Open space development clinic

Many areas in Civil Engineering often deal with large-scale and system-level projects. These projects cannot be packaged into a "canned" laboratory for educational instruction. Consequently, a real-world field experiment is a logical way of executing such a project. This paper describes an on-going real-world clinic laboratory that addresses both technical and non-technical issues. The real-world clinic involves the development of open spaces near Rowan University. The engineering aspects of this project involves (1) surveying and the use of Global Positioning Systems (GPS), (2) the use of graphical engineering tools such as Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS), (3) computer web design, and (4) environmental analysis. The non-engineering aspects of this project include (1) multi-agency partnership and interface, (2) dealing with real-world hazards, and (3) team building. The twofold purpose of this paper is to report the successful open space development effort and to encourage others to pursue real-world laboratory experiences that involve multiple agencies.