DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING, CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

Course: BCEE 451/4-V Construction Engineering Term: Winter 2014

Lecture Time: W-F 11:45 13:00 Room: MB 3.270
Instructor: Christopher J. Willis PhD, CAPM, LEED GA.,P.Eng, MCSCE
Email: christopher.willis@concordia.ca Tel.: 848-2424 Ex.: 7817
Office: EV 6.247 Office hours: Friday 12 - 2pm

Course Objectives:
Introduce students to general construction engineering practices, calculations and documents; as well as to the
general characteristics of the Canadian construction industry.

Course Description:
A study of general construction engineering practices, calculations and documents. Emphasis is on excavation
equipment selection, general construction practices and methods related to excavations, concrete, timber and
masonry. The design of timber formwork and various techniques of planning and scheduling construction
projects are studied.

Text
There is no dedicated text for this course. Course content is derived from a variety of sources including
textbooks, research articles and industry documents.

Resources
1. Moodle course website.
2. Nunnally, S.W., "Construction Methods and Management", 8th Edition, Prentice-Hall of Canada Ltd.,
Toronto, 2010.
3. Peurifoy, R.L. "Construction Planning, Equipment, and Methods", 6th Edition, McGraw-Hill Book
Company, Montreal, 2002.
4. Andres,C.K. and Smith, R.C., "Principles and Practices of Heavy Construction", 5th Edition, Prentice-Hall
Canada Ltd., Toronto, 1998.
5. Knutson, K. et al. Construction Management Fundamentals, 2nd Edition. McGraw Hill, 2009

Course Evaluation
Assignments: 10%
Midterm: 25% (closed book)
Project: 25%
Final Exam: 40% (closed book)

CEAB Graduate Attributes to be taught in BCEE 451:

Problem Analysis: an ability to use appropriate knowledge and skills to identify, formulate, analyze and solve
complex engineering problems in order to reach substantiated conclusions.
Design: an ability to design solutions for complex, open-ended engineering problems, and to design systems,
components and processes that meet specified needs with appropriate attention to health and safety risks,
applicable standards, economic, environmental, cultural and societal considerations.
Professionalism: An understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the professional engineer in society,
especially the primary role of the protection of the public and the public interest.

Dr. Christopher Willis, CAPM, P.Eng /Winter2014 1/2

 Main Topics*

1. Characteristics of the Canadian Construction Industry

2. Project Phases and Construction Documents

3. Site Investigation

4. Types of Excavations and Estimating Excavation Quantities

5. Excavation Equipment Selection

6. Introduction to Temporary Structures in Construction

7. Design of Timber Formwork

8. Introduction to Concrete Construction

9. Introduction to Masonry and Timber Construction

10. Project Planning, Scheduling and Control

11. Ethics and Professionalism in Construction

*In the event of extraordinary circumstances beyond the Universitys control, the content and/or evaluation
scheme in this course is subject to change.

Dr. Christopher Willis, CAPM, P.Eng /Winter2014 2/2