Civil Engineering @ University of Limerick

CIVIL @ UL Year 3 Seminar - 13 December 2011

2011-12-06T14:14:00.001Z

2011 Irish Flood Forum at University of Limerick

2011-11-18T10:49:00.006Z

17.11.2011: The 2011 'Irish Flood Forum' is being held at the University of Limerick on Saturday 19th November. The forum aims to help and educate communities after the flooding on November and December 2009.

This year's event, which is a free event to the public, has a number of high profile speakers. The speakers on the day include Minister Brian Hayes, and experts from the ESB, OPW, academia, and flooded community representatives.

The forum starts at 09.45 in the Jean Monnett Theatre, University of Limerick. Full details can be found on the website of the Irish National Flood Forum.

Cruth Curach: Designed. Crafted. Engineered.

2011-11-01T10:46:00.001Z

01.11.2011: Cruth Curach is a dramatic temporary pavilion based on the shape of currach boats, creating a sheltered performance space that can hold around 40 people. Mounted on curved rails, the currachs can twist round and close up tight like a clamshell. On the UL campus this week, the pavilion will be the venue for a series of short talks and performances during lunchtime and evenings.

The School of Architecture at the University of Limerick (SAUL) with the support of the Faculty of Science and Engineering brings the Cruth Curach Pavilion to the UL campus as part of Design Week 2011. You will notice the installation work over the course of the day.

And in the evening, you are invited for the opening talk: “Designed. Crafted. Engineered.” Architect Merritt Bucholz, boat builder Jim Horgan, and engineer Tom Cosgrove (CIVIL @ UL) in conversation.Tuesday, 1 November 2011, from 6pm, Cruth Curach Pavilion, UL campus (off main plaza).

Re-Engineering Historic and Architecturally Significant Structures

2011-10-25T21:19:00.013+01:00

25.10.2011: Paul Hegarty BE CEng MIStrutE of FOUREM Consulting Engineers recently delivered a fascinating lecture to final year civil engineering and construction management & engineering students. The presentation was part of a CIVIL @ UL course in forensic engineering & ethics. In this course students learn from the mistakes of the past. In the process they debate the professional ethics of decisions made by engineers, architects and builders that ultimately resulted in failure of a structure or a project.

Paul focused on his extensive experience in sympathetically restoring the structure and fabric of historic and architecturally significant buildings.

Paul spoke of his formation as an engineer and outlined many significant projects that he has been involved with in both Ireland and the UK. Included amongst these was a five year period spent working on the restoration of Sir Christopher Wren’s St Paul’s Cathedral in London. The sketch shown is an original Wren drawing illustrating how he worked out a structure for the dome that would minimise its dead weight and fit onto the piers that were already constructed, while presenting differently to the interior and exterior.

Wiss, Janney, Elstner Forensic Structural Engineer visits CIVIL @ UL

2011-10-21T19:27:00.025+01:00

21.10.2011: Kimball Beasley P.E. a Senior Principal with WJE - one of America's leading forensic engineering firms recently visited with the CIVIL @ UL team.

The partial collapse of the Clarkson Hospital garage in Omaha, Nebraska, on April 14, 1970 was one of WJE's first major collapse investigations. WJE's findings led to fundamental changes in code provisions related to the detailing of reinforced concrete structures. WJE has investigated nearly every major structural collapse in the United States since this project.

Kimball spent time with final year civil engineering students sharing some highlights from his exciting and varied 40 year career in forensic engineering. He pointed to the importance of studying and learning from the mistakes of the past and the wonderful and engaging learning experience that such studies provide.

Mizen Head Footbridge talk by RPS Consulting Engineers

2011-10-17T11:19:00.006+01:00

17.10.2011: Kieran Ruane from RPS Consulting Engineers will be in UL on Tuesday 18th October to give an insight into the design and re-construction of the iconic Mizen Head Footbridge.

In 2005 the original bridge, which was built in 1908, was deemed unsafe and a temporary footway was installed. The construction of a new bridge commenced in 2009 and was officially opened in August of this year. The bridge, constructed from reinforced concrete using stainless steel reinforcement, spans 50m from the mainland to Cloghane Island at a height of 45m above the Atlantic Ocean.

The project has recently been shortlisted for the 2011 Institution of Structural Engineers' Heritage Award.

The talk will take place on Tuesday 18th October at 11.30 in SG-17 (Schuman Building).

CIVIL @ UL - Open Days 2011

2011-10-13T23:22:00.009+01:00

12.10.2011: The 2011 UL Open Days take place on Friday October 14th and Saturday October 15th. The Open Days are a great opportunity to get a real sense of the UL experience: fun, opportunity, friendship and learning.

If you are interested in engineering solutions to the challenges of the 21st century and if you want to contribute positively to making the world a better place, make sure to call to the CIVIL @ UL stand and talk to our staff and students.

To find out a little more about how CIVIL @ UL's learning-by-doing approach prepares the next generation of engineers, have a look at some of our videos:

CIVIL @ UL - An innovative programme in Civil Engineering

CIVIL @ UL - What is Civil Engineering?

CIVIL @ UL - Our Process for developing great Engineers

UL welcomes NASA Astronaut Shane Kimbrough

2011-10-02T17:13:00.003+01:00

02.10.2011: NASA Astronaut, Shane Kimbrough is to speak at the University of Limerick about his 16-day space mission on STS-126 Endeavour. During the mission Kimbrough performed two space walks logging a total of 12 hours and 52 minutes. STS-126 Endeavour returned to Earth after completing 250 orbits in over 6 million miles.

The link with Shane materialised through the relationship between UL’s Civil Engineering & Materials Science Department and its equivalent at the US Military Academy at West Point. We are absolutely delighted to be able share with Ireland’s future scientists and engineers, the wonder and reward that these careers have to offer and the benefits they bring to the world today.

Shane Kimbrough’s talk at the University of Limerick takes place on Tuesday October 4th in the University Concert Hall from 13.00 - 14.00.

To register for a place at the talk please email maria.mcdonald@ul.ie, or phone 061-20 2301.

CIVIL @ UL Co-op Symposium

2011-09-27T13:35:00.000+01:00

27.09.2011: Year 4 CIVIL @ UL student engineers will present their cooperative education experiences to staff and students on Wednesday from 16.00-18.00 in the Schuman Building. This is a great opportunity to gain an insight into the 8 month work experience programme which the students have just completed.

The event is organised similar to a brief symposium with talks running concurrently over three parallel sessions in rooms SG-15, SG-16 and SG-17. During the symposium, attendees may switch rooms, or come and go as they please between talks.

Click here to see the series of vignettes charting the exploits of students which appeared on the CIVIL @ UL blog over the summer months.

CIVIL @ UL Student Awarded Michael Punch Scholarship

2011-09-13T08:34:00.000+01:00

13.09.2011: A Limerick student has been named the recipient of the 2011 Michael Punch Scholarship which provides university registration fees of up to €4,500 for a student studying Civil Engineering at the University of Limerick. Padraig Sweeney a former pupil of Ard Scoil Ris was presented with the award by Mr Pat Hanley, Chairman of PUNCH Consulting Engineers at Plassey House UL on 8th September. The Punch family were represented at the presentation by Michael’s daughter Patricia Punch.

Pictured: Patricia Punch, Padraig Sweeney, Pat Hanley and Tom Cosgrove.

Padraig was among 6 prizewinners at the Engineers of the Future Blitz recently which tasked Leaving Certificate students to research an energy, environmental or infrastructural challenge and design a poster outlining the problem and providing a viable solution. The Engineers of the Future Blitz was a joint initiative between CIVIL @ UL and Engineers Ireland Thomond Branch.

Padraig was shortlisted for the scholarship based on his poster, which depicted new energy resources available to GAA clubs, and won having achieved outstanding results in the Leaving Certificate, with 520 points. A keen sportsman Padraig commenced his studies at UL this semester as a first year student of Civil Engineering in the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

Padraig was presented with his award by Mr Pat Hanley, Chairman of Punch Consulting Engineers. Speaking at the presentation Mr Hanley said "PUNCH Consulting Engineers are delighted to follow Michael’s lifelong commitment to the development of young talent through the Michael Punch Scholarship". The scholarship was named in honour of the late Mr Michael Punch, founder of the engineering company now known as PUNCH Consulting Engineers, who died on 26th April this year. Michael was an avid supporter of Engineering at University of Limerick.

Tom Cosgrove, Professor of Civil Engineering at University of Limerick congratulated Padraig on his award saying "Our team in Civil Engineering at UL enjoy the creative energy of Irish young people so much during our school visits. Our Engineers of the Future Blitz at UL is designed to allow students to express that creativity freely, away from exam pressures by choosing a problem from their own environment and solving it. Padraig expressed his creativity so well in his entry, worked hard in his studies and secured a place on the new learning-by-doing programme in Civil Engineering at UL. We are really looking forward to seeing him produce creative design work in his years at UL and in his future career and we would like to take this opportunity to thank Punch Consulting Engineers for their generous support in funding this scholarship".

UL Awarded 5 Star Ratings

2011-09-13T01:34:00.000+01:00

13.09.2011: The University of Limerick welcomes the findings of the recent QS Stars™ report which awarded UL top scores across a number of key areas, in particular graduate employability and innovation and knowledge transfer. The QS Stars™ provides an independent evaluation of some of the world’s leading universities. The report also awarded UL 5-star ratings across the areas of infrastructure, teaching, engagement and internationalisation.

Click here for the further details.

CIVIL @ UL Researcher wins Award

2011-09-09T13:23:00.007+01:00

09.09.2011: Kay Cullinane, a transport engineer with Malachy Walsh and Partners, is researching a community engagement strategy for Limerick Smarter Travel with Prof. Cosgrove in the Department of Civil Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Limerick. This research forms part of UL’s collaboration with Limerick City and County Councils on the Smarter Travel project.

Kay who presented at the recent Irish Transport Research Network conference at UCC is pictured receiving her award for best paper in section from Dr. Michael Murphy, President of UCC.

The Chancellor of UL, Mr. Peter Malone, addressed the closing plenary session of the conference where he outlined the story of his historic decade at the NRA, the organisational challenges he faced and the successful rollout of Ireland’s motorway network including the Limerick Tunnel.

Pictured: Mr. Peter Malone - Chancellor of UL, Kay Cullinane - Research Student CIVIL @ UL, Dr. Michael Murphy - President UCC and Tom Cosgrove - Prof. Civil Engineering, UL.

