CE 215 Computer-Aided Analysis and Design

Instructor Class Location and Meeting Times

Dr. Mike Lowry, P.E. We meet for labs in McClure Hall 214A:
Engineering Physics Building, EP 115 Section 1: Tues & Thur 12:30 pm – 2:20 pm
208-885-0139 Section 2: Tues & Thur 2:30 pm – 4:20 pm
mlowry@uidaho.edu
Office hours: M, Th, F 11:00–12:00.
Or you can email me and I will set aside time.

Course Description
Application of basic science, mathematics, and fundamental engineering principles to solution of civil engineering design
problems; use of structured programming concepts in design; develop oral and written communication skills.
3 credits, prerequisites: ENGR 1230 and MATH 1700. Minimum grade of 'C' or better is required for all pre/corequisites.

The syllabus and schedule might change during the semester. The current version and additional materials are online:
http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~mlowry/Teaching/syllabus.ce215.pdf

Learning Objectives
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to conduct civil engineering analysis and design using
computational tools and methods.

1. Concepts: Students will be able to perform “analysis” and “design” within civil engineering.
2. Methods: Students will be able to perform the following computational methods for analysis and design:
regression, integration, differentiation, optimization, and matrix operations. Students will solve problems
from the various civil engineering subdisciplines and learn to present technical data, calculations, and results.
3. Tools: Students will be able to use spreadsheets (Excel) and programming (Python) for analysis and design.

Grading Criteria
Grades are posted in Canvas and will be assigned according to the following criteria:

Participation in class and lab discussion or in my office 2% Open Portion of Exams:

Assignments 38% Instructions_Exam_Excel_Open.pdf
Exams 60% Instructions_Exam_Python_Open.pdf

**Using assignments, projects, or exams from previous semesters to study for exams, to help complete your
assignments, or for any other purpose whatsoever is strictly prohibited. Violators will be failed. **
**I will not accept late assignments or exam rescheduling without documentation from the Dean of Students or a
medical professional. Requests for exam rescheduling must be made prior to the day of the exam.**
**I will not accept extra or alternative work to replace assignments or improve your grade.**

Python for Civil Engineers

My class notes for Python are here: Python for Civil Engineers at https://bit.ly/python4civil

Equations for Example Civil Engineering Problems

Many lab assignments will be based on these example civil engineering problems: Equations_for_Example_CE_Problems.pdf

Other Resources
The ability to type will help you in this course. There are tutorials online like this one: https://www.typingclub.com/
You should become familiar with these excel functions: Important_Excel_Functions.pdf
This is a list of shortcut keys for Greek letters and math equations: Greek_Letters_and_Math_Shortcuts.pdf
List of matplotlib commands: Matplotlib_Commands.pdf
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 CE 215 Computer-Aided Analysis and Design
Schedule
Week Tuesday Thursday Weekly
Tuesday* Unit Lab 1 Lab 2 Reading
7-Jan 0.0 Course Introduction No class 0.0 Preparation and Overview
14-Jan 1.0 Excel Introduction 1.1 Excel Basics 1.2 IF Function Basics
21-Jan 2.0 Excel Functions 2.1 VLOOKUP Function 2.2 Design Statements Functions
28-Jan 3.0 Reports & Presentations 3.1 Excel Charts and MS Word 3.2 Tables and MS PowerPoint Data Analysis/Charts
Excel

4-Feb 4.0 Mathematical Analysis 4.1 Excel Solver 4.2 Design Optimization Data Analysis/Solver
11-Feb 5.0 Data Analysis 5.1 Pivot Tables 5.2 Descriptive Statistics Data Analysis/Pivot Tables
18-Feb 6.0 Statistical Analysis 6.1 Simple Linear Regression 6.2 Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ToolPak
25-Feb 7.0 Excel Exam Week 7.1 Excel Final Words Exam 1: Excel
4-Mar 1.0 Python Introduction 1.1 Math Calculations & Printing 1.2 if statements and for loops Python Tutorial: 1 to 4.2
11-Mar Spring Recess Spring Recess Spring Recess
18-Mar 2.0 Using for loops 2.1 Accumulate and Collect Values 2.2 Defining Simple Functions Python Tutorial: 4.3 to 4.5
Python

25-Mar 3.0 Functional Programming 3.1 Documenting Elaborate Functions 3.2 Creating Modules Python Tutorial: 4.6 to 6.4
1-Apr 4.0 Creating Plots 4.1 Plotting y vs x 4.2 Pie Charts and Bar Charts Matplotlib
8-Apr 5.0 Mathematical Analysis 5.1 Roots, Solver, Minima, & Maxima 5.2 Derivatives & Integrals Scipy
15-Apr 6.0 Data Analysis 6.1 Read Input/Write Output 6.2 Descriptive Statistics Pandas
22-Apr 7.0 Matrix Analysis 7.1 Matrix Operations Exam 2: Python Numpy
29-Apr 8.0 Other Languages 8.1 Java, Go, ChatGPT
Assignments are given at the start of every lab and are due at the start of the subsequent lab.

