A Challenge Based Educational Model on Structural Health Monitoring for Engineering Programs

In this paper we present a challenge-based teaching model for a special diploma in the Civil Engineering program in our University. The duration of the specialization Diploma is a full semester, usually during the fall term for the seventh semester of the eight-semester program. The program serves as a minor for students of mainly Civil Engineering but Architecture students can also be enrolled. The competencies developed during the eighteen weeks that the term lasts are associated with Structural Health Monitoring (SHM), detection of damage in structures and testing of structures using non-destructive techniques. The diploma covers the theoretical aspects associated with SHM and non-destructive techniques and several sessions of experiments in different labs of the university or from industry-certified labs. A total of 46 students have taken part of this diploma in the years 2022 and 2023 and the results of these implementations are included in this paper. Towards the end of the eighteen week course, students are given a challenge to apply the knowledge on a real structure. For this purpose, two different bridges located in our campus were prepared for the instrumentation and experiments designed by the different teams of students. The implementation of this diploma includes the collaboration with the Mexican Institute of Transportation, and some of its experts taught several modules and led the experiments in their facilities. Results of a survey answered by students show that their perception is a very positive one and students did achieve the desired competencies included in the design of the course. We present this work that could be use as an example of Challenge Based courses, Specialization semesters or minors for Engineering Programs.