CIVIL @ UL Engineers Present Roller Coaster Designs

2011-09-09T13:06:00.002+01:00

09.09.2011: After spending the week studying how their roller coaster would defy gravity, CIVIL @ UL Year 1 student engineers presented the output of their first project on campus today.

Video clips of the roller coasters can be seen on the CIVIL @ UL YouTube page. Well done to all.

CIVIL @ UL Engineers make Final Adjustments

2011-09-08T13:59:00.005+01:00

08.09.2011: Year 1 CIVIL @ UL student engineers are nearing the end of an exciting first week in university. Designs for their roller coaster project have been completed, with construction and testing now entering its final stage!

Presentation of final designs will take place tomorrow (Friday 09 Sept) in B0-005. All are welcome!

CIVIL @ UL: Launch of New Academic Year

2011-09-01T00:06:00.002+01:00

01.09.2011: CIVIL @ UL look forward to the launch of the new academic year on Monday next, September 5th, at 10.00 in ER0-013.

The coming together of all four years and the staff affords an opportunity to review the many successes of the programme to date and to outline our plans for the forthcoming year - the year in which the first cohort of UL Civil Engineers graduate!

We look forward to seeing you all on Monday, CIVIL @ UL Team.

UL Maths Exam Provides 2nd Chance for Leaving Cert Students

2011-08-16T11:40:00.007+01:00

16.08.2011: The results of the 2011 Leaving Cert are released tomorrow, and the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Limerick is reminding all students that it is offering a special entrance maths exam which gives students a second chance to pursue a course of study in science and engineering (including CIVIL @ UL).

This special mathematics examination is for students who achieve sufficient CAO entry points and satisfy all other entrance requirements, but who do not achieve the requisite grade in Mathematics (Ordinary or Honours) in the Leaving Certificate. It will take place Thursday, 25 August from 2.30pm – 5.30pm, Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick.

Applications for the Special Mathematics Examination must be sent to Special Mathematics Examination Administrator by 23 August 2011. For further enquiries regarding the Special Mathematics Examination contact Siobhan Harris, Faculty of Science and Engineering, (061-202421 or 061-202642) or visit www.ul.ie/admissions for further information.

CIVIL @ UL on Work Experience: On site in West Cork

2011-08-15T16:20:00.012+01:00

15.08.2011: Year 3 student Eoin Leahy reports from site in Bantry, Co. Cork where he is into the final month of his CoOp placement working as a site engineer.

“I am working for John Sisk & Sons Ltd. who are the main contractor on this project. The project itself consists of the construction of two brand new schools on the same site – a new Community School and Gaelscoil. I have been on site since January and I have seen the works progress hugely since then.

My primary role when I first joined was overseeing concrete quality control. This involved making concrete cubes and then documenting the pre, actual and post- pour analysis of the structural concrete members onsite based on the results from the tested cubes. I also did a share of setting out and surveying in my first few months. Experience we gained from our professional practice module in college certainly helped with this. Recently I have been dealing with snagging one of the schools on the site as it reaches handover stage.

The range and level of field experience I have gained here has been broad and varied, and I think that it will stand to me for the rest of my engineering career.”

CIVIL @ UL on Work Experience: Keeping Ireland Moving

2011-07-28T12:49:00.000+01:00

28.07.2011: In the latest of our reports from Year 3 CIVIL @ UL students, we hear from Declan Walsh who is helping Irish Rail maintain and improve our rail network:

"Working for Irish Rail on my Coop placement has been a great opportunity for me. I have learned a lot about Railway Engineering, a vast and interesting area, which I would probably never have discovered otherwise.

Based in the Limerick Junction Offices I have gained a lot of experience both in the office and out on the railway itself, doing things like surveying and curve alignment as well as inspecting a wide range of bridges and cuttings/embankments. The work can be very varied and there are many more aspects of railway engineering that I want to experience before I finish my placement.

During my placement so far I have had many opportunities to put what I have learned in college to use and one area which I have really seen the importance of is Health and Safety, and how good planning can be key to preventing or eliminating risks and hazards, which is crucial on the railway as you don't want to be taking risks when a train travelling at 100kph could arrive any minute!"

CIVIL @ UL on Work Experience: In the shadow of Wembley

2011-07-27T11:29:00.000+01:00

27.07.2011: Patrick Finucane, a Year 3 CIVIL @ UL student, reports with an insight into this work placement close to Wembley Stadium:

"I am working for Mitchellson who have the contract for building the whole structural frame for a new Wembley civic offices just across the road from Wembley Stadium. Skanska are the main contractors and Scott Wilson are the design engineers. Hopkins are the architects.

I’m very busy here every day – the learning never stops. Everything from setting out using EDM’s (electromagnetic distance measurement) for setting out to checking rebar before pouring concrete to health and safety procedures and creating as-built record drawings. I have learned how much easier life on site is if you plan ahead of time carefully for every task. I never would have imagined that health and safety is such a big issue on a building site. They are trying to eliminate the use of ladders as far as possible so you need a special permit to put a ladder up. Stair towers are safer.

There are people on the site from all over the world. I have been working on the fairface reinforced concrete wall pours. I will see the pouring of the first few big suspended floor slabs but will be returning to UL for final year in September."

CIVIL @ UL on Work Experience: Working in the hub of Europe

2011-07-13T18:27:00.010+01:00

18.07.2011: Year 3 CIVIL @ UL student Padraig Clery illustrates the wide range of opportunities available to engineers as he reports back from the Netherlands where he is working with Philips Healthcare during a very interesting co-op placement:

"I am undertaking my co-op with Philips Healthcare in Eindhoven, Netherlands. I am currently working in Logistics Optimisation for Philips Spare Parts Supply. It is slightly out of the ordinary compared to what is expected from the field of Civil Engineering. It does however show that jobs are out there for highly skilled graduates regardless of a certain specialized field - every industry needs people to solve problems!

The experience so far has been fantastic. Philips is truly a global firm employing over 119,000 people worldwide. Within this 119,000 I am working in a team of 12 people based across the globe from Singapore to Washington DC all the way to Sao Paulo. I work in analytics under various projects undertaken under by the team with respect to finding cost cutting opportunities in the Philips supply chain.

Projects include implementing a global transport provider (UPS) to manage all spare parts delivery's and also a project called blueprint which involves setting up IT systems to record all parts movements within the supply chain on a system called SAP. Not what you would expect coming from a civil background but very rewarding nonetheless. I have gained much valuable experience in detailed business analytics using various programmes such as excel, access, SAP etc. Business trips to Paris, Cologne, Dusseldorf and Amsterdam have been but one of the perks from working in the hub of Europe."

Pictured above: Padraig on a recent trip to the delta works. Famously built over a period of 50 years it guards Netherlands from the powerful tidal surges of the North Sea. The part of the Delta Works is in North West Holland in a Province called Zeeland. It is a storm surge barrier called Oosterscheldekering. It is named as one of the 7 modern wonders of the world.

CIVIL @ UL on Work Experience: Engineering the Middle East

2011-07-13T17:37:00.008+01:00

13.07.2011: As we continue our series of vignettes charting the exploits of Year 3 CIVIL @ UL student engineers on their work placement programme, we hear from Robert O'Callaghan who gives a first hand account of his time with Kentz, a global engineering and construction firm:

"For the first spell of my placement with Kentz, I was situated in their engineering design office in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. While working there I was involved with a project encompassing the design and development of drilling platforms, in the West Qurma Oil fields in Iraq. By working with this project I gained large amounts of invaluable experience of operating in a professional office environment, and getting to put many of the skills I have learned in college into real world practice. It certainly was impressive to see the detailed organisation required to organise construction in such an unsettled environment.

To gain as much of a varied experience as possible, for my second rotation with Kentz I was given the opportunity to progress away from the design side of the company, and experience construction work in progress first hand, a prospect I certainly was not going to pass up. With this move am currently working on site on the Sidra Medical and research Center in Doha, Qatar. By leaving the comforts of the office behind I am gaining ample hands on experience in organising and supervising the labour on site, and coordinating with the offsite engineering office to ensure design becomes reality. With over 10,000 workers on site, it certainly is an eye-opener to not only observe, but to be involved in, the detailed planning and coordination required on a project of this scale.

As regards living in an area of the world so alien to the familiar green fields of home, while certainly a culture shock, I have found to be an amazing experience. With a close knit, friendly ex-pat community in all of the countries out east I have visited, one always feels a link to back home and never too isolated. While admittedly not for everyone, I would whole heartedly recommend Irish engineers to give a thought to the Middle East as it hard to get such great experience anywhere else."

Prestigious Architectural Award for Limerick Milk Market

2011-07-13T10:01:00.020+01:00

12.07.2011: The redevelopment of the historic Milk Market in the heart of Limerick city has won the Public Choice prize at the 2011 Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI) Awards.

The Milk Market saw off competition from a variety of entries, including the Aviva Stadium, to scoop the award. Limerick-based practices were to the fore on the project, with Healy Partners as project architects and Dennany Reidy Associates as consulting civil and structural engineers. L&M Keating Ltd. of Kilmihil, Co. Clare were the main contractors.

The redevelopment involved erecting a 1.8 tonne, half acre canopy over the market. The newly erected tensile structure does not come in contact with the existing market buildings or the city wall (located underground), both of which are protected. It has transformed the Market, originally built in the 1840s, into an all-weather, all year round market space.

This is the second time in three years that this prestigious RIAI award has been won by a project in Limerick city, with Thomond Park winning in 2009.

CIVIL @ UL on Work Experience: Wave Energy off Ireland's Coast

2011-06-29T14:52:00.010+01:00

30.06.2011: Year 3 CIVIL @ UL Student Niamh Cahill talks about her work experience to date with the Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre (HMRC), a centre of excellence for ocean energy and coastal engineering research located in Cork city:

"As the HMRC works with a number of commercial companies I have had the opportunity to learn about many different methods of harnessing wave energy and the different devices currently being developed.

Highlights for me so far have been designing and constructing a small scale wave tank to demonstrate how wave energy can be harnessed and representing the HMRC at the 2011 Energy Show at the RDS.

I feel my experiences here to date has given me a great insight into the renewable energy sector."

CIVIL @ UL on Work Experience: Exploring the Ground

2011-06-23T14:27:00.011+01:00

23.06.2011: James Culhane, third year civil engineer gives an account of his eight month coop experience working with Keltbray in the UK.

"So far I have gained a great deal of experience from my time with Keltbray. I have been involved in various roles across the company such as a site engineer for a piling project at Bolsover St in central London where we had to install over 250 CFA or Augercast piles.

