Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech

History of Civil Engineering (2500034) – Course 2025/26 PDF

Syllabus

Learning Objectives

Knowledge of civil engineering history and ability to analyze and to value public constructions. 1 Ability to analyze and assess public works in particular, and construction in general and knowledge of the history of civil engineering. Introduce the student to the knowledge of public works, their evolution in terms of technical and construction-related knowledge and their important roleplayed by public works in the transformation of the land and in the construction of the city. Understand that civil engineering actions, expressed through public works, tend to characterize the way in which the different societies of the western world have interacted with the environment and have modified the land and nature to establish communication systems, water use, energy optimization and alsow the ways in which these societies have set up city infrastructure. Approach the history of public works as transversal knowledge that allows the assessment of regional structures created through engineering from a perspective of functional continuity over time. A dynamic approach will incorporates the historical legacy to the present-day reality. Assess public works in terms of their artistic value, technical legacy, design, and role in landscape creation over time, all of which lends cultural meaning to public works as creations of humankind. This assessment of monumentality, which extends to linear infrastructure, gives meaning to public works as cultural heritage. The understanding of the territory and the city as products of a historical process must allow acquiring a critical and reflective vision of engineering projects and, therefore, incorporate a more integrated vision between public works and land in current project practice. Learn to value and contextualize the heritage of public works in an action at regional and urban level.

Competencies

Especific

Ability to analyze the problem of safety and health in construction sites. (Common module to the Civil branch)

Knowledge of the typology and calculation bases of prefabricated elements and their application in manufacturing processes. (Specific technology module: Civil Construction)

Knowledge about the project, calculation, construction and maintenance of building works in terms of structure, finishes, facilities and own equipment. (Specific technology module: Civil Construction)

Capacity for the construction and conservation of roads, as well as for the dimensioning, the project and the elements that make up the basic road equipment. (Specific technology module: Civil Construction)

Capacity for the construction and conservation of railway lines with knowledge to apply specific technical regulations and differentiating the characteristics of the mobile material. (Specific technology module: Civil Construction)

Ability to apply construction procedures, construction machinery and construction planning techniques. (Specific technology module: Civil Construction)

Capacity for the construction of geotechnical works. (Specific technology module: Civil Construction)

Total hours of student work

Hours Percentage
Supervised Learning Large group 45h 100.00 %
Self Study 67.5h

Teaching Methodology

The course consists of 1.5 hours per week of classroom activity (large size group) and 1.5 hours weekly with half the students (medium size group). The 1.5 hours in the large size groups are devoted to theoretical lectures, in which the teacher presents the basic concepts and topics of the subject, shows examples and solves exercises. The 1.5 hours in the medium size groups is devoted to analise infraestructures with greater interaction with the students. The objective of these land practices is to consolidate the general and specific learning objectives. Support material in the form of a detailed teaching plan is provided using the virtual campus ATENEA: content, program of learning and assessment activities conducted and literature. Although most of the sessions will be given in the language indicated, sessions supported by other occasional guest experts may be held in other languages.

Grading Rules

The evaluation calendar and grading rules will be approved before the start of the course.

The mark of the course is obtained from the ratings of continuous assessment and the course practice. A test will be given corresponding to the subject's 3 content modules (from I to III), which will be structured into questions regarding the theoretical concepts and questions aimed at evaluating the practical classes. In classroom time, three practical exercises will be done based in comparison, discussion and critical approach about subjects and study cases of civil engineering throughout the history. Finally, an individual assignment will be given out at the end of the subject where students will work about the relationship Urbanism and Infrastructures. In all these tests the capacity for written communication will be evaluated, along with the ability to connect cases and concepts, as well as the ability to argue points of view. The final subject note (NT) will be obtained from the scores received from the module test (M), the 3 practical exercises (E1, E2 and E3), the individual assignment (T) according to the following calculation: NT= 50%(M) + 10%(E1) + 10%(E2) + 10%(E3)+ 20%(T) The evaluation test consist of a part with questions about concepts associated with the learning objectives of the course with regard to knowledge or understanding, and a part with a set of application exercises. Criteria for re-evaluation qualification and eligibility: students that failed the ordinary evaluation and have regularly attended all evaluation tests will have the opportunity of carrying out a re-evaluation test during the period specified in the academic calendar. Students who have already passed the test or were qualified as non-attending will not be admitted to the re-evaluation test. The maximum mark for the re-evaluation exam will be five over ten (5.0). The non-attendance of a student to the re-evaluation test, in the date specified will not grant access to further re-evaluation tests. Students unable to attend any of the continuous assessment tests due to certifiable force majeure will be ensured extraordinary evaluation periods. These tests must be authorized by the corresponding Head of Studies, at the request of the professor responsible for the course, and will be carried out within the corresponding academic period.

Office Hours

Friday morning

Bibliography

Basic

Complementary