CIV E 401 - CIVIL ENGINEERING AND SOCIETY

FALL 2006

SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR TERM PAPERS

Choose one topic starting September 18 for Section 1 (Monday) and September 20 for Section 2 (Wednesday). Submit the following on that date (on a sheet of paper): Name, e-mail, and selected topics: first, second, and third choice.

The instructor will inform you of your topic through e-mail.


  1. The Tragedy of the Commons (COMMONS)

  2. Groundwater depletion in California (GROUNDWATER)

  3. Comparison of human and motor vehicle energy expenditures (CARS)

  4. What have we learned from hurricane Katrina? (KATRINA)

  5. The plight of the Salton Sea (SALTON)

  6. The future of ecological architecture (ARCHITECTURE)

  7. Energy savings with roundabout traffic intersections (ROUNDABOUT)

  8. How to cope with climate change (CLIMATE)

  9. The future of sand mining in Southern California (MINING)

  10. Where is Southern California going to get its water in the future? (WATER)

  11. The future of solar energy in California (SOLAR)

  12. The future of alternative energy in California (ALTERNATIVE)

  13. Designing for earthquake resistance in California (EARTHQUAKE)

  14. Managing coastal erosion in San Diego County (EROSION)

  15. Usage of permeable pavements in California (PAVEMENTS)