In the office I have been involved in implementing a new planning and resource management programme to improve efficiencies.

One of the most interesting part of my work experience to date has been able to see the engineering practices used by Keltbray to bring a project from design stage to completion and also being part of the decision making process when site conditions necessitate a design change."

CIVIL @ UL present Siege Tower Project at Student Wood Awards

2011-06-16T18:00:00.019+01:00

10.06.2011: Year 2 students from CIVIL @ UL have presented their entry “The Siege of King John’s Castle” at an adjudication day for the prestigious Wood Marketing Federation Student Wood Awards hosted by UL.

The presentation given by Peter Power, Marie Murray, Sanju Thapa and Liam Grace was based on their experiences engineering and constructing a full-scale timber siege tower at the walls of King John’s Castle earlier this year, which formed part of the Year 2 Structural Steel and Timber Design module.

Entries were assessed on the day by the competition’s judging panel, including renowned architect Duncan Stewart. Other entries presented from NUIG, CIT and GMIT included prefabricated flat pack beds, jewellery in wood, embodied energy and carbon footprint studies and load sharing in flooring systems.

CIVIL @ UL and West Point Engineers Enchant Limerick Children with Science & Engineering

2011-06-08T17:11:00.014+01:00

08.06.2011: A group of elite cadets from the US military academy at West Point are visiting schools in Limerick to share with hundreds of primary students the excitement that engineering and science have to offer.

The University of Limerick is hosting Colonel Stephen Ressler, Professor of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at West Point, two other West Point engineering faculty members and seven cadets.

The team visited seven primary schools around Limerick to show how civil engineers use maths and science to design the structures that are part of everyday lives.

Schools participating in the 10-day exercise include Corpus Christi, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Ahane NS, Model School and Milford NS. Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh students, the only secondary school involved, have postponed their holidays by one day to take part.

Col Ressler said: "This project provides us with a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the youth of Ireland through engineering outreach. But I must also emphasise that the youth of Ireland are contributing wonderfully to the development of our seven cadets. This is a fine learning experience for all of us."

RTE Nine O'Clock News were on hand in Ahane NS to report on an exciting day for all:

CIVIL @ UL on Work Experience: Harnessing Ireland's Energy

2011-06-02T10:53:00.012+01:00

31.05.2011: John McKenna, third year civil engineer gives a brief account of his experience working with the energy and environment section of civil engineering company Denis Moriarty The Kerries Ltd.

"The experience thus far has exposed me to a number of varied projects; from site development in Ringaskiddy to engineering design projects in Tipperary. In Ringaskiddy we carried out a grid connection for the ESB which involved shore works and laying a submarine cable under Cork harbour.

At present my main focus in on a wind farm (pictured) project in Tipperary. The site has just one turbine at present but has been described as one of the most efficient turbine sites in Ireland. We have the contract to erect 17 additional turbines in the area.

To date I have encountered a vast range of engineering concepts and design techniques but the most enlightening part of my learning has come from experiencing the rigour and detail demanded by clients such as ESB International and Bord Gais."

CIVIL @ UL Staff Cycle for Charity

2011-06-02T10:01:00.016+01:00

31.05.2011 Declan Phillips, CIVIL @ UL Course Director recently completed two stages of the inaugural Race the Rás charity cycle. Starting three hours before 175 professional cyclists, Declan and 32 other amateur cyclists, drawn mostly from sporting life, departed Portumna for the 164 km journey to Kilrush. The gruelling cycle into head on gale force winds left little opportunity to enjoy the rugged beauty of the County Clare coastline!

The second stage involving Declan was from Tramore to Kildare; a stage dedicated to sporting legend and UL Alumnus, the late Lt Gen Dermot Earley. The eight day event has currently raised over €100,000 for the Irish Cancer Society and GOAL.

Pictured at the end of stage 7 are Captain Dermot Earley with his mother Mary, Declan Phillips and Paul Earley

On July 2, CIVIL @ UL lecturer Michael Quilligan will participate in the 180 km Ring of Kerry Cycle also raising money for charity.

CIVIL @ UL and West Point to help Limerick students ‘do the math’

2011-05-24T23:30:00.015+01:00

24.05.2011: CIVIL @ UL are looking forward to working with faculty and cadets from West Point who are traveling to Limerick next week to share with children in local schools the excitement and joy that mathematics and science have to offer.

This high-energy team will work with students to show how engineers use maths and science to design the structures that are part of our everyday life.

The following national schools participating in the 10-day event include Ahane, Corpus Christi, Milford, Model School, Our Lady of Lourdes and Our Lady Queen Peace. In addition a group of transition year students from Gaelcholaiste Luimnigh secondary school will launch the extravaganza.

Over the 10 day period students will be involved in exciting in-class activities that demonstrate some basic science and maths concepts that engineers use in practice. The children will use interactive computer programmes to design structures and this will be followed by building and testing their designs in the playground.

The visiting team are part of the 'West Point Centre for STEM Education', a centre of excellence devoted to enhancing the effectiveness of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) education in the United States. This initiative strives to highlight how these subjects can help overcome some of the greatest challenges facing the world today.

CIVIL @ UL on Work Experience: Keeping our water clean

2011-05-24T23:24:00.012+01:00

24.05.2011: As Year 3 CIVIL @ UL student engineers near the mid point of their eight month Cooperative Education programme, we hear from Co. Galway where Donal Kelly and Una O'Grady are working with Glan Agua Ltd who specialise in providing design, construction, operation and maintenance services to the water and wastewater industry in Ireland.

Pictured: CIVIL @ UL student engineers Donal Kelly and Una O'Grady at a recently completed project with their mentor from Glan Agua Ltd Alan Delaney.

Here Una gives a brief insight into her Co-op to date.

"As an experience so far it has been both an enjoyable and an eye-opening one. I have learned something new every day! Knowing that the work you do is necessary to progress a real job gives you a certain motivation that is unlike anything experienced in college.

My role in the company to date has been as an office based Junior Engineer. The work has varied from the preparation of tender documents for new build and upgrade works for both water and wastewater treatment facilities throughout Ireland to undertaking a cost analysis of the company’s energy usage in the running of 23 water treatment plants in Connaught, in order to establish important cost saving initiatives.

My educational experience to date has been undoubtedly helpful. I have found myself drawing on not only my technical knowledge of water and wastewater treatment systems, but also the people skills I have acquired through our many group projects. This has enabled me to interact with my colleagues well, which is always a help!"

International Engineering Expert serves as external examiner for CIVIL @ UL

2011-05-20T16:32:00.005+01:00

20.05.2011: Civil Engineering @ University of Limerick recently hosted the internationally renowned engineer John Burland, Emeritus Professor of Soil Mechanics at Imperial College London. Prof Burland is one of the external examiners for the CIVIL @ UL programme.

Pictured: Prof Burland offers some sage advice to "Team Earthworms" on their dam design during his recent visit to CIVIL @ UL.

CIVIL @ UL is privileged to have such an eminent engineer actively participating in the programme. During his visit, Prof Burland delighted Year 2 year students by engaging and providing sage advice on the challenges they encountered during the design of an earthen dam. The dam retained a 5 m deep water pond that supplied the UL community with sufficient grey water to meet campus’ daily requirements. This design challenge is the trigger for an eight week project that introduces the engineers to the fundamentals of geology & soil mechanics.

Prof. John Burland was a key member of the Italian Government's Commission to rescue the Tower of Pisa from imminent collapse. Prof Burland designed and led the stabilisation works that gave the famous tower a new lease of life. The tower re-opened its doors in 2007 and thanks to Prof Burland the public can once again enjoy this gravity defying world wonder.

CIVIL @ UL Research: Summer Bursary 2011

2011-05-13T20:48:00.006+01:00

13.05.2011: The 2011 call for Summer Research Bursaries has been issued with proposals due to be submitted by Friday 20th May. Applications are sought from UL or NUIG students who have completed either their 2nd or 3rd year of study. Interested students should contact CIVIL @ UL Lecturer Dr. Pat Walsh who is offering a research project aimed at reducing energy consumption in the built environment using Phase Change Materials.

The project will involve a literature review, building an experimental apparatus, testing using state-of-the-art research equipment and analysis of results. The bursary is valued at €3000 (10 week stipend of €250 per week plus €500 for consumables). It is aimed at introducing high-achieving students to UL’s research environment where they may in the future choose to pursue postgraduate research studies.

If interested, please contact Dr. Pat Walsh by e-mail: Pat.Walsh@ul.ie.

CIVIL @ UL on Work Experience: 'On the last frontier'

2011-04-27T17:37:00.016+01:00

28.04.2011: In the first in a series of vignettes charting the exploits of Year 3 CIVIL @ UL student engineers on their cooperative education experience we here from Ciaran Considine and Timothy O'Sullivan Glynn. Here Tim gives a first hand account of working in Alaska.

"Life in Alaska is definitely a world apart from Ireland. At any moment a moose can jump out and surprise you from any of the trails that make their way through Anchorage. The outdoors is at the forefront here with snow capped peaks, glaciers and fiords visible from downtown and mostly everywhere in the city. When you leave the city things get wilder and more rugged in a matter of seconds. If you’re willing to brave the harsh dark winters it’s a place with enormous engineering opportunity on the ‘north slopes’ where the bears and reindeer outnumber the people and it’s more common to travel by float plane than car. This state is as varied as it is big and sometimes feels like a completely different country to the lower 48.

On the Co-op side of things I have been working with the maintenance department of a 48 million dollar non profit Hope Community Resources. I am gaining invaluable experience and knowledge in problem solving at a practical level. So far it’s been an experience that could not happen anywhere else in the world other than Alaska the last frontier."

CIVIL @ UL visit Saudi Arabia

2011-04-18T16:29:00.026+01:00

18.04.2011: Prof. Tom Cosgrove is touring Saudi Arabia this week to promote CIVIL @ UL in the middle east.

Click on image to view presentation or
اضغط هنا

The presentation includes audio commentary and allows for self-navigation.

CIVIL @ UL visit ESB's Moneypoint Power Station

2011-04-08T16:09:00.009+01:00

08.04.2011: Year 2 CIVIL @ UL students visited ESB's Moneypoint Generating Station yesterday and this visit proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable, informative and educational experience.

