Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Hvy Civl Const Dsn/Mthd&Equip (Face-to-Face)

CM 4600-01

Course: CM 4600-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: ET
CRN: 30786

Course Description

This course addresses design practices, equipment, methods, and construction management practices employed in heavy civil construction. Topics covered include temporary structures, caissons and cofferdams, underpinning, diaphragm walls, earthworks, dewatering, highways, airports, water and sewage, dams, and bridges. While there is a strong emphasis on heavy civil construction, the subject matter has relevance to all industry divisions in that it addresses site development for heavy and industrial construction projects. Future trends in technology and innovative practices and systems will also be investigated. (Fall) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): (CM 3270 and ENGR 2000) or CCET 3670 or ENGR 2140 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C-

Required Texts

No textbook is required. Students will use instructor-generated and Web-based materials and his experience in heavy civil construction projects.
Recommended books:
S Peurifoy, Robert L., Schexnayder, Clifford J., and Shapira, Aviad, Construction Planning, Equipment, and Methods, 8th edition, New York, McGraw-Hill, 2011, ISBN-13: 978-0-07-340112-6.
  1. Bernold, Leonhard E., Construction Equipment and Methods: Planning, Innovation, Safety, Hoboken, NJ, John Wiley & Sons, 2013, ISBN-13: 978-0-470-16986-5.
  2. Nunnally, S. W., Construction Methods and Management, 8th edition, Upper Saddle River, NJ, Prentice-Hall, 2011, ISBN-13: 978-0-13-500079-3.
Software:
  1. DeepEX 2020 (DeepXcav 2020)
  2. Insite Elevation - Pro
  3. HeavyBid (Heavy Civil Estimating) 
  4. HeavyJob (Heavy Civil Field Management & Reporting) 
  5. Equipment360 (Heavy Construction Equipment) 
  6. HCSS Safety (Incident Recording & Analysis)

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students can improve their ability to:
  • Select and apply knowledge of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology, including the use of AI tools, to heavy civil construction problems that require the application of principles and applied procedures or methodologies.
  • Conduct standard tests and measurements in heavy civil construction, analyze and interpret experiments, and apply experimental results, supported by AI-enhanced analytics, to improve processes.
  • Identify, analyze, and solve broadly defined heavy civil construction problems using both traditional methods and AI-powered decision-support systems.
  • Select and apply the knowledge, techniques, skills, and modern tools of the discipline, including emerging AI technologies, to broadly defined heavy civil construction activities.
  • Commit to quality, timeliness, and continuous improvement through the adoption of AI-driven process optimization where applicable.
  • Understand and commit to addressing professional and ethical responsibilities, especially in the context of implementing AI tools responsibly in heavy civil construction projects.

Course Requirements

To ensure a comprehensive understanding and hands-on experience, students will be assessed using a mix of individual and team-based activities as follows:
  • Mid-Term Exam: Covers core concepts from the first half of the course, including earthwork methods, volume calculations, and equipment applications. (15%)
  • Final Exam: A comprehensive exam focused on the entire course content, emphasizing deep excavation, temporary structures, and project management practices. (15%)
  • Quizzes (4–6 total): Short in-class or online quizzes testing comprehension of lecture materials, assigned readings, and case study discussions. (10%)
  • Assignments (6 total): Individual problem sets and application-based exercises using field data, volume estimation techniques, and engineering calculations. (15%)
  •  Computer Labs (6 sessions): Hands-on sessions using software such as DeepEX, Insite Elevation Pro, SkyCiv, HeavyBid, HeavyJob, and HCSS Safety tools. (15%)
  •  Term Projects (4 total): Team-based term projects simulating a civil construction contracting company. Includes earthwork takeoffs, retaining wall, and deep excavation design, etc. (15%)
  •  Site Visits (1 total): On-site observation and documentation of heavy civil construction operations. Students must implement learned digital tools and complete assigned tasks. (5%)
  •  Participation and Professional Conduct: Engagement in discussions, teamwork, collaboration, lab safety, and adherence to professional behavior during site visits and labs. (10%)

Course Outline

Part (1): Introduction to Heavy Civil Construction
1.     Historical Background
2.     Design Limits, Code, and Specifications
3.     Overview of Software and Apps

Part (2): Earthwork Fundamentals and Practice 
4.     Earthwork Areas and Volumes
5.     Soil Characteristics
6.     Earthwork Takeoffs 
  • Earthwork Surveying
  • Cross-sections and Area
  • Trench Takeoff Method
  •  Borrow Pit Takeoff Method
  •  Grid Takeoff Method
  •  End-Area Takeoff Method
  •  Cross-Section Method Takeoff Method
  •  Mass Diagram Takeoff Method
  •  Measuring Quantities of Piles
 Pricing Excavation, Backfill and other utilities
7.     Earthmoving Heavy Equipment
8.    Earthwork Takeoff Project by Insite Elevation

Part (3): Retaining Walls Design and Construction
9.     Lateral Earth Pressure
10.  At-Rest Lateral Earth Pressure

Part (4): Deep Excavation
11.  Introduction about Deep Foundations
12.  Soldier pile and lagging walls
13.  Secant and tangent pile walls
14.  Sheet pile walls
15.  Cofferdams
16.  Combined sheet pile walls
17.  Diaphragm (Slurry) walls
18.  Retaining walls supported by ground anchors (tiebacks, rock anchors)
19.  Braced excavation Walls
20.  Deadman wall systems
21.  A-Frame wall systems
22.  Circular shafts

Part (5): Temporary Structures
23.  Concrete Formworks
  • Types of Formworks
  •  Construction Methods of Formworks
  •  Formwork Design Considerations
  •  Structural design of Column Formworks 
  •  Structural design of Wall Formworks 
  •  Structural design of Slab Formworks
24. Shoring, Scaffolding and Underpinning
  •  Types and Construction Methods of Shoring
  •  Types and Construction Methods of Scaffolding
  •  Types and Construction Methods of Underpinning
  •  Design Loads of Shoring
  •  Design Loads of Scaffolding
  •  Design Loads of Underpinning
  •  Case studies

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

  1. Missed Lectures: Students are responsible for all material covered in class during an absence. Students who are absent from a lecture should ask a classmate or the instructor for lecture notes. The PowerPoint slides do not cover everything discussed in class. 
  2. Missed/Late Assignments: Contact the instructor to check about missed assignments. Students are responsible for completing assignments made on time during their absence. Assignments handed in late will be penalized 15% of the total point value for each class day late.
  3. Missed Quizzes: Quizzes are usually given during the first 10 minutes of class. There will be no makeups for missed quizzes. 
  4. Missed Labs: In-class portions of the labs cannot be made up. An absence will result in a 0 for that day’s lab activity, and the lowest lab grade will be dropped. When students are asked to finish a lab at home, labs handed in late will be penalized 15% of the total point value for each class day late.

Attendance Policy

Attendance is required if you are registered for a Face-to-Face, Synchronous Remote, or Hybrid course. If you are ill, you may request a faculty member record the class and share it with you or request other reasonable accommodations. Your instructor will work with you to develop a plan for completing coursework. To receive academic accommodations and ensure that your request is communicated to faculty, you must submit this self-report form.

Course Fees

N/A

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.