Please note: The $1700 fee for this course is non-refundable. 

Synopsis

This micro-credential is an introduction to Performance-based Design and Life-cycle Design of Bridges. The training will include lectures in performance-based design and life-cycle design theory as well as lab (hands-on) components. Hands-on activities involve using recent software to model and design a full-scale bridge and to perform life-cycle cost and life-cycle assessment. Participants will gain a unique opportunity to use industry standard tools to learn about performance-based design of bridges in life-cycle context. This program aims to prepare highly qualified bridge designers with a greater understanding of the latest of the Canadian design codes such as the NBCC 2020 and CSA-S6-19. In addition, it aims to prepare attendees with a deeper understanding of design requirements beyond the strength design, such as the life-cycle cost assessment.

Upon completion, the learners will be able to:

• Select an efficient bridge configuration;
• Design a bridge satisfying the force-based and performance-based requirements of CSA-S6-19 along with modelling techniques, result interpretation, and pitfall avoidance;
• Provide cost-effective design solutions;
• Bring innovation in design reflecting functionality, sustainability, and resilience;
• Employ LCA and Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) to provide the most feasible solution in terms of environmental and economic considerations.

Audience

This course will be particularly useful for civil engineers, designers, consulting engineers, architects, contractors, construction inspectors, inspection agency officials, asset managers responsible for the design, construction maintenance or rehabilitation of bridges, and other parties interested in learning about key deterioration mechanisms.

Additionally, upper level post-secondary students in civil engineering or civil engineering technology will benefit from this micro-credential. See Admission Requirements below for more details on the background needed.

Course Structure and Delivery

This 30-hour micro-credential is structured around:

• 21 hours of synchronous lecture and hands-on computer design and lab activities
• 9 hours of independent learning activities (quizzes, assignments, and/or a project)

Real-time delivery is scheduled as one Friday and two Saturday full-day (8 hour) sessions, inclusive of lunch and breaks, held using Zoom web conferencing. The real-time sessions will be organized into lectures and hands-on activities.  Quizzes, assignments, and/or a project will support the learning for this course. Learners are required to achieve 60% or higher on the coursework to pass this course. 

Course Schedule

Real-time, online sessions will take place:

• Friday, June 3
• Saturday, June 4
• Saturday, June 18

Online sessions will be from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM in Pacific Daylight Time (PDT).

The course materials will be available from June 1 - June 25, 2022 on UBCO’s Canvas Catalog.

Fees

The fee for this course is $1700 is non-refundable. All instructional content required to complete the course is available through the course website. There are no additional fees for textbooks. 

Credential Awarded

Learners who successfully complete this course will receive a UBC Okanagan Non-credit Letter of Proficiency.

This is a 30-hour continuing education course and is intended to support the satisfaction of CE requirements as defined and explained in the Guide to Continuing Education Program handbook, section 3.1 (Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia, 2021, version 1.1, page 6). This definition aligns with similar expectations of practicing professionals in many jurisdictions in Canada.

Admission requirements

Participants in this program should have knowledge in theory of structures and reinforced concrete design basics. A preliminary background about the Canadian design codes and handbooks such as the NBCC 2020, CSA-S6-19 and Handbook of Steel Construction will be a good asset.

This non-credit credential does not require a prior or existing affiliation with UBC. This learning opportunity is designed for adult learners; participants must be 18 years or older. Language of instruction is English.

Technical Requirements

This course will be delivered online using UBCO's Canvas Catalog learning management system. 

The real-time synchronous sessions will use Zoom (technical requirements). 

It is expected that participants have access to a personal computer connected to the Internet with speakers, web-camera and a microphone and that the computer is installed with web browser, word processor, spreadsheet and presentation software.

Participants should have the required technology to access and participate in online learning and assessment. These include stable internet connection, a webcam, and a microphone. The computers used by the learners should be of a processor greater than 2.0 GHz and a Ram of 4.0 GB or greater.

Instructors

Dr. Shahria Alam leads the instructional team. 

Dr. Alam is a Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC)’s Okanagan Campus.  He is serving as the Director of the Green Construction Research & Training Center (GCRTC) and the Applied Laboratory for Advanced Materials & Structures (ALAMS) at UBC.  He received his PhD in Civil Engineering from Western University in 2008. He has authored over 300 peer-reviewed articles and holds several patents. Dr. Alam serves as the Associate Editor of the Journal of Bridge Engineering, ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers).