CIVIL @ UL were met on site by Martin Shanahan and John Wall of ESB who provided an overview of the station by video and verbal presentation. Following tea and scones in the canteen (which were greatly appreciated by all!), Martin and John conducted a detailed tour of the site, starting at the unloading dock and working our way through the plant. All were as fascinated by the scale of the operations as we were by their automation. Students were shown the main items of plant, including the bunkers, pulverising mills, furnaces and turbines and were also taken inside the control room where the operators kindly and patiently explained and demonstrated how they monitor and control the plant output to match the requirements of the national grid, in coordination with all the other power stations.

Martin and John also gave us detailed explanations of the recently installed NOx and SOx abatement systems, which significantly improve the quality of emissions.

A special word of thanks to both Martin and John for their hospitality and for imparting their detailed knowledge of the operation of the station to us. This visit a wonderful educational experience for all concerned and one to remember.

CIVIL @ UL visit Clareville Water Treatment Plant

2011-04-05T16:22:00.009+01:00

05.04.2011: CIVIL @ UL Year 2 students visited Clareville Water Treatment plant which supplies drinking water to Limerick City and environs as part of their PBL Project 'A Self Sufficient Water Supply for UL'. This visit gave students a great insight into the operation of water treatment plants, which will prove invaluable over the coming weeks as they set about designing a plant on the grounds of UL.

The group were met at the plant by Mr.Patrick Boudrot of Veolia Water and, following induction by the Safety Officer, Patrick gave an overview of the layout and operation of the facility. The plant has recently been upgraded and is presently being operated on behalf of Limerick City Council by Veolia Water under a 20 year Design Build Operate (DBO) contract. Patrick took us around the plant showing the various stages of water treatment from abstraction through screening, pumping, chemical dosing, sedimentation, filtration, disinfection and sludge treatment, giving the students a first-hand appreciation of the operation of a live Water Treatment Facility. As one student commented during the visit ‘it makes the theory seem much more real’, which is great to hear.

Students were also shown the newly installed Actiflo® system in operation and Patrick outlined its benefits in terms of high treatment efficiency, small footprint area and flexible operation.

A special thanks to Brendan Sheehan of Veolia Water for facilitating us on this visit and a particular thanks to Patrick Boudrot for giving us a comprehensive tour of the plant.

So from here is onto to another Water Treatment facility for CIVIL @ UL Year 2 students next Tuesday 12th April at Shannon Estuary Water Treatment Works. In addition students will visit a tailing ponds site which is under construction at Aughnish Alumina. See you all there at 14.00 and remember: No PPE No Entry!

CIVIL @ UL Wind Ocean & Hydro Energy Module (Year 4)

2011-03-18T16:36:00.001Z

15.03.2011: CIVIL @ UL Lecturer Dr Pat Walsh describes the Wind Ocean and Hydro Energy module which students can study in Year 4 of the programme.

CIVIL @ UL recreate the siege of King John's Castle

2011-03-07T16:19:00.003Z

07.03.2011: CIVIL @ UL Year 2 Student Engineers brought learning to life with a re-enactment of the siege of 13th century King John's Castle, using their own specially designed and constructed siege platforms. The project, part of the Year 2 'Timber and Steel Design' module, started with a challenging brief:

Design and build a timber siege device to support 2 people 6.0m off the ground and a means to convey them from the ground to besiege King John’s Castle.

Working in groups, the students went through a rigorous process of investigating various alternatives, before undertaking a detailed structural design of their chosen option over a period of 5 weeks. Students made their siege devices on campus over 2 days, before transporting them to the castle for the battle. On-site students raced against the clock to assemble their siege platforms with encouragement from local school kids, who enthusiastically defended King John's battlements!

Crescent College Comprehensive duo win 'Engineers of the Future Blitz'

2011-02-22T16:13:00.001Z

22.02.2011: Ben Sorensen and Jack Beegan won the inaugural Engineers of the Future Blitz on Saturday, February 19th. The Transition Year Crescent College Comprehensive students went home with the cash prize of €500 which was kindly sponsored by Engineers Ireland Thomond Region.

Ben and Jack's poster was entitled "Unused Infrastructure and Alternate Uses For It" where they highlighted disused railway lines in the Limerick City Suburbs and described how a light rail system could be introduced to offer thousands of commuters an opportunity to avail of an environmental friendly means of travel. Their poster was very well laid out with fantastic uses of maps, images, annotations and text.

Eeny – Meeny – Miny – Mo: Count and be Counted!

2011-02-17T16:54:00.027Z

17.02.2011: An exciting seminar is planned for UL this Saturday 19 February 2011 at 11.00 in the Jean Monnet Lecture Theatre (enter via the Main Reception, UL). The seminar is suitable for all students at third level, all pupils in second level, and pupils in the higher classes in primary school, their parents and their teachers and lecturers.

In this seminar Prof. Conleth D. Hussey selects from the history of Number - from the tally stick, to the musical harmonies, to the quantum numbers - to show how is was intelligent insight, and not the existing facts, that led to the unfolding of new truths in mathematics. He links the disenchantment with mathematics and science in our schools and colleges to the tedious disenchanted world of common sense ‘reality’ and public opinion. Using, as examples, two of his new inventions - the UDDER balloon and the Intelligence Meter – Hussey draws some surprising conclusions on how our world, and our educational processes, might be re-enchanted and re-invigorated.

The seminar is aimed at the savage mind so no mathematical ability is required of the audience. Spot prizes will be awarded for the best questions from the audience with no prizes for the right answers!!!

Engineers of the Future Blitz - Deadline Extended

2011-02-14T16:53:00.001Z

14.02.2011: The deadline for receipt of Engineers of the Future Blitz Entry Forms has been extended to 11pm on Wednesday, February 16th.

Engineers of the Future Blitz

2011-01-13T15:04:00.012Z

14.01.2011: Do you enjoy asking searching questions? Do you care about Energy, the Environment and Infrastructure?

If so, enter the 'Engineers of the Future Blitz'. On offer are a €500 cash prize and a €4,500 university scholarship.

For further details of the Blitz please refer to the following documents:
Blitz information and Entry Form
Guidance notes
Sample posters

CIVIL @ UL Year 3 Presentations 2010

2010-12-16T08:58:00.003Z

CIVIL @ UL welcome Registrar of Engineers Ireland

2010-12-09T00:06:00.007Z

09.12.2010: CIVIL @ UL welcomed Mr. Damian Owens, Registrar of Engineers Ireland, to the University of Limerick today to see at first hand the exciting new Civil Engineering programme.

Having spent the day meeting staff and students, seeing the learning environment and a comprehensive presentation of the programme the Registrar commented that CIVIL @ UL:

"...is certainly a place buzzing with innovation and should equip students well for their careers."

In accordance with normal accreditation procedures the process continues until the first cohort graduate in 2012 when formal accreditation is due to be completed. At that stage Civil Engineering will be the seventh Engineering Degree programme at UL accredited by Engineers Ireland.

(Pictured: Damian Owens, Registrar Engineers Ireland, meets staff in Civil Engineering and Materials Science during his December visit to see the new Civil Engineering @ University of Limerick programme.)

Limerick's quiet revolution

2010-12-07T23:31:00.003Z

07.12.2010: The following is an extract from an article by Sean Flynn in today's Irish Times.

"Quietly, away from the university gossip circuit in Dublin, some spectacular progress is being made at the University of Limerick. For one, the cranes remain on the skyline and the JCBs are still clambering around the campus. Much of this is thanks in large measure to Chuck Feeney, the billionaire philanthropist who has donated over €1 billion to Irish universities, most of it to UL.

The result? The most impressive range of campus facilities in the State. At its centre is the striking €9 million Living Bridge across the Shannon. It is the longest pedestrian bridge in Ireland, uniting Clare and Limerick in the one campus. Meander across the bridge and your eye will be be drawn towards the new Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, an inspirational environment for music and dance performance.

Then there is the centre for health sciences; the new Kemmy business school; construction of one of the largest all-weather sports pitches in Europe; and new homes for medical post-graduates and their families. And that’s before we mention the best sports facilities and student accommodation of any university in the State.

As president, Don Barry has presided proudly over all of these achievements. But his chief focus remains – not on bricks and mortar – but on the quality of the student experience.

Barry believes strong undergraduate teaching is UL’s core business. He has little truck with high-profile academics in other universities who absent themselves from undergraduate teaching.

He has also invested heavily in the student experience; closely tracking the progress of students during their critical first seven weeks in college and offering crash courses in maths, science and writing skills for undergraduates.

It may explain why UL has the lowest drop-out rate of any Irish university."

Click here to read the full version.

CIVIL @ UL share their experiences at Aalborg, Denmark

2010-11-09T00:42:00.003Z

09.11.2010: Civil Engineering @ University of Limerick (CIVIL @ UL) Professor Tom Cosgrove is currently visiting Aalborg University, Denmark during the annual visitor workshop in Problem Based Learning (PBL) held by the UNESCO chair in PBL at Aalborg. Prof Cosgrove is sharing experiences with 25 other visiting university staff from Spain, Japan and Lithuania, PBL researchers from China, Pakistan and Thailand, as well as hearing Danish and Latvian students own experiences first hand.

Pictured is Prof Cosgrove working on a wind turbine assignment with Master of Civil Engineering students from Aalborg University.

CIVIL @ UL students close to the action

2010-10-27T01:08:00.000+01:00

27.10.2010: CIVIL @ UL students visited the site for UL’s North Bank Sports Pitches and Pavilion today to observe TERRADRIVE’s rig driving precast concrete piles. The poor ground conditions at the site necessitate the use of a deep foundation system to transfer the building loads to the bedrock some 9 m below ground level.

During the visit students observed a pile being driven to bedrock and a full-scale instrumented load test. Full-scale load testing is used in geotechnical engineering to verify the adequacy of deep foundation designs. Pile design forms part of CIVIL @ UL’s Year 4 module in Geotechnical Design.

CIVIL @ UL visit UL Graduate Medical School site

2010-10-27T00:55:00.000+01:00

27.10.2010: Year 3 Civil @ UL students recently visited UL’s Graduate Medical School building currently being constructed by P Elliot and Company. The building is a four storey reinforced concrete framed structure.

The visit coincides with the students’ design project for a new public library to be constructed in reinforced concrete. The visit affords an opportunity to see first hand the elements of reinforced concrete construction in practice. Such occasions are of tremendous benefit when making critical decisions in the design office.

(Pictured: CIVIL @ UL students with Cian Murphy of PUNCH Consulting. Fixing of the 4th floor reinforcing steel in advance of concrete placement takes place in the background.)

