Call for Proposals

Teaching Modules

For the first time, the ASCE Global Center of Excellence in Computing has made fundamental computing concepts freely available to civil engineers and educators using familiar terminology and examples. No previous knowledge of computing is necessary.

Fifteen modules of approximately 50 slides each are currently available for downloading. Now engineers can become acquainted with the science base of computer-aided engineering through learning about topics such as computational complexity, data-base design and optimization.

When used for coursework development, these modules contain kernel scientific information that could be enriched by software exercises that are appropriate for local conditions related to software and hardware. More than half of the knowledge base that is defined by the Center as essential for all engineers is on-line now and more will follow in the coming months.

This effort is an excellent example of the benefits of global cooperation. Contributors from three countries (Switzerland, USA and the UK) provided modules and it is expected that they will be used in tens of countries around the world.  Since they are free of charge, users are more likely to spend the time to provide comments and suggestions and this will lead to the same kind of added value that has been observed for similar efforts in other fields (free software, Wikipedia, etc.)

Background information

The ASCE Global Center of Excellence in Computing was established about two years ago.  It is a part of the ASCE Technical Council on Computing and Information Technology. 

The Center has a twofold mission:

• To provide global and national leadership in research, education and technology transfer related to computing in civil engineering.
• To encourage the best possible use of computing in civil engineering in research, education, and practice. 

In practical terms, the Center’s activities are focused on the computing education, research projects and the organization of workshops that are held around the world.  The Center is run by the Executive Committee, including Tomasz Arciszewski, Chair (George Mason University, USA), Hani Melhem, Vice-Chair (Kansas State University, USA), and Ian Smith, Vice-Chair (EPFL, Switzerland).

The ASCE Technical Council for Computing and Information Technology is gratefully recognized for supporting development and for managing reviews of modules. 

Ian Smith, F.ASCE, Vice-Chair for Education

A workshop for our Center in Nairobi, Kenya, early in January, 2009

Professor Esther Obonyo, the University of Florida and the member of our Center, has prepared a proposal for the National Science Foundation in the USA to organize a workshop for our Center in Nairobi, Kenya, early in January, 2009.  The subject will be "Information Communication Technology Trends in the Construction Industry: Benefits, Drivers, Barriers and Limitations." 

More information in the Chairman's letter.

Third International Conference on Design Computing and Cognition - DCC'08

Bringing artificial intelligence, cognitive science and computational theories to design research, 23-25 June 2008

Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA
preceded by Workshops 21-22 June 2008

http://mason.gmu.edu/~jgero/conferences/dcc08/

This biennial conference series provides an international forum for the presentation and discussion of state-of-the-art and cutting-edge design research with a focus on artificial intelligence, cognitive science and computational theories in design. The conference proceedings will form a continuing archive of design computing and cognition research. The conference will be preceded by a series of half-day workshops and specialist topics in design computing.

Attendees are invited to participate in the conference in the following ways:

• Submit a full-length paper on completed research relating to design computing and cognition.
• Submit a poster describing ongoing research; there will be time for oral presentations of posters.
• Submit a proposal for a half-day workshop on a topic related to design computing and cognition.
  

SUBMISSION DATES

• Paper abstracts due, electronic submission: 14 December 2007
• Papers for review due, electronic submission: 18 January 2008
• Workshop proposals due: 22 February 2008
• Poster abstracts due: 29 February 2008

DETAILS
http://mason.gmu.edu/~jgero/conferences/dcc08/

Summer 2007 Meetings

We would like to invite all members and sympathizers interested in the activities of our Center to our two meetings planned for this summer in Europe (Maribor, Slovenia) and in the USA (Pittsburgh).  Both meetings will be organized during the major computing conferences.  They will provide overviews of our activities and accomplishments in the area of computing education, including the preparation of teaching modules with several of them already available for downloading and use at our web side.  Also, our research plans will be discussed and interested researchers sought to join our teams.  Tomasz Arciszewski and Ian Smith will chair both meetings.

• 15:30-16:15, Thursday, June 28, 2007, Habakuk Hotel, Maribor, Slovenia, 24th W78 Conference, Maribor 2007, & 5th ITCEDU Workshop, & 14th EG-ICE Workshop.
• Lunch break meeting (lunch boxes will be provided by the Conference), Wednesday, July 25, 2007, Carnegie Mellon University campus, Pittsburgh, PA, the ASCE Computing in Civil Engineering Conference.

More details will be provided later.
If you have any questions, please contact Tomasz Arciszewski.

A Leader is Found

I am very happy to announce that Dr. Joseph Ugwu has become the Principal Investigator (PI) in our research project on "Civil Engineering Ontology."  Dr. Ugwu is the Director of JU C & R S Ltd consulting company in Hong Kong.  He is also the Chairman of the Sustainability Task Force in the Centre for Innovation and Construction Industry Development (CICID) in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Hong Kong.  He is an active scholar of international reputation in the area of Construction Information Technology with special interests in sustainability and in applications of ontologies in civil and construction engineering.

        In his new position, Dr. Ugwu will lead our efforts to develop a major research proposal for a large private foundation.  When a grant is received, Dr. Ugwu will coordinate our research.  At present, he is working on the Scope Form, a document required by the ASCE to support and endorse a major research project.  Very soon, he will begin putting together a research team.  If you are interested in our project, please contact Dr. Ugwu.
        Knowing Dr. Ugwu for many years, I believe that he is the perfect leader for our project.  I believe that his knowledge, hard work, and enthusiasm will produce results very soon.  Let me congratulate Dr. Ugwu this new and challenging position and wish him good luck.

Tomasz Arciszewski, Ph.D.
Chair, Executive Committee

Activities performed for creating the South and Latin American Network

During the month of November, Alfredo Serpell has contacted a group of faculty members from universities around Latin America, invited them to become founding members of the South and Latin American Network of the ASCE Global Center of Excellence in Computing.
As of today, seven faculty members from different countries have accepted the invitation, including Brazil, Chile, Peru, and México. I am expecting answers from Colombia too. Currently, new members are preparing their bio information for the member’s page.

New Letter from the Chairman

Even a direct hit of Emily (Hurricane category 4) didn't stop our mission.

The minutes from this first and historic meeting are available for downloading.