Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias

Escuela de Ingeniería Industrial

PROGRAMA DE ASIGNATURA
Python for Engineers

I. Identification.

Code : CII3622
Credentials :6
Duration : Semestral
Assignation in study plan : 9th semester
Requirements : 200 CREDITOS APROBADOS
Weekly session : 2 classes combined with laboratory

II. General Aims

This course is an introduction to scientific programming in PYTHON with

applications in key areas of civil engineering such as Environmental Sciences, Fluid
Dynamics and Transit Flows. The course introduces this modern programming
language that is widely used in engineering, machining learning, scientific data
analysis and also web programming, among others. The student will learn to
implement mathematical techniques to solve numerical differential equations, as
well as to analyze graphically and numerically the resulting data.

The course will be taught in English.

III. Contents

1. Introduction to Python 3: data types, data structure, basic programming elements,

generation modules, data writing, usage of standard modules such as NumPy,
SciPy, Pandas, basic visualization in 2D/3D graphics.
2. Solving of ordinary differential equations
3. Root finding methods
4. Numerical Integration
5. Animated diagrams/plots
6. Applications to Environmental Sciences (e.g. temperature or fine dust distributions),
Transit flow (e.g. shortest distance search) and fluid dynamics (e.g. Solutions of
hydrodynamic equations).
IV. Importance of the course, module and educational activity in the curriculum

This course is characterized by its integration of large part of the courses of the basic
sciences education (calculus I/II, Differential Equations, Physics, Mechanics) and
engineering sciences (Environmental Sciences, Fluid Mechanics, Programming). Thus, in
this course students are given tools to have a first projection of subjects from the applied
engineering cycle (for example Transport Networks). Modern engineering requires the use
of computational tools and management of large volumes of data, which are often difficult
to assimilate. To study such amount of information modeling engineering requires a better
understanding of a particular process. Deep understanding, a broad overview, as well as
knowledge of numerical methods is key to anyone in this field of engineering. The student
learns to use the tools to perform such analysis with the PYTHON language. The objective
of the course is to give an introduction so that the student is able to assimilate the acquired
knowledge (cycle of basic sciences and engineering sciences) and to apply them to their
own future research in Engineering and other areas of Science.

In this way, the course contributes to the training of future engineers in the following aspects:
- Providing new numerical analysis tools complementary to those already
acquired in previous courses.
- Development of skills to face problems with a systematic approach, using
quantitative models and available technology.
- Development of capabilities for collecting, processing and analyzing of both field
and numerical modelled data.

V. Methodology

There are expository classes and weekly sessions of computer laboratory of the teacher
with active participation of the students.

To complement the theoretical study, students will perform computational tasks that include
both the use of terminal and of Jupyter notebook, in order to perform an analysis, modelling
and resolution of problems of certain complexity related to modelling in the areas of Civil
Engineering.

VI. Evaluación

Two tasks are envisaged, two solemnes and one examination. The following weighting will
be used for the calculation of the presentation and final grades:

 Solemn 1 grade: 25%

 Solemn 2 grade: 25%
 Average of exercises: 20%
 Grade exam: 30%.

Students who have taken all the evaluations and have a presentation grade equal to or
greater than 5.2 will be exempted from taking the course exam and will have a final grade
in the course equal to the presentation grade. For this purpose the student must have
completed each of the evaluative activities and have a grade of solemn 1, a grade of solemn
2 and a grade of each of the tasks higher than 4.0.

Students who do not reach the presentation mark in accordance with current regulations will
automatically fail the course without the right to take the exam. Students who are not in
either of the above two cases must take the course exam.

It is important to note that any problem related to actions contrary to university principles
that students commit throughout the semester will be reported to the Academic Secretary of
the School, and the case will be referred to the Ethics Committee that will apply the
respective sanction. According to article 44 of the Undergraduate Student Regulations:

"Any conduct by a student that tends to vitiate the academic evaluation, whether carried out
before, during, or after its completion, will give rise to the following sanctions, depending on
the severity of the offense committed: minimum grade (1.0) in the respective evaluation;
failure of the respective course; suspension for an academic period; or expulsion from the
University.
The Career Committee, after hearing the accused or in rebelliousness, will propose the
corresponding sanction.
Suspension or expulsion from the University must be ratified by the Academic Vice-Rectory
and reported to the Registration and Certification Unit. Students expelled for unlawful
conduct in the process of academic evaluation, may not re-enter the University.

VII. Basic bibliography

1. Stewart, J. M, Y. (2014) Python for Scientists. Cambridge University Press

2. http://docs.python.org.ar/tutorial/
3. https://www.python.org/
4. https://www.numpy.org/