Civil and Environmental Engineering Systems Analysis (304-0-1)
Instructors
Pablo Luis Durango-Cohen
1 847 491 4008
TECH A332
Office Hours: pdc@northwestern.edu
Meeting Info
Technological Institute M128: Tues, Thurs 9:30AM - 10:50AM
Overview of class
This course explores problems that arise in planning and managing CEE systems. The methods introduced in the course, often used in the management sciences, will provide a basis for developing descriptive and prescriptive models that can address a broad range of problems. Examples include space allocation in an industrial park, equipment selection for energy generation, scheduling construction projects, designing warehousing and distribution strategies for companies, locating (emergency) services such as fire stations, docks for bike-sharing services, and the design and management of water distribution systems. We will model problems using techniques from engineering economics, decision analysis, mathematical programming, and solve them using commercial software (Excel).
Registration Requirements
Calculus and Probability. These requirements are loose and all required material will be covered in class.
Learning Objectives
During the course, students will:
1. Develop a "systems perspective" necessary for planning and managing large-scale engineering systems;
2. Formulate and solve quantitative models for a range of civil and environmental engineering systems
problems; and
3. Use commercial software to solve engineering problems.
Evaluation Method
Homework assignments (20%)
Two case-studies (20% each)
Two in-class examinations (20% each)
Class Materials (Required)
The required textbook for the class is Revelle, C.S., Whitlatch, E.E., and Wright, J.R. (2003); Civil and
Environmental Systems Engineering, Second Edition; Prentice Hall.1 ISBN: 13: 9780130478221
Class Materials (Suggested)
Other reference texts include:
1. deNeufville, R. (1990); Applied Systems Analysis; McGraw-Hill. This book is out of print, but available
on-line for free.
2. Hillier, F. and Lieberman, G. (2015); Introduction to Operations Research; Tenth Edition, McGraw-
Hill.
3. Park, C. (2016); Contemporary Engineering Economics; Sixth Edition, Prentice Hall.