Required Readings
Excel-Easy.com
Online Excel Tutorial https://www.excel-easy.com/

Python Tutorial
The Python Tutorial by Guido van Rossum. https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/index.html

Matplotlib
Pyplot Tutorial. https://matplotlib.org/tutorials/introductory/pyplot.html#sphx-glr-tutorials-introductory-pyplot-py
Gallery. https://matplotlib.org/gallery/index.html

Scipy
Root. https://docs.scipy.org/doc/scipy/reference/generated/scipy.optimize.root.html
Minimize. https://docs.scipy.org/doc/scipy/reference/generated/scipy.optimize.minimize.html
Derivative. https://docs.scipy.org/doc/scipy/reference/generated/scipy.misc.derivative.html
Integration. https://docs.scipy.org/doc/scipy/reference/tutorial/integrate.html

NumPy
Quickstart tutorial. https://docs.scipy.org/doc/numpy/user/quickstart.html

Pandas
10 Minutes to pandas. http://pandas.pydata.org/pandas-docs/stable/10min.html

StatsModels
Ordinary Least Squares. https://www.statsmodels.org/stable/examples/notebooks/generated/ols.html

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 CE 215 Computer-Aided Analysis and Design
Assignments
Assignments are given at the start of each lab and are due at the start of the subsequent lab.
*I will not accept late assignments.

Create these folders in your OneDrive

\Courses\CE215\Part1_Excel
\Courses\CE215\Part2_Python

For every lab you will create at least two files: (1) an Excel file (or Python script) and (2) a Word document. Name your files
with your last name, Excel (or Python), and the lab number (all separated by underscores).

For the Excel portion of the class you will create:

File Name Description
Lastname_Excel_1.1.xlsx Excel file with your calculations and proper formatting (colors, comments, etc.)
Word document with sufficient problem information, proper formatting, and screenshots as
Lastname_Excel_1.1.docx
needed. Print and submit this for your grade.

For the Python portion of the class you will create:

File Name Description
Python script with your calculations and proper documentation and style (comments,
Lastname_Python_1.1.py
spacing, good variable names, etc.). Print and submit this for your grade.
Word document with sufficient problem information and proper formatting. Print and
Lastname_Python_1.1.docx
submit this for your grade.

• Email both files to me and the TA with the subject: CE215 Excel 1.1
• Print and submit a hardcopy of the Word document.

Data Files

Data_Files.zip

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 CE 215 Computer-Aided Analysis and Design
Student Conduct and Policies
Each student is expected to assist in maintaining a classroom environment that is conducive to learning. In order to assure
that all students have the opportunity to gain from time spent in class, unless otherwise approved by the instructor, students
are prohibited from engaging in any other form of distraction. Inappropriate behavior in the classroom shall result, minimally,
in a request to leave class.

• Attendance. Attendance at all course activities is expected. Missing more than one class period is considered excessive.
You are expected to arrive to class on time.
• Deadlines. Assignments must be turned in by the due date and time unless prior arrangements have been made. I will not
accept late assignments or exam rescheduling without documentation from the Dean of Students or a medical
professional. Requests for exam rescheduling must be made prior to the day of the exam.
• Extra or Alternative Credit. I will not accept alternative or extra work to replace assignments or improve your grade.
• Classroom Engagement. Use of personal phones, music players, tablets, iStuff, etc. is not permitted in class. This
includes texting. Please place your ringer on silent before entering class. Reading or working on other materials while in
this class is strongly discouraged.
• Student Conduct: All students are expected to honor the UI Student Code of Conduct. Violations include, but are not
limited to: copying homework assignments completed by others, plagiarism, and cheating. Please be aware that any
violation of the UI Student Code of Conduct may result in a course grade of “F”.
http://www.uidaho.edu/DOS/judicialaffairs/studentcodeofconduct
• Plagiarism: Plagiarism occurs when you use but do not cite someone else’s work, even if it is re-worded, or by not
indicating that a passage (paragraph, sentence, or even a small part of sentence) is directly quoted even if the reference is
cited. Following the structure or organization of someone else’s work is also plagiarism. Students caught plagiarizing will
be given a grade of “F”.
• Cheating. Using assignments, projects, or exams from previous semesters to study for exams, to help complete your
assignments, or for any other purpose whatsoever is strictly prohibited. Violators will be failed.

University of Idaho Classroom Learning Civility Clause

In any environment in which people gather to learn, it is essential that all members feel as free and safe as possible in their
participation. To this end, it is expected that everyone in this course will be treated with mutual respect and civility, with an
understanding that all of us (students, instructors, professors, guests, and teaching assistants) will be respectful and civil to
one another in discussion, in action, in teaching, and in learning.

Should you feel our classroom interactions do not reflect an environment of civility and respect, you are encouraged to meet
with your instructor during office hours to discuss your concern. Additional resources for expression of concern or requesting
support include the Dean of Students office and staff (885-6757), the UI Counseling & Testing Center’s confidential services (5-
6716), or the UI Office of Human Rights, Access, & Inclusion (885-4285).

Disability Support Services

If you believe that you require disability-related academic adjustments for this class (including pregnancy-related disabilities),
please contact Center for Disability Access and Resources (CDAR) to discuss eligibility. A current accommodation letter from
CDAR is required before any modifications, above and beyond what is otherwise available for all other students in this class
will be provided. Please be advised that disability-related academic adjustments are not retroactive. CDAR is located at the
Bruce Pitman Building, Suite 127. Phone is 208-885-6307 and e-mail is cdar@uidaho.edu. For a complete listing of services
and current business hours visit https://www.uidaho.edu/cdar

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