CIVIL @ UL investigate the future of Limerick traffic

2010-10-18T00:26:00.002+01:00

18.10.2010: Year 2 Civil Engineering @ University Of Limerick students carried out an appraisal of a proposed northern ring road for Limerick City during this autumn semester as part of their Design Studio module.

The project, a great example of the learning-by-doing approach used by CIVIL @ UL, included assimilation of traffic data, traffic forecast projections and route selection and evaluation under the key headings of Environment, Safety, Economy, Accessibility and Social Inclusion & Integration.

Students learned to identify, understand and co-ordinate the multidisciplinary skill sets required for the completion of such a complex and wide ranging project, producing a Project Newsletter, Group Report, Drawings and Presentation Posters as part of the process.

The project culminated with students presenting their proposed designs to an audience which consisted of CIVIL @ UL staff members and invited guests from the Mid-West National Road Design Office.

UL Open Day

2010-10-13T00:38:00.002+01:00

13.10.2010: As noted yesterday, the UL Open Days are are currently in full swing. Prospective students with an interest in Energy, the Environment and Infrastructure are encouraged to visit the CIVIL @ UL stand in the 'Science and Engineering Area' and take the opportunity to talk to staff and students from the programme.

Pictured below are staff and students from the CIVL @ UL programme and visiting students from St Munchin's College, Limerick.

How hot are you? Get your IR photo taken at the CIVIL @ UL Open Day Stand

2010-10-12T09:37:00.011+01:00

12.10.2010: The UL Open Days are are in full swing today and tomorrow. Pay a visit to the CIVIL @ UL Stand in the Science and Engineering area to get your Infra-Red (IR) photo taken by CIVIL @ UL staff member Dr Patrick Walsh.

(Shown here are a group of interested students visiting the CIVIL @ UL Open Day stand today.)

Patrick is an expert in the area of energy engineering where infra-red thermography is used to obtain thermal signatures for buildings so that their energy efficiency can be accessed. The exterior surfaces of well insulated buildings should be at low temperatures to minimise heat loss to the environment. Areas with inadequate insulation will show up as hot spots, highlighting energy loss avenues that are invisible to the naked eye.

The images below show an old building with a new extension. The IR photo clearly shows that the heat loss from the old (right) part of the building is much greater than the new (left) extension where the insulation levels are much higher.

Year 2 CIVIL @ UL students make their voices heard

2010-09-24T11:37:00.002+01:00

24.09.2010: Year 2 Civil Engineering @ University of Limerick (CIVIL @ UL) students recently debated a number of controversial current engineering topics as part of their Design Studio module. A total of six motions were thoroughly researched and formally debated by the students in teams of 6 (3 for and 3 against each motion).

The topics included motions such as:

'The new Limerick tunnel should have been a bridge', 'The Spirit of Ireland is an idea whose time has come', 'Our heritage at Tara is more important than a new motorway', and 'All of mankind must radically alter its behaviour to avoid a climate change catastrophe'.

Working in groups, brainstorming and researching the debate under the guidance of experienced Civil Engineering tutors, the students gained an insight into the difficult social and environmental aspects of the decision making process facing professional Engineers, as well as the technical and economic aspects. The debates proved to be a very enjoyable and educational experience for both students and tutors alike.

CIVIL @ UL participate in Project Maths Training for Teachers

2010-08-25T08:12:00.003+01:00

25.08.2010: Professor Tom Cosgrove and Dr Declan Phillips presented a workshop on real life applications of geometry and trigonometry at the National Centre for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching and Learning (NCE-MSTL). The NCE-MSTL is located at the University of Limerick and promotes excellence in teaching and learning in mathematics and science nationally.

Tom and Declan presented geometry and trigonometry applications from their professional experience in addition to novelty applications such as mapping the Yukon during gold rush and how the Lady of Liberty (Statue of Liberty) carries her torch (a symbol of enlightenment).

The photograph shows staff from Loreto Abbey Dalkey displaying their CIVIL @ UL t-shirts - the prize for winning the pre-workshop fun quiz on civil engineering.

International consultant to CIVIL @ UL visits again

2010-07-23T08:29:00.000+01:00

23.07.2010: Professor Debra Larson recently paid her third visit to CIVIL @ UL. Professor Larson is Associate Vice Provost at Northern Arizona University (NAU) and formerly Associate Dean of the College of Engineering, Forestry, and Natural Sciences at NAU. Professor Larson is a founding member of ASCE’s ExCEEd (Excellence in Civil Engineering Education) programme and is one of a number of international consultants to UL’s new civil engineering programme.

During her visit Debra Managed to take some time out to visit the Swiss Cottage in Cahir, Co. Tipperary.

Murrough wins IRCSET funding

2010-07-08T15:53:00.015+01:00

08.07.2010: Congratulations to Murrough O’Brien who successfully won Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering & Technology (IRCSET) funding to undertake a masters degree in engineering with CIVIL @ UL. Murrough’s research proposal involves the use of thermally treated domestic waste for use as a construction aggregate in road and building construction.

Murrough, who recently qualified with a first class honours degree in Construction Management & Engineering from the University of Limerick, has already gained valuable experience working with this material during his co-operative placement in the UK. Murrough undertook his final year project testing the geotechnical and environmental properties of thermally treated domestic waste under the supervision of Dr. Declan Phillips. Dr. Phillips will also supervise Murrough’s graduate studies.

IStructE Murray Buxton Award for CIVIL @ UL Staff

2010-06-02T09:21:00.001+01:00

02.06.2010: CIVIL @ UL staff members Prof Tom Cosgrove and Michael Quilligan have been awarded a Medal of The Institution of Structural Engineers' (IStructE) Murry Buxton Award. The award was received for their paper 'Redevelopment of Thomond Park, Limerick' published in The Structural Engineer on 21 April 2009. The paper was co-authored with Cian Murphy and Bryan Whelan of PUNCH Consulting Engineers.

This is a prestigious award, made to a paper published in The Structural Engineer during the session which is of general interest to the structural engineering community. The Structural Engineer is published twice monthly with a global circulation of over 20,000.

Pictured below: Institution of Structural Engineers Awards ceremony at Glaziers’ Hall, London on 02 June 2010; Institution President Norman Train presents Prof Tom Cosgrove and Michael Quilligan with their Murray Buxton Award.

CIVIL @ UL supporting Smarter Travel

2010-04-27T15:40:00.003+01:00

27.04.2010: This photograph marks the second and final stage submission by Limerick City Council, Limerick County Council and the University of Limerick in the National Smarter Travel competition run by the Department of Transport.

CIVIL @ UL are providing research and design expertise to the bid in which the University is a corporate partner.

Pictured: Tom Mackey (Manager Limerick City Council), Mayor Kevin Kiely (Limerick City Council), Tom Cosgrove (Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Limerick), David Naughton (Cathaoirleach Limerick County Council) and Gerry Behan (Acting Limerick County Manager).

CIVIL @ UL host CSI (Collapse Scene Investigation)

2010-04-14T16:28:00.005+01:00

14.04.2010: Civil Engineering @ University of Limerick hosted over 300 primary and secondary school students from Limerick aged 10-14 years who took part in a Collapse Scene Investigation inspired, interactive lecture delivered by Col. Stephen Ressler of West Point Military Academy, USA.

This high-energy event required students to work in teams to investigate the hidden cause of the famous engineering disaster of the incomplete Beauvais Cathedral in Northern France. In the race to build the tallest cathedral of the 13th century, the builders of Saint-Pierre de Beauvais pushed the technology to the limits. In 1284, only twelve years after completion, part of the choir vault collapsed, along with a few flying buttresses.

Using live demonstrations involving large scale models, Col. Ressler traced the history of the Beauvais construction project.

Students from Gael Cholaiste Luimnigh, Milford National School, Ahane National School, St Clement's College and Model National School took part in the investigation. By working in teams the students discuss theories on arch construction and built models to understand what caused the famous arches of the Beauvais Cathedral to fail.

Col. Stephen Ressler, Professor and Head of Civil & Mechanical Engineering at West Point Military Academy is visiting the University of Limerick during sabbatical. Col Ressler's interest at UL is in the new civil engineering programme which is taught using innovative problem based learning (PBL) techniques. West Point boasts the oldest civil engineering degree in the United States, a programme of internationally renowned for its excellence in teaching and voted number 1 in Forbes 2009 ranking of America's best colleges.

The event was covered by the Limerick Chronicle on 20 April 2010.

Learning Dynamics is Fun – Lessons from Ancient Siege Craft

2010-04-12T14:52:00.005+01:00

12.04.2010: Professor Stephen Ressler PhD PE, Visiting Professor to UL from West Point Military Academy takes the students through the challenges of trebuchet design.

Year 1 CIVIL @ UL students enthusiastically embraced the challenge titled “Nasty Attack” to launch a ‘poison’ filled capsule into a reservoir. Various launch scenarios were analysed to identify the required trajectory of the missile to ensure success. The services of the elite engineering unit aka Prof Ressler was available to offer engineering advice and guidance on the complex analysis required to solve the dynamics problem. The reservoir structure also designed as part of the problem trigger took the form of a trussed structure.

CIVIL @ UL visit Corrib Gas Terminal North Mayo

2010-03-16T22:23:00.004Z

16.03.2010: Civil Engineering @ University of Limerick (CIVIL @ UL) Year 2 students recently visited the Corrib Gas Terminal in North Mayo. The visit started with an orientation lecture given by the project manager Mr Paul Hughes of PM setting out the history and engineering behind this mega project. The class learned how natural gas is to be delivered to the terminal from the Corrib gas field 83 km off the Mayo coast. The gas is located some 3 km below the seabed and was explored using offshore drilling techniques undertaken through 350 m of water. The gas will be delivered to the terminal at Bellanaboy and treated before being distributed throughout the country on the national grid.

Thanks to Paul and his staff for their hospitality and for facilitating this wonderful educational experience.

CIVIL @ UL enjoy the Geology and Folklore of Dún Briste

2010-03-16T00:05:00.002Z

16.03.2010: Civil Engineering @ University of Limerick Year 2 students was intrigued by folklore and geology of the North Mayo coastline during their recent field trip.

The class learned how the seastack was formed after St Patrick banished the pagan god Cromduff following his pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick.

The local geology boasts Ireland’s oldest rocks at 1.8 billion years and a visit to the cliffs at Dún Briste provide an excellent context for learning about soil mechanics and the design of foundations.

CIVIL @ UL explores our Heritage at the Céide Fields

2010-03-16T00:01:00.006Z

16.03.2010: The Neolithic settlement of the Céide fields contains the remains of a Stone Age landscape of stone walled fields, houses and megalithic tombs over 5,000 years old, preserved beneath the growing blanket bog over thousands of acres in North Mayo.

