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

About this Course

Discover the latest in performance-based design of bridges within a lifecycle context. In this 30-hour, non-credit micro-credential course, you’ll learn about designing and modeling bridges to satisfy force-based and performance-based requirements of the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code (CSA-S6-19), while taking into consideration the lifecycle cost impact.

Specific course topics include:

• Principles of performance-based seismic design (PBD) of bridges;
• Applying PBD based on the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code;
• Lifecycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) and Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) concept to provide design solutions;
• Advanced nonlinear finite element models of bridges under different loading conditions;
• Hands-on tutorials on the analysis of bridges.

Designed 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 advancing their understanding of bridge designs.

See prerequisites below for more details on the background required.

Course Structure and Delivery

This 30-hour micro-credential is structured around:

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

This course is delivered fully online via Zoom between October 12 – December 12, 2022. Learners are required to achieve 60% or higher on the coursework to earn the credential.

Course Schedule

ONLINE, GROUP-PACED

Real-time, online sessions will take place:

• Real-time, Zoom-based online sessions will take place Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM Pacific time;
• The first live-session is Wednesday, October 12, 2022, 3:30 – 5:00 PM Pacific;
  the final live-session is Monday, December 5, 2022, 3:30 – 5:00 PM Pacific;
• There will be no sessions the week of November 7, 2022;
• The course closes on December 12, 2022.

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.

Requirements

PREREQUISITES

Participants in this program should have knowledge in theory of structures and reinforced concrete design basics. Familiarity with the Canadian design codes such as CSA-S6-19 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.

COURSE MATERIALS

There is no required textbook in this course. A list of suggested readings will be provided.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

The learners should have the required technology to access and participate in online learning and assessment. These include stable internet connection, a webcam, a microphone, and a computer. 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).

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.

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.

Additional instructor information forthcoming

Additional Info

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.

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 fee 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, October 11, 10:00 AM.

CONTACT

Please send additional Inquiries about this micro-credential to Continuing and Professional Education at info.GCRTC@ubc.ca.

Last updated: October 12, 2022, LM.