CBEL Project Blogs

Since introducing service learning into CIVL 202 in 2007-2008, civil engineering students and community partners have worked together on over 120 projects aimed at helping students learn about project management while increasing the assets of local communities.

The Department of Civil Engineering is grateful to over 30 community organizations in British Columbia who have partnered with us to help over 720 students learn about project management.

Please note that 2013/14 project descriptions are tentative and may change as the projects progress.

2013/14 CBEL Projects

• BC Housing:  Energy Audits
• City Studio Projects 1:  Street Furniture
• City Studio Projects 2:  False Creek Flats
• North Shore Emergency Management Organization Project 1:  Windshield Assessment
• North Shore Emergency Management Organization Project 2:  Operation Windshield
• Options Project 1: Green Playground Spaces
• Options Project 2: Converting Parking Lot to Green Space
• Options Project 3:  Parking Lots and Green Space
• RayCam Community Centre: Balcony Guard
• Richmond Food Bank: Expanded Office Space
• Richmond Food Bank:  Indoor Play
• UBC Recycling: Waste Management
• World in a Garden: Living Fence

2012/13 CBEL Projects

Transportation Engineering Context 

• BC Cycling Coalition:  Traffic Devices
  • Report on the effects of traffic devices such as rumble strips and roundabouts on cyclists.
• Modo:  Infographic
  • Create an infographic that visually expresses the benefits of increasing the capacity of residents to take part in the sharing economy, and  also create a feasibility study.
• Science World: Traffic
  • Review and make recommendations regarding the current exterior signage plan and traffic flow on lease and non-lease land surrounding Science World.

Water Engineering Context

• UBC – SEEDS:  Botanical Garden Project
  • Survey a stream in the Botanical Gardens and look at the potential for rock weirs in strategic spots to slow down winter storm runoff and potentially capture water for irrigation and a backup supply in an emergency.
• Gun Lake Ratepayers Association: Water Study

  • Septic Field Lava barrier- conceptual design, lava material adsorption testing & prototype application.

• UBC Farm:  Water Catchment System
  • Design a storm water catchment system.
• Dr. Sun Yat Sen Garden:  Water Lift
  • Produce a simple and working miniature scale model of the Dragon-Spine Water Lift.

Emergency Planning Context        

• North Shore Emergency Management Organization:  Rapid Damage Assessment Programme
  • Support the development of a programme aimed at assessing buildings to ensure that they are safe for people to return to, after a disaster.
• North Shore Emergency Management Organization:  Supply Chain Management/Relief-Supply Distribution
  • Support the development of a post-disaster transportation and distribution programme.
• Tetra Society:  Emergency Preparedness Kit
  • Create a post-disaster kit for independent people living with mobility and dexterity challenges.
• Victoria Civic Heritage Trust: Seismic Risk Assessment
  • Review heritage, largely un-reenforced masonry (URM), buildings located in a target area of the downtown core of Victoria,  BC.

Humanitarian Engineering or Green Engineering Context

• CityReach:  Wardrobe
  • Design and build a costumes wardrobe for daycare kids in the downtown eastside.
• City Studio:  The Vancouver Deconstruction Hub I
• City Studio:  The Vancouver Deconstruction Hub II
  • Research and analyze the proposal for a Deconstruction Hub facility that will divert construction and demolition waste from disposal in landfills. 
• Dr. Sun Yat Sen Gardens:  Tea and Cup Recycling System
  • Design and create a system for efficient disposal of used cups and unfinished tea.
• Learning Exchange:  Carport Renovation
  • A continuation of last year’s project, wherein components of the new space are designed and built.
• UBC Farm:  Commercial Kitchen Heat Recovery
  • Create a system that will recover the heat/energy created in the Farm’s commercial kitchen, to be used in the kitchen itself or elsewhere in the Farm building.
• Lionsview Seniors and North Shore Connexions: Staircase
  • Remove and re-construct a staircase at a Connexions facility.
• Lionsview Seniors and North Shore Connexions: Design and Preliminary Drawings
  • Create a conceptual design and drawings (50′ x 50′) for office and meeting spaces.
• RayCam Community Centre:  The Vertical Food Wall Project
  • Work with community youth to design and plan a vertical food wall.
• Science World:  Birds 1
  • Create a system that deters crows from roosting in the Ken Spencer Science Park each evening and causing damage.
• Science World:  Birds 2
  • Find a solution that either keeps birds away from Science World’s geodesic dome or keeps the birds from roosting on, and within, the building structure.