During a guided tour the Year 2 Civil Engineering @ University of Limerick students learned how mapping of these hidden walls was undertaken. A specially developed simple and completely non-destructive method of probing with iron rods, and excavation of habitation sites and tombs yielded a unique picture of the way of life of our ancestors 200 generations ago.

Water Water Everywhere - CIVIL @ UL investigate earthen defences

2010-03-15T23:28:00.003Z

15.03.2010: This video clip shows Year 2 Civil Engineering @ University of Limerick students undertaking a site investigation as part of a geotechnical study. The Problem Based Learning (PBL) project involves the design of a dam that could be used to attenuate rainwater or hold back flood-waters. The work involves the assessment of on-site soils for use in the construction of an impermeable dam, and the analysis and design of the dam and supporting ground. The design is verified by construction and testing of a trial embankment on the site.

CIVIL @ UL make RTE Six One News as King John's Castle is besieged

2010-02-12T00:13:00.007Z

12.02.2010: Civil Engineering @ University of Limerick's latest Problem Based Learning (PBL) project was featured on RTE Six One News this evening as King John's Castle in Limerick was besieged.

Year 2 students designed and constructed two siege platforms as part of their PBL Steel and Timber Design module. The Siege of Limerick was re-enacted with local school children defending the castle vigorously.

Click below to see what happened! (Footage from News2day.)

CIVIL @ UL welcomes West Point Professor of Civil Engineering for sabbatical

2010-02-11T17:16:00.007Z

11.02.2010: Professor Stephen Ressler Col., Head of the Department of Civil & Mechanical Engineering at West Point Military Academy and a Distinguished Member of American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has decided to spend his sabbatical working with staff at Civil Engineering @ Univeristy of Limerick's new Problem Based Learning (PBL) programme.

West Point boasts the oldest civil engineering degree in the United States, a programme internationally renowned for its excellence in teaching. Prof. Ressler is known for his passion for civil engineering education excellence and his association with the successful ASCE's ExCEEd programme, now entering its sixteenth year.

(Pictured: Prof. Stephen Ressler, battering ram and Dr. Declan Phillips.)

Last year Prof Ressler delivered a rousing lecture at the University of Limerick on ancient siege craft and the battering ram as part of CIVIL @ UL’s contribution to Engineers Week. The lecture enthralled young and old alike as Prof. Ressler physically demonstrated how a large battering ram, manufactured by UL staff and students for the occasion, could be used to teach engineering mechanics in a most memorable way.

Dr. Robert O’Connell, University of Missouri, visits CIVIL @ UL

2010-02-11T16:57:00.011Z

11.02.2010: Dr. Robert O’Connell, Engineering Professor from the University of Missouri in the U.S., visited campus on February 7-9 to learn more about the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) program in Civil Engineering.

(Pictured: Prof. Con Hussey, Prof. Bob O'Connell and Dr. Declan Phillips.)

Bob is in Ireland on a Fulbright Fellowship, based at the Dublin Institute of Technology, studying the many facets of student-centered learning, particularly problem-based learning. He was invited to UL by Dr. Declan Phillips, one of the three principal faculty members responsible for the Civil Engineering @ University of Limerick PBL program.

“Declan graciously invited me to visit, and then spent most of two full days with me, discussing their program, showing me around campus and introducing me to other lecturers, tutors, and students. Faculty members Tom Cosgrove and Michael Quilligan, the other principals in the CIVIL @ UL PBL program, also spent generous amounts of time with me, discussing their teaching and learning philosophies and details of the PBL program.

My visit coincided with Engineer’s Week at UL, for which the PBL civil engineering students were designing and building two different medieval towers to commemorate the 1691 siege of Limerick. I was thus able to watch a real PBL-based activity in progress. I was very impressed with the PBL program at UL, particularly the levels of enthusiasm, cooperation and open-ness that characterize it.

Everyone, from Department Head Professor Hussey to the faculty to the tutors, is genuinely interested in seeing PBL succeed. They have great synergy and no secrets. They share information with each other and with anyone (such as myself) interested in PBL. This is a wonderful attitude that will ultimately produce engineers with the technical and transferable skills needed to solve the engineering problems that today’s students will face throughout their careers.”

Forbidden Fruit - Newton’s legacy in today’s economic, ecologic and ideological crises - Text and Slides from Talk

2010-02-09T15:48:00.003Z

09.02.2010: The text and the slides from Con Hussey's talk can be accessed below in the hope that they form an interesting opening shot in a new dialogue.

Forbidden Fruit - Newton’s legacy in today’s economic, ecologic and ideological crises

2010-02-04T13:15:00.004Z

04.02.2010: As part of Engineer's Week Professor Conleth D. Hussey, Head of the Material Science and Technology Department, will give a rousing talk in the Jean Monet Theatre on Monday 8th February 2010 starting at 19.30. All are welcome to attend this public lecture which will be of interest to secondary school students and adults alike.

"WHAT DO SIR ISAAC NEWTON, LADY THATCHER AND HAITI HAVE IN COMMON?

Billions of dollars have been poured into the global banking system in a frenetic attempt at stabilization. Yet the same urgency is strangely missing in dealing with world poverty and the ecological and environmental crisis.

In a no-holds-barred analysis of our desperate historical situation, Professor Conleth D. Hussey, traces its origin to the ideology spawned by the physics of Sir Isaac Newton which culminated in Thatcher’s spine chilling utterance ‘There is no society, only individual men and women, and families’.

This ideology was echoed in the last decade of the 20th century by commentators such as Francis Fukuyama with his ultimate ahistorical “end-of-history” thesis, proposing that liberal democratic individualistic capitalism had won out and the eternal global liberal utopian community was just around the corner. That the jaded old Marxian class struggle between workers and capitalists could finally be taken out of its misery and laid to rest. And more, that liberal democratic capitalism was, indeed, natural to a greedy rapacious human nature.

Vehemently defending our human nature from this assault, Prof Hussey turns this argument on its head, that it is greedy rapacious capitalism that is sucking away at our human essence. The economic crisis of the past two years demonstrates that the Fukuyama model was an illusion, based on the drive for super-profits and hyper-consumption for a few, on the unrestrained exploitation of resources and on social and environmental irresponsibility.

Hussey argues that the current model does not need adjusting, it needs replacing. With a confidence in the ideological consequences of the less individualistic and more relationship based new physics - a physics that is more in line with the social relationship basis of our humanity - a new economic model is proposed. A model which is unashamedly based on the universal democratic ideals of the 200 year old revolution in - of all places - Haiti!"

Student Concrete Competition in full swing

2010-02-02T00:16:00.019Z

02.02.2010: A few images from a very busy design studio today as the Student Competition for 'An Urban Farm' was in full swing. The competition provides the perfect forum for students from CIVIL @ UL and the School of Architecture to work closely together and develop concepts to turn a Georgian site in Limerick City into an urban farm, while exploiting the benefits of precast concrete.

The competition is sponsored by the Irish Precast Concrete Association. In preparation for the competition students visited Banagher Concrete in Offaly and attended a lecture on precast concrete by Brian Murphy. The entries will be reviewed by a judging panel and the announcement and presentation of prizes will take place in the coming weeks.

Why do Buildings Fall Down?

2010-02-01T00:54:00.006Z

01.02.2010: Year 1 CIVIL @ UL students began testing their vault and dome roof structures today. Students went through a detailed research and design development phase last semester in preparation for today's moment of truth. An important period of reflection begins now however as students carefully consider the failure mode and compare this to their design calculations.

Click here to see video clips of each roof structure tested to failure on our YouTube channel - below is the effort of team "Where's Cian?".

'Engineers are Cool'

2010-01-31T23:51:00.003Z

A bold statement indeed, but eloquently proven in the following film produced by Arup for the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers 2009 Presidential Address.

President officially opens Ireland's Longest Pedestrian Bridge at UL

2010-01-21T13:19:00.003Z

21.01.2010: President of Ireland, Mary McAleese today, opened The Living Bridge - An Droichead Beo, at the University of Limerick. Spanning 350 metres, the Living Bridge is the longest pedestrian bridge in Ireland, fording the longest river in Ireland and Britain, the river Shannon.

The design of the bridge is intended to create an "organic relationship" between the landscape, the bridge and the user. The minimalist structural form developed by the designers has enabled the bridge to blend seamlessly into the natural beauty of the campus, unveiling the 'hidden world' of the river landscape. Its strategic location at the heart of the expanding campus, combined with its innovative and iconic design, has made the Living Bridge a landmark, a crossing and an active part in the learning and social life of UL.

Designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects and Arup Structural Engineers, London and built by one of the most progressive building companies in Europe, Eiffel Construction Metallique, the unique structure has been awarded the StructE Structural Top Award for a Pedestrian Bridges, Most beautiful steel work/Bridges Category French Steel Construction Syndicate and ACEI 2008 Bridge Award. The IStructE Structural Top Award is granted for achievement in the structural design of pedestrian bridges or similar light bridge structures and recognises excellence in structural design for showcase projects across the globe.

Active learning complements CIVIL @ UL's PBL approach

2010-01-10T13:07:00.002Z

11.01.2010: The Professor of Civil Engineering Tom Cosgrove and the Course Director Dr. Declan Phillips shown here attending a recent workshop by international experts in Active Learning: Dr. Richard Felder and Dr Rebecca Brent both from North Carolina State University, USA. Active learning techniques are employed in CIVIL @ UL lectures to complement the Problem Based Learning (PBL) approach adopted by the programme. The two-day workshop was hosted by the Learning Innovation Network (LIN) based in GMIT Galway.

Transition Year Students Visit CIVIL @ UL

2009-11-25T23:32:00.000Z

25.11.2009: Transition Year students from Gaelcholaiste Luimnigh paid a visit Civil Engineering @ University of Limerick today to find out all about Civil Engineering. Course Director Declan Phillips and Professor Tom Cosgrove joined with the students to discover how Civil Engineers are helping to deal with climate change, why bridges stand up and why arches are made of stone.