Dr. Ahmed Bediwy is the course facilitator.  Dr. Bediwy is a research engineer at the Green Construction Research & Training Center (GCRTC). He received his Ph.D. from the University of Manitoba in 2021 and has 10+ years of experience, specializing in material and structural engineering. 

Saqib Khan (P.Eng. in BC, AB, ON; S.E. and P.E. in WA; P.E. in CA, AL) comes with 22+ years of experience in bridge engineering. He is a Principal and founding partner at Spannovation Consulting Limited.

Faroque Hossain is a Ph.D. student and Graduate Research Assistant at the University of British Columbia. His research interests include smart bridge systems, Hybrid simulation, nonlinear finite element analysis, machine learning, large-scale scientific computing and software development.

Dr. Qi Zhang is an instructor at BCIT’s Civil Engineering department and a professional engineer registered in BC and the State of Washington. He has been a consulting engineer working on many major and complex bridges across Canada and internationally at WSP Canada.

Dr. Saif Aldabagh is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of British Columbia with 8 years of combined academic and professional experience in the structural design of buildings and bridges. His research lies at the intersection of performance-based design and assessment, advanced computational modelling and experimental testing of structures, and data-driven models.

Dr. Kh Md Nahiduzzaman is a visiting Assistant Professor at the School of Engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC)’s Okanagan Campus. He received Ph.D. in Urban Planning from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Sweden. Dr. Nahid serves as the Associate and Book Review Editor of the Journal of Urban Management, Elsevier. 

Dr. Mohammad Kamali is a postdoctoral fellow and sessional lecturer at the University of British Columbia. His research areas include life cycle thinking and sustainable construction. 

Dr. Anber Rana is a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the School of Engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC)’s Okanagan Campus.

Mohammad Saifuzzaman is an Engineering Manager working for Parsons. He has over 25 years of experience in bridge engineering throughout Canada, the United States and Bangladesh. He has demonstrated expertise in analysis, design, detailing, erection, evaluation, load rating, rehabilitation and construction of bridge structures. He is very experienced in the conceptual, preliminary and detailed design of short to long-span concrete and steel bridges. 

Course Materials

There is no required textbook in this course.  However, learners are encouraged to purchase the following books online:

1. Vagelis Plevris, Georgia Kremmyda and Yasin Fahjan. “Performance-Based Seismic Design of Concrete Structures and Infrastructures” Engineering Science Reference (2017).
2. Hitoshi Furuta, Mitsuyoshi Akiyama, Dan M. Frangopol. “Life-cycle of Structural Systems Design, Assessment, Maintenance and Management” Routledge (2018).
3. Priestley, M. J. N., Seible, F., and Calvi, G. M. (1996). Seismic design and retrofit of bridges. New York: Wiley.

There is no suggested time frame to read in these books, but the students are encouraged to refer to them when doing their assignments and projects.

Additional Information

Course Surveys

Learners will be asked to take part in pre- and post-course surveys that include information regarding current employment status, educational background, professional goals, and an evaluation of subject matter knowledge prior to and following the learning experience. In particular, there will be a survey distributed 6 months after the completion of this course. This information will be collected privately and used solely for the purpose of understanding the impact of the course in meeting the professional development needs of participants.

Micro-credential Pilot: Tuition Subsidies

We are committed to reducing barriers for learners, and increasing equity, diversity and inclusion in engineering study and practice. To support this goal, the project has received funding to offer a limited number of partial tuition subsidies ($800/learner) to individuals who live or work in British Columbia and who self-identify as members of underrepresented groups in engineering, including Indigenous peoples, women, members of racialized minorities, people with disabilities and 2SLGBTQIA+ people. To apply for this subsidy, please complete this form by Tuesday, May 17, 3:00 PM. We will contact you as soon as possible once the application period closes.

Contact Information

Inquiries about this micro-credential can be submitted to Dr. Ahmed Bediwy, Research Engineer, Green Construction Research & Training Center (GCRTC), at info.GCRTC@ubc.ca.

Last updated: April 13, 2022, VC.