BH Class Blog

1. Why did we exaggerate the vertical scale when we did the profile layout of the road?
-- We exaggerated the scale so that we could see the road in greater detail/

2. What differences would there be in the design of a road if we changed the road type from a collector to an arterial?
-- The road would have to be much larger and curve very little because cars would be traveling at higher speeds.

3. What are some of the factors you would have to consider if you were asked to design a new parking lot for your local library?
-- I would consider the space and how level the area was. I would also consider how much traffic goes through the building and how the flow would be.

4. How would the design of ingress or egress change if a building were to be used as a day care center instead of a senior center?
-- For day cares, your entrances would need to be farther away to keep the darting kids out of the way. Senior center entrances need to be real close to the doors of the building so that the old people don't have to walk far.

1. Determine the following information about the PLTW firehouse plan:

· What is the diameter of the existing water main? - 6"

· What is the diameter of the proposed water service? - 8"

· What is the elevation of the top of the hydrant? - 301.79'

· What diameter pipe is used for the building’s sanitary sewer line? - 6"

· Where is the gas meter to be located? - south middle of the building

· What is the spot elevation in the front left-hand corner of the building? - 300.00'


2. Why do you think red is the color used to depict electricity?
Red = danger, and you should always stay away from electrical lines

DUMB!

1. Arterial: a high or moderate capacity road below a highway that carries large volumes of traffic between urban areas.
2. Egress: a way out or exit, an exit ramp on an interstate
3. Feeder: a smaller road that flows into a larger road
4. Ingress: entering, an on ramp on an interstate
5. Transit Line: a line providing public transit
6. Curb Cut: a ramp leading smoothly down from a sidewalk to a street
7. Cut and Fill: the process of earth grading by excavating part of a higher area and using the material to fill in an adjacent lower area
8. Delta Angle: the change in angle of a curve
9. Freeway: a broad highway designed for high speed travel
10. Point of Reverse Curve: a point in a rail or road where a left or right curve is quickly followed by a curve in the opposite direction
11. Point of Tangency: point at which a tangent line intersects a curve
12. Sight Distance: length of the roadway ahead visible to the driver
13. Tangent Line: a straight line that just touches the outside of a curve
14. Vertical Alignment: a combination of tangent grades and vertical curves which defines the vertical location of a highway
15. Vertical Curve: a transition between two elevations

1. What can the navy offer me?
2. What careers does the navy offer in engineering?
3. Have you ever killed a man?
4. Does Obama Know you're here?
5. What is an engineer's main duty on a sub?

1. How do you know when the design you’ve chosen for a site is the correct one?
-- The correct design is based off how efficiently you have used the space for its purpose. The property needs to flow well and be useful.

2. As a developer for the site, how does knowing about past owners and the uses of the property help you develop the site?
-- How the site has been used previously will govern how it can be used today. On the surface, the ground may seem safe, but you never know what has been buried or what the soil has been through.

3. In what ways do the view of a site, its terrain, the solar aspects, wind, and sound influence site orientation?
-- When building on a property, you have to know what its purpose will be and what its needs are in order to orientate it properly. If you're building a business, you probably want high visibility. If the building is tall, you'd want low winds. All these things

4. How does knowing about current neighbors help you in developing a site?
-- In smaller communities like Wells county, neighbors will make or break you. Word travels around quickly here and if your neighbors don't like what you're doing, life can be made rather unpleasant.

5. What difference does it make if you do or do not abide by the regulations and requirements for developing and building property?
-- If your property is not up to code, serious fines can be instated until you fix the issue. Building inspectors can deem the building unsafe and it will not be able to be used.

6. What regulatory agencies should you know? Why is it important to work with them in preparing to develop property?
-- Your local zoning and building committees. Also, it would help to work with the city council in order to be part of the city. By cooperating with these committees, you're ensuring a safe and smooth ride to completion.

7. Zoning is not a requirement in all localities. How does zoning help or hinder land development?
-- Zoning helps development by designating what can and can't be built in and around a property. Contractors interested in building a housing complex will be much more interested in a property if they know the area around them won't have large factories springing up anytime soon.

8. The environment is affected when land is developed. How does an environmental impact study help or hinder a developer in preparing to develop property?
-- In some cases this can help the ability for a contractor to build in an area because it may help the environment. On the other hand, as in most cases, if the study shows building may hurt the environment, different paths may have to be taken to replenish the environment in the long term.

9. What do wetlands, covenants, and prior ownership have to do with site selection?
-- Obviously, it would be more difficult to build a sturdy foundation in a swamp, so special procedures would have to be taken to drain the area to make it suitable. This may mean a higher cost to build which would make the area less desirable. The same would go for previous ownership. If the prior owner buried tanks for oil or gasoline, these will have to be inspected yearly which may mean more cost as well.

10. How did completing a traffic analysis around the property help in providing information about the property?
-- It will show how many cars travel around the property, it will also outline what the visibility is.

11. As an owner of the property, what issues were of concern to you and may affect the development of the property after you completed the viability analysis?
-- Once again, money is the biggest issue. If by completing a viability analysis, you realize you'll have to go through special hoops, you may be weary of building where you were thinking. Also, if you cannot attain the proper permits, you may not be able to build there.

12. What is the relationship of regulations to the viability analysis?
-- The more regulations, the more problems you will have with your viability analysis.

1. How do weight and applications of loads affect the design of a structure?
-- The heavier a building will be, the better the foundation will need to be. The may mean making the foundation thicker or reinforcing it better.


2. What are the factors that determine if soil is suitable to support a structure?
-- The type of soil is a major factor in determining the ability to sustain the structure. In some regions where soil is especially sandy, big structures could not be built with the soil conditions. Soil is often trucked in from other areas and filled into the area. Also, frost penetration plays a big role with the soil. If the frost reaches 20" at points, the foundation must go below that level.


3. How does the various load types, soil bearing capacities, and drainage influence the design of a foundation?
-- Depending on all these factors, different foundations can be chosen. Buildings may need to be supported by a continuous foundation, or maybe piling foundation.