Civil Engineering @ University of Limerick Staff

2009-11-23T23:59:00.006Z

Tom Cosgrove	Professor of Civil Engineering
Con Hussey	Head of Department
Declan Phillips	Course Director Civil Engineering

Michael Quilligan	Lecturer in Civil Engineering
John Murnane	Lecturer in Water Engineering
Terence Ryan	Lecturer in Structural Engineering
Patrick Walsh	Lecturer in Energy Engineering
Colm Cryan	Lecturer in Fluid Mechanics
Conor Mooney	Lecturer in Construction Management
Clare Robinson	Lecturer in Land Surveying
Eddie O’Donovan	Lecturer in Structural Engineering / Tutor
Tony Cawley	Lecturer in Hydrology
Betty Carmody	Tutor

Ross Higgins	Learning Resources Coordinator

Kay Cullinane	Postgraduate Student (Transportation)
Murrough O’Brien	Postgraduate Student (Geotechnics)

Nigel Coleman	Chief Technical Officer
Tom Casey	Technical Officer
Jamie O'Sullivan	Technical Officer
Clive Considine	Technical Officer

Grainne Geary	Department Coordinator
Maria McDonald	Department Administrator

CIVIL @ UL featured on RTE's Nationwide

2009-11-23T22:03:00.017Z

23.11.2009: Civil Engineering @ University of Limerick's Year 1 'Bridge Project' was featured on tonight's RTE Nationwide programme. The feature includes interviews with staff and students, and gives a great insight into the vision and execution of the exciting new programme in Civil Engineering.

Click here to view the feature on RTE's MediaPlayer.

Major Honour for CIVIL @ UL Lecturer

2009-11-12T23:06:00.004Z

12.11.2009: Civil Engineering @ University of Limerick lecturer Michael Quilligan has won the Engineers Ireland 'Chartered Engineer of the Year Award' for 2009. This is a major honour for Michael who emerged from a selection process involving over 400 interviews with engineers as the Chartered Engineer who, in the view of the adjudicators, had demonstrated the highest level of achievement of the competences specified in the regulations for the title of Chartered Engineer.

Michael studied Civil Engineering at NUI, Galway and followed this with postgraduate degrees from University College Dublin and the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm (KTH). This was followed by 4 years in London where he worked on a wide range of projects varying from the design of bridge structures carrying high speed trains and the analysis of long span suspension bridges, to rebuilding bridges during 48hr railway closures and developing new concrete bridge types using modern methods of construction. A particular highlight was the project to develop a new method of assessing cast iron in fatigue, with particular reference to Robert Stephenson's High Level Bridge in Newcastle.

Michael returned to Ireland in 2006, working with Michael Punch & Partners on number of projects including the redevelopment of Thomond Park. He lectured part-time at the University of Limerick for two years before joining the CIVIL @ UL team in 2009.

CIVIL @ UL Year 2 - Structural Analysis of Cardboard Bridges

2009-11-06T10:02:00.005Z

06.11.2009: Year 2 students began testing their cardboard truss bridges today as part of their Structural Analysis module. The bridges were designed and built by the students using analysis techniques learned in the lecture theatre and results of member tests carried out in the lab.

Click here to see video clips of each truss bridge tested to failure on our YouTube channel - below is the effort of Team Awesome!

Shortlisted for Chartered Engineer of the Year 2009

2009-11-02T00:13:00.003Z

04.11.2009: CIVIL @ UL Lecturer Michael Quilligan has been shortlisted for the prestigious ‘Chartered Engineer of the Year Award 2009’.

The competition, organised by Engineers Ireland, aims to select from one year’s cohort the Chartered Engineer who, in the view of the adjudicators, has demonstrated the highest level of achievement of the competences specified in the regulations for the title of Chartered Engineer.

After a selection process involving over 400 interviews with engineers, a shortlist of 6 was selected by a judging panel to attend an awards ceremony on Wednesday 11 November 2009 to find out who will receive the esteemed title. Best of luck Michael!

The award is sponsored by Beale and Company solicitors and brokers Griffiths & Armour.

CIVIL @ UL Year 2 - Banagher Concrete Site Visit

2009-10-14T23:37:00.014+01:00

14.10.2009: Year 2 students from the School of Architecture and Civil Engineering @ University of Limerick went on a site visit to Banagher Concrete today.

The site visit gave students a great insight into the production of concrete elements, starting with the mix design of the self compacting concrete and moving through each stage of production, with reflections on important aspects such as curing and quality of surface finish along the way.

The visit was also timed in advance of our Student Competition, sponsored by the Irish Precast Concrete Association, which will take place later in the year - more details on this to follow.

CIVIL @ UL would like to thank our host and guide Peter Deegan of Banagher Concrete for a thoroughly enjoyable and educational visit.

Thomond Park engineer joins UL

2009-09-30T17:58:00.008+01:00

24.09.2009: The following article appeared today in irishconstruction.com - click here to read the online version.

THE LEAD ENGINEER behind the €40m redevelopment of Thomond Park is now heading up a civil engineering course at the University of Limerick.

Thomas Cosgrove - who has worked on over 1,700 projects in 28 years – has been appointed Chair of Civil Engineering at the university.

Most notable among this his extensive list of projects is his role in leading the structural design team for the Thomond Park redevelopment.

The 26,000 capacity stadium was a major challenge both architecturally and structurally. Designing for concert usage involved going beyond model analysis to do a thorough performance based analysis in accordance with recent research.

Today, the curved form and dramatic rainbow truss roof is a new landmark structure in Limerick City now well known to rugby enthusiasts all over the world.

Speaking of the project, he said: “There was a deep intake of breath and exhalation when the great trusses were relaxed into place at Thomond Park. My abiding sense is one of privilege.”

Further notable additions during Professor Cosgrove’s career are some 25 high quality Third Level Education Buildings at Institutes of Technology in Limerick, Tralee, Waterford, Sligo, University of Limerick and Mary Immaculate College of Education.

During his career he has been active in Engineers Ireland, the Institution of Structural Engineers (Ireland Branch), the Irish Concrete Society.

At UL, Professor Cosgrove intends to pursue a research agenda that responds to regional needs and, in falling within the vision of UL to make a positive contribution to the region and to Ireland, he is building on previous work with STEPS the Science, Technology and Engineering Programme for Schools, to construct an outreach programme for engineering programmes.

Professor Thomas Cosgrove Inaugural Lecture 'Grounding - Educating Engineers as if they were Human'

2009-09-17T13:00:00.006+01:00

Sept 2009: Professor Thomas Cosgrove will deliver his Inaugural Lecture "Grounding - Educating Engineers as if they were Human" on Monday 21st September 2009.

The lecture will start at 17h45 for 18h00 in the 'Computer Science & Information Systems Building Building', Lecture Theatre CSG-01.

Professor Cosgrove will touch on his own experiences in the construction industry not dwelling unduly on the blood, sweat and tears but mostly on the matchless excitement and variety offered by a career in Civil engineering.

Reflecting on this experience and his experience teaching Architectural students he will outline plans (already being implemented) for the Problem Based Learning approach to teaching and learning in the new UL programme.

He will touch on current developments in the industry and outline his ideas for fitting graduates for a world of ceaseless change.

A cut out from the Irish Examiner (18-09-2009) detailing the event is shown below. Click to enlarge.

Year 1 PBL Arch Project

2009-09-14T21:29:00.005+01:00

14.09.2009: CE @ UL Year 1 students had a busy 1st week in college. Challenged with a brief to 'tell the story of an arch', they combined their research, design, drafting, model-making and presentation skills to great effect.

Shown below is the testing to failure of Team AVB's arch made from peat briquettes! The arch was loaded to 12kg before failure - caused in this instance through the development of a 4 hinge mechanism. Pause the clip at the 20/21 second interval to observe the failure mode closely.

Excellence in Civil Engineering Education (ExCEEd)

2009-09-04T17:41:00.020+01:00

04.09.2009: This summer CIVIL @ UL Course Director Dr Declan Phillips strengthened his link with the 'Excellence in Civil Engineering Education' (ExCEEd) programme.

Declan, a 2006 ExCEEd Fellow from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, is a strong advocate for the implementation of the ExCEEd teaching model in 3rd level education. This summer Declan participated as an Assistant Mentor when the course was delievered at Northern Arizona University, USA.

ExCEEd, sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), is an intensive six-day practicum that provides engineering educators with an opportunity to improve their teaching abilities. Seminars are augmented by a series of demonstration classes - models of high-quality teaching, presented by ExCEEd faculty mentors. During the latter half of the course, participants apply what they have learned by preparing and teaching three actual classes in a small-group setting. This collaborative "learn by doing" format ensures that participants will make substantive improvements in their teaching skills by the end of the course.

The ExCEEd teaching model is being utilised on the Civil Engineering @ University of Limerick programme to promote a high quality and positive student learning experience.

Year 1 Welcome 2009

2009-08-31T19:12:00.006+01:00

31.08.2009: Civil Engineering @ Univeristy of Limerick looks forward to welcoming the Year 1 class for 2009. Full details of the Orientation Programme for Year 1 Civil Engineering can be found here.

As part of the Orientation Programme, CIVIL @ UL staff will meet with students on Tuesday September 1st at 14.30 in Room C1-063.

For any students that are unable to attend Orientation Week, note that semester starts with the 'Human Arch' on Monday September 7th at 09.00 in the University Arena.

Further details can be obtained from the CIVIL @ UL Year 1 Tutor Michael Quilligan (michael.quilligan@ul.ie).

Engineers 'critical' to economic recovery

2009-06-23T18:06:00.029+01:00

23.06.2009: The following article by Caroline Madden appeared in today's Irish Times. Click here to read the online version.

INNOVATION AND creativity in engineering will underpin the economy’s recovery and enable Ireland to compete on the global market once again, according to the president of Engineers Ireland.

“Long-term growth in Ireland must be fuelled by innovative companies,” Dr Chris Horn said yesterday. New ideas must be created, tested and proven here, and then brought to the world market, he added.

Dr Horn was speaking after the announcement of the winners of the Engineers Ireland Innovation Awards 2009.

Tidal power firm OpenHydro, which designs turbines that are mounted on the seabed, won innovative company of the year.

The innovative engineer of the year award went to Denis O’Connor (of RPS Group), who designed a system that will be used by local authorities to monitor the quality of drinking water.

“To see such homegrown engineering creativity is extremely encouraging,” Dr Horn said.

Engineers played an “absolutely critical” role in the development of a smart economy, he added, as they focused primarily on innovation and creating new products and services. End.