2011/12 CSL Projects

Transportation Engineering Context 

• BEST:  Seniors Transport Mapping
• BEST:  Seniors Transport Vehicle Review

Water Engineering Context

• UBC – SEEDS:  Buchanan Courtyard Sustainable Sites Assessment
• UBC – SEEDS:  Agricultural Road Sustainable Sites Assessment
• Beecher Creek Streamkeepers Assoc:  Stream Remediation
• Evergreen:  Planter Irrigation System
• Pacific Streamkeepers Assoc:  Morten Creek Fish Counter
• Telus Science World:  Sarah Stern Gallery Wave Table

Emergency Planning Context        

• North Shore Emergency Management Organization:  Website Renewal
• North Shore Emergency Management Organization:  Rapid Response
• UBC – Risk Management Services:  Emergency Preparedness for Students  

Humanitarian Engineering or Green Engineering Context

• City Reach:  Storage for Gym Equipment
• Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Garden:  Signage Box
• Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Garden:  Ting Barriers
• Evergreen:  Tree Planters
• Learning Exchange:  Carport Renewal
• Saint James Music Academy:  Sound Proofing
• Telus Science World:  Ken Spencer Science Park Waste Recycling
• Telus Science World:  Ken Spencer Science Park Greenhouse
• Tetra Society:  Kitchen Lifting Device
• UBC – CLI:  Integration

2010/11 CSL Projects

• Byrne Creek Streamkeepers Assoc.:  Spawning Gavel Cleaner
• Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Garden:  Heavenly Wells
• Evergreen:  Mobile Irrigation System
• Learning Exchange:  Energy Retrofit
• Learning Exchange:  Lap Top Storage Unit
• Light House Sustainable Building Centre:  Rainwater Irrigation System
• RayCam Community Centre:  Daycare Playhouse
• RayCam Community Centre:  Family Support
• Richmond Fruit Tree Sharing Project:  Seedling Hut
• Telus Science World:  Sustainable Transportation Exhibit
• Tetra Society:  Sailing Dingy Trailer Modification
• UBC Farm/Centre for Sustainable Food Systems:  Carton Storage System
• UBC Farm/Centre for Sustainable Food Systems:  Free Range Chicken Structure
• UBC Farm/Centre for Sustainable Food Systems:  Food Processing Retrofit
• UBC Farm/Centre for Sustainable Food Systems:  Waste Redirection Centre
• UBC Farm/Farm Wonders Day Camp:  Gravity Fed Greenhouse Watering System
• Intergenerational Landed Learning:   Outdoor Children’s Kitchen
• Vancouver Native Health Society:  Outdoor Kitchen
• Vancouver Native Health Society:  Porch
• YWCA Roof Top Garden: Irrigation System
• YWCA Roof Top Garden:  Kiwi Structure

2009/10 CSL Projects

2008/09 CSL Projects

• Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden:  Visitor Barriers
• Evergreen:  Jericho Park Storm Drain Systems Research and Mapping
• Habitat for Humanity:  Research Site Options for a New Development
• Habitat for Humanity:  Research Green Building Options for a New Development
• Richmond Fruit Tree Sharing Project:  Design and Build Raised Beds
• Telus Science World:  Design and Build a Prototype Alternative Energy Exhibit
• Telus Science World:  Design Exhibits for an Outdoor Science Park
• Telus Science World:  Design and Build a Prototype Water Wise Exhibit
• Terra Nova School Yard Society:  Design and Build a Demonstration Pelton Wheel
• Terra Nova School Yard Society:  Create a Water Manual of Water Usage and Drainage for Roof Top Gardens
• UBC Farm:  Design and Build Fencing for Soil and Irrigation Pits
• UBC Farm:  Solve the Farm’s Large Stone Problem
• UBC Farm:  Design and Build Irrigation Piping Protection
• UBC Learning Exchange:  Rooftop Garden Feasibility Project
• UBC Learning Exchange:  Moveable Planters
• UBC Learning Exchange:  Living Wall
• Vancouver Native Health Society:  Aboriginal Urban Smokehouse Design and Build
• YWCA Roof Top Garden:  Hoop House Design and Build
• YWCA Roof Top Garden:  Water Capture System Design and Build

2007/2008 CSL Projects