebraic and graphical solutions

         2. Graphing, addition, substitution, comparison, and determinants and matrices

         3. Vector solutions, matrices, and determinants

    C. Obtaining multiple solutions for simple 2- and 3-variable systems of equations

VI. Review of Descriptive Statistics in Civil Engineering, Surveying, and GIS

    A. Populations, samples, and distributions

    B. Summarizing central tendency and spread

    C. Other statistical moments

    D. Parametric vs. non-parametric statistics

    E. Univariate vs. bivariate descriptions

    F. Characterize and assess data quality with descriptive statistics

    G. Present statistical summaries with diagrams, charts, and graphs

VII. Measurements and Measurement Theory in Civil Engineering, Surveying, and GIS

    A. Measurement theory and methods

    B. Error assessment and error management

    C. Summarizing measurement variability

    D. Assess error associated with measurements and measuring devices

VIII. Calculation Methods and Tools

    A. Hand calculator

    B. Spreadsheet applications

    C. Software applications

Assignments:

1. Readings (20-40 pages per week)

2. Problem sets (1-2 per week)

3. Quizzes (2-4)

4. Exams (4-8)

5. Quantitative skill demonstrations (2-6)

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 0 - 0%
None
This is a degree applicable course but assessment tools based on writing are not included because problem solving assessments and skill demonstrations are more appropriate for this course.
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 40 - 50%
Problem sets
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 5 - 10%
Quantitative skill demonstrations
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 40 - 50%
Examinations and quizzes
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Elementary Technical Mathematics. 12th ed. Ewen, Dale and Nelson, Robert. Prentice Hall. 2019

Basic Technical Mathematics. 11th ed. Washington, Allyn. Pearson. 2018

Technical Mathematics. 6th ed. Calter, Paul and Calter, Michael. Wiley. 2011 (classic)

Technical Mathematics. 7th ed. Peterson, John. Cengage. 2019

Print PDF