Year 1 CIVIL @ UL PBL Bridge Project on YouTube

2009-05-13T16:15:00.002+01:00

13.05.2009: The deck instability experienced by the cable stayed bridge under testing from CIVIL @ UL Course Director Declan Phillips was caught live on camera and is now available for detailed forensic analysis:

CIVIL @ UL PBL in the news

2009-04-28T17:24:00.006+01:00

28.04.2009: The Civil Engineering @ University of Limerick Year 1 Problem Based Learning (PBL) Bridge Project was the focus of much national and local press coverage, with captions appearing in the Irish Examiner and Limerick Independent. A cut-out from today's Irish Examiner shown below.

CIVIL @ UL Year 1 - PBL Bridge Project

2009-04-27T15:31:00.007+01:00

27.04.2009: Following on from the 'Spirit of Civil Engineering @ University of Limerick' post, we challenged our first cohort in Year 1 to imagine, design using scientific and engineering knowledge, illustrate and ultimately construct 6 large bridge prototypes to demonstrate bridge technology publicly to the campus community.

The students responded magnificently to this significant Problem Based Learning (PBL) challenge and, as illustrated in the images below, made a big impact on campus. After much hard work, the 6 bridges were erected outside the Schuman building today - well done to all involved!

The CIVIL @ UL staff are energised by this student effort and are looking forward to the next project - watch this space!

CIVIL @ UL staff at the leading edge

2009-04-21T15:00:00.003+01:00

21.04.2009: A key feature of the Problem Based Learning course at UL is that students are taught by staff with extensive experience in the design and construction of major buildings and structures.

This fact was highlighted in the April 2009 edition of 'The Structural Engineer' where new CIVIL @ UL staff members Prof Tom Cosgrove and Michael Quilligan were lead authors on the paper detailing the design and construction of Thomond Park stadium in Limerick.

Thomond Park, fast becoming an icon for the mid-west, was also chosen as the cover image. A sample extract is shown below. Click here to download the paper in full.

Year 1 - Site visit to Thomond Park

2009-03-03T10:36:00.008Z

03.03.2009: Site visits and fieldwork are an integral part of the CIVIL @ UL learning experience. As part of the Year 1 Engineering Mechanics module, students learn to describe and illustrate how buildings carry everyday loads such as people and wind. Students were challenged with putting skills learnt in the lecture hall to work by visiting Thomond Park stadium.

The images below show CIVIL @ UL students, armed with their sketchbooks, studying the structure and sketching 'loadpath diagrams'. Students were accompanied on the visit by two of the Structual Engineers who worked on the design and construction of Thomond Park - Michael Quilligan and Tomas Canny of Michael Punch & Partners.

Engineering numbers expected to rise by third

2009-02-10T10:53:00.015Z

10.02.2009: The following article by Tim O'Brien appeared in today's Irish Times. Click here to read the Irish Times online version.

THE FUTURE is bright for engineers with job numbers expected to expand by more than one third over the next 12 years, according to a report from DKM Economic Consultants.

The report, commissioned by Engineers Ireland to mark the start of Engineers Week, predicts a 35 per cent increase in the number of engineers at work by 2020.

It also predicts the economy will grow by between 2.5 and 4 per cent in the early years of the decade from 2010, with growth stabilising at 3 per cent from 2015.

In this scenario Engineers Ireland says the numbers of engineers at work in 2009 and 2010 might actually fall, but would then rise rapidly due to Government spending commitments on infrastructure, and the development of the knowledge and green economies.

According to the research the rise in numbers of engineers at work in the decade from 2011 to 2020, at 35 per cent, is comparable to the 36 per cent rise recorded in the 10 years to 2008 – which were the boom years of the Celtic Tiger.

While much of the increase in employment will be in the “big three” traditional areas of mechanical, civil and electrical engineering, the DKM research has noted a significant rise in the numbers of engineers in the pharmaceutical, chemical, healthcare, electronics and ICT sectors on which the State is pinning its hopes for economic upturn.

Click here to read the full article.

Spirit of Civil Engineering @ University of Limerick

2009-01-01T08:37:00.000Z

The Spirit of Wonder

Reflecting on the spirit that animated his life and achievements, Issac Newton offered this image:

‘I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst all before me the great ocean of truth lay undiscovered.’

This then encapsulates the spirit which animates our new school of Civil Engineering. Wonder, space to experiment, engagement with the physical world and a growing awareness of the vast possibilities of creativity.

This spirit of wonder and questioning is what we seek to engage with in the students.

Learning by Doing

Research has shown again and again that the most effective learning takes place when the student is actively involved in the learning process. The learning is linked to a memorable context.

Falling off a wobbling bicycle will teach quickly the need for a certain minimum speed to stay balanced. At UL students learn in a safe environment to experiment, to create and sometimes to fail.

And in time through failure and success in engaging with real and challenging problems the learning develops into real insight that motivates a lifelong process of discovery through study, research and experimentation and design.

Never ending Change

The contemporary context is one of never ending change and information overload. The need is therefore for critical thinkers who have a really sound understanding of unchanging fundamental principles and realities. And for the Civil engineer this understanding is located in the physical, the world of forces, Gravitational and Dynamic, physical and chemical and the response of natural and man-made materials to these forces.

Gravity remains with us in all Civil Engineering contexts. The need for the great networks of water and energy distribution, stormwater, waste and wastewater processing and recycling or disposal, transport and communications that underpin our civilisation remains. And of course the countless buildings and structures served by these networks. The inexorable action of use and weather is everpresent on new and old infrastructure and Civil Engineers participate centrally in conserving the built heritage.

And increasingly we are called to a rational management of the natural as well as the built environment.

All of these the Civil Engineer is intimately concerned with. But the precise forms these things take are constantly shifting with technology, physical location and economic and social conditions.

Essential Skills

And so our graduates will set out on a lifelong journey of curiosity, research creativity and service. And they will rapidly find that to achieve anything really worthwhile in the field of Civil Engineering teamwork is essential. And so our carefully chosen problems are solved by students working in teams.

And our students are encouraged to learn that clear communication requires significant effort as they are challenged to present their work individually throughout the course from the very first year.

4th Punch Lecture: Tom Cosgrove 'Spirit and Substance - The New Thomond Park Stadium'

2008-09-23T22:22:00.001+01:00

The annual UL Punch Lecture on 23rd September 2008 drew a packed audience at the University Concert Hall as Tom Cosgrove, Structural Engineer for the newly referbished Thomond Park Rugby Ground detailed some of the amazing engineering aspects of the build.

With the first Munster Match taking place in Thomond Park on 4th October, Mr Cosgrove outlined the unique structural aspects of the new stadium including its 150mtr rainbow trusses, its 26,000 capacity and the curved nature of the stand.

3rd Punch Lecture: Ken Carper 'Why Buildings Fail'

2008-04-12T00:35:00.001+01:00

Professor Ken Carper from Washington State University was the speaker for the 3rd Punch Lecture held at the University of Limerick on 12th April 2008. His lecture was entitled "Why Buildings Fail", and focused on the Forensic Engineering of buildings to understand the lessons learned from the failure of structures.

Photo (L to R): Prof Ken Carper, Pat Hanley (MPP), Prof Con Hussey (UL), Michael Punch (MPP), Dr Declan Phillips (UL)

2nd Punch Lecture: Leslie E. Robertson

2007-03-02T00:39:00.001Z

Second Punch Lecture at UL a Great Success!

An audience of over 500 people from all around the country, attended a very interesting and insightful lecture delivered by Leslie E. Robertson, one of the world's foremost structural engineers, at the University Concert Hall 0n 21st February 2007. This lecture is the second Punch Lecture in a series of lectures sponsored by Michael Punch & Partners.

Robertson has been involved in the design of some of the world's most famous structures, most notably; the Twin Towers, New York; Bank of China tower, Hong Kong; The Miho Museum Bridge, Shingraki, Japan; and the Shanghai World Financial Centre, China. As part of this lecture, he will discuss his life's work, and many of the famous structures where he has developed efficient, economic, and imaginative solutions to complex engineering problems.

1st Punch Lecture: John Burland 'Rescuing the Leaning Tower of Pisa'

2006-11-06T00:42:00.002Z

Michael Punch & Partners are delighted to sponsor a guest lecture by the renowned engineer and international speaker Professor John B. Burland, Emeritus Professor Imperial College, London, entitled "Rescuing the Leaning Tower of Pisa".

One of the wonders of the world, The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, has been saved from collapse by a British Professor who directed the operation by fax from London. "It really was like riding a bicycle by fax," said Professor John Burland, from Imperial College London.

The tilting tower, which was originally constructed in stages between 1173 and 1350, has been tilting further to the south at the rate of roughly 1 millimetre per year. Computer models calculated that once it reached a tilt of 5.44 degrees the tower would topple, but it was still standing in 1990 with the tilt at 5.5 degrees. By this time the bell tower at the top was hanging a mere 4.5 metres above the ground. As part of this lecture Professor Burland describes in detail the challenging task of "Rescuing the Tower of Pisa", and how he helped to moved back the tower by 45 centimetres which now hangs steady, at least for the next 200 years!

This lecture, on 6th November 2006, was hosted in conjunction with the Department of Material Science & Technology at the University of Limerick.

#1 Reason to Study CIVIL @ UL: Problem Based Learning

2006-01-10T23:00:00.002Z

Civil Engineering @ University of Limerick offers Ireland's first Civil Engineering programme delivered through Problem Based Learning (PBL). The students, working in teams, are given real engineering problems and required to develop feasible solutions using the PBL approach. Knowledge and skills developed in core engineering modules assist the PBL process.

Students are guided through this process by staff with extensive experience in the design and construction of major buildings and structures.

To find out more about PBL have a look at what we do here at CIVIL @ UL.

#2 Reason to Study CIVIL @ UL: An Exciting Career

2006-01-10T22:00:00.006Z

Thinking of a career in Civil Engineering? This Institution of Civil Engineers video clip highlights some of the global challenges that need to be solved. Civil Engineering @ University of Limerick will produce graduates capable of meeting these challenges on a global setting.

"Civil Engineering is all about creating, improving and protecting the environment in which we live. It provides the facilities for day-to-day life and for transport and industry to go about its work. 'The Little DVD of Civilisation', prepared by the Institution of Civil Engineers, looks at the amazing ways Civil Engineers overcome the challenges of creating and maintaining our infrastructure for us, and for future generations. Many of these challenges are met in a way that is sustainable, and all are met with style and innovation."

"Engineers are Cool!" - a bold statement indeed, but eloquently proven in the following film produced by Arup for the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers 2009 Presidential Address.

#3 Reason to Study CIVIL @ UL: A Great University

2006-01-10T21:00:00.002Z

Take a look at the exciting possibilities that are available within UL's Faculty of Science and Engineering.