2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Towards Developing a Modernized Wind Engineering Curricula

Presented at Committee on Educational Policy Presents: Pillars of Professional Development

The development of wind science and engineering is still considered relatively young, and thus has been taught only recently in some academic institutions. Therefore, it is unsurprising that there are limited wind engineering programs worldwide, and no semblance of a standard or ideal curricula. An adequate education in wind engineering is of utmost importance to civil engineering, particularly to structural engineering, and ultimately to academia, since natural hazards including wind events have the capability to destroy our infrastructure systems, as well as threaten people’s lives and their well-being. The goal of this research is to identify and propose an ideal path for wind engineering programs by studying the current state of programs offered worldwide and identifying their Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT). To achieve these objectives, this research (a) analyzed the different wind engineering programs offered worldwide and identified the academic institutions that have academic expertise and equipment including wind tunnel, a fundamental tool for the research and study of wind events; (b) conducted a survey to wind engineering professors and students to gather information on the courses offered and the intention of the course, as well as information on what they believe could be offered or improved to enhance the courses and ultimately the curricula; (c) compared the programs that include wind engineering tracks to provide a streamlined wind engineering curricula; and (d) proposed ideas, tools, and strategies that can be implemented to offer a better wind curricula for students in order to enhance their education and increase research in this paramount topic.

Authors

Ms. Claudia Calle Müller http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2023-9361 Florida International University [biography]

Claudia Calle Müller is a Ph.D. Candidate in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Florida International University (FIU). She holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru ́ (PUCP). Claudia has over 4 years of experience in structural engineering designing reinforced concrete residential and commercial buildings in Peru; over 2 years of experience in entrepreneurship; and over 4 years of teaching experience. Currently, she is a Graduate Research Assistant and Teaching Assistant at the Moss School of Construction, Sustainability, and Infrastructure at FIU where she focuses on multidisciplinary research on sustainability, equity, resilient and sustainable post-disaster reconstruction, engineering education, circular economy, and well-being. Claudia holds professional credentials in LEED Green Associate for sustainable buildings and ENV SP for sustainable infrastructures.
Patrizia Bethania Santaniello Florida International University [biography]

Patrizia Santaniello is pursuing a master's degree in the Construction Management program at Florida International University (FIU). Patrizia holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Universidad Metropolitana in Caracas, Venezuela. During her master’s program, she worked as a Graduate Assistant at the Moss School of Construction Management.
Ioannis Zisis
Amal Elawady
Mr. Mohamed Elzomor, P.E. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7734-9601 Florida International University [biography]

Dr. Mohamed ElZomor is an Assistant Professor at Florida International University (FIU), College of Engineering and Computing and teaches at the Moss School of Construction, Infrastructure and Sustainability. Dr. ElZomor completed his doctorate at Arizona

Download paper (1.38 MB)

Are you a researcher? Would you like to cite this paper? Visit the ASEE document repository at peer.asee.org for more tools and easy citations.

» Download paper

« View session