University Civil Engineering Project: Self-Reflection Essay Analysis

This self-reflection essay details a civil engineering student's experience with an Integrated Design Project (IDP) focused on the construction of an Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU). The project involved teamwork, design considerations, and the application of civil engineering principles. The essay covers the student's involvement in the ETU design, including the creation of low and high-risk zones, the production of drawings using Google Sketch-Up, and the development of a ground model. It also highlights the design of foundations based on Euro-code 7 standards and the student's role as a group leader, applying the attributes of a Chartered or Incorporated Engineer. The essay reflects on challenges faced, such as meeting deadlines and communication issues, and concludes with insights on the development of group working skills and the importance of understanding the attributes of a Chartered Engineer. The student also included a detailed bibliography of the references used.

Civil Engineering Self-Reflection Essay 1
Civil Engineering Self-Reflection Essay
By
(Student’s Name)
Course Name:
Professor Name:
University Name:
Date of Submission:

Civil Engineering Self-Reflection Essay 2
Civil Engineering Self-Reflection Essay
Introduction
The integrated design project (IDP) involves the development of a project
management plan for construction of an Ebola Treatment Unit. The project involved us
working as a team of six members to offer various ideas and techniques for developing Ebola
treatment units and after that provide a presentation and report to the customer. However, the
project on the management plan for the construction of Ebola treatment unit has been very
educational and satisfactory. It has enabled me to understand various elements in civil
engineering such as the key attributes of Chartered or Incorporated Engineer. I understand
now the detailed process involved in the process of construction of an Ebola treatment unit
and thanks to the project. As a team, we worked tirelessly to ensure that we meet the
deadlines set by the client and we were able to produce a clear, accurate and timely report.
However, in future, we intend to produce better results beyond the expectation of the project.
Ebola Treatment Unit Design
In the Ebola treatment unit (ETU) design, I was involved in the aspect of the project.
This design was prepared based on the relevant standard. The ETU was designed to have both
the low risk and high-risk zones and also a well-defined unidirectional flow. On the outside
of the unit, there was a fence surrounding the unit and also another which divided the high
and low-risk regions (Reaves et al.2014, p.960). All the zones have facilities and specific
individuals who are allowed within the area. Under the low-risk zone, the staff members are
the only ones permitted while for the high-risk zone, both the staff and the patients are
allowed since its primary function was to offer care to the patients who are suspected to have
contacted Ebola virus disease.

Civil Engineering Self-Reflection Essay 3
Drawings
In the IDP part 2, I produced various drawings of the Ebola treatment unit to produce
the lines separating the two zones. Nyenswah et al (2014, p.1085) believes that, “the Google
sketch up and Google layout can both be used in the production of the lines.” Hence, Google
layout was done to ensure accuracy and professionalism to produce standardized drawings.
Model of the Ground
During the project, I took a better time while interpreting and comprehending on the
data about Ebola Treatment unit including the ground model for the Ebola unit treatment to
be constructed (Logan et al. 2014, p.1010). The ground model is of significance since it
enables the production of high-quality foundation designs. The data was assessed based on
lines of the units and the two zones. Each of the lines was plotted in the Google Sketch-Up
using heights and coordinates to produce an exact representation of the Ebola treatment unit.
Design Foundation
During the design of the foundation, I was involved in the design of foundations for
the development of the lines and zones of the Ebola treatment unit. I designed the foundation
using Euro-code 7 standards (Jacobs et al. 2015, p.1300). I took certain factors into accounts
such as the spacing and footing depth, the displaced soil effects, the design soil pressures and
water table fluctuations among others. The above-mentioned factors form the pre-requisite
requirement for the construction of the Ebola treatment unit (Kilmarx et al., 2014, p.1170).
Group Leadership
During the three weeks of the project, I took the role of a group leader. For this, I
applied the three basic ICE Attributes of a Chartered or Incorporated Engineer. For instance, I
planned effectively for a variety of tasks, resources, and people to produce quality process
and for effective project implementation. I first, began by delegating a variety of duties to the
team and ensured that they all accomplished all the tasks given to them. Most of the group

Civil Engineering Self-Reflection Essay 4
members cooperated except for a few who could not meet the various deadlines set for them.
The other attribute that I used during the project was an exercise of sound independent
engineering judgment and after that take responsibility for every activity that took place. In
our first meeting, we decided to divide the work in a variety of ways that is the structure team
and civil teams and this was done to test and identify the strengths and weaknesses of every
team member. It proved to be very effective and thus, enabled numerous tasks to be done at
the same time allowing for the project to be completed in time to meet the set deadline
(Drake et al. 2015, p.1). However, in the course of the project, we encountered certain
challenges such as impossible deadlines, poor communication, resource competition and
inadequate skills for the project among others. With the skills and attributes of Chartered or
Incorporated Engineer, we managed to overcome some of the problems such as poor
communication and this I was able to achieve through the use of social and personal skills
and discussion of a variety of relevant issues relating to the project.
In conclusion, the above project has enabled me to understand that my group working
skills have not fully developed well and hence in future I will need to understand the various
attributes of Chartered or Incorporated Engineer.

Civil Engineering Self-Reflection Essay 5
Bibliography
Drake, J.M., Kaul, R.B., Alexander, L.W., O’Regan, S.M., Kramer, A.M., Pulliam, J.T.,
Ferrari, M.J. and Park, A.W., 2015. Ebola cases and health system demand in Liberia. PLoS
biology, 13(1), p.e1002056.
Jacobs, M., Aarons, E., Bhagani, S., Buchanan, R., Cropley, I., Hopkins, S., Lester, R.,
Martin, D., Marshall, N., Mepham, S. and Warren, S., 2015. Post-exposure prophylaxis
against Ebola virus disease with experimental antiviral agents: a case-series of health-care
workers. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 15(11), pp.1300-1304.
Kilmarx, P.H., Clarke, K.R., Dietz, P.M., Hamel, M.J., Husain, F., McFadden, J.D., Park,
B.J., Sugerman, D.E., Bresee, J.S., Mermin, J. and McAuley, J., 2014. Ebola virus disease in
health care workers--Sierra Leone, 2014. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly
report, 63(49), pp.1168-1171.
Logan, G., Vora, N.M., Nyensuah, T.G., Gasasira, A., Mott, J., Walke, H., Mahoney, F.,
Luce, R. and Flannery, B., 2014. Establishment of a community care center for isolation and
management of Ebola patients—Bomi County, Liberia, October 2014. Morbidity and
Mortality Weekly Report, 63(44), pp.1010-1012.
Nyenswah, T., Fahnbulleh, M., Massaquoi, M., Nagbe, T., Bawo, L., Falla, J.D., Kohar, H.,
Gasasira, A., Nabeth, P., Yett, S. and Gergonne, B., 2014. Ebola epidemic—Liberia, March–
October 2014. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 63(46), pp.1082-1086.
Reaves, E.J., Mabande, L.G., Thoroughman, D.A., Arwady, M.A. and Montgomery, J.M.,
2014. Control of Ebola virus disease—Firestone District, Liberia, 2014. Morbidity and
Mortality Weekly Report, 63(42), pp.959-965.