December 20, 2022

A capstone project concludes Civil engineering education at Mizzou. These capstone projects allow students to apply what they’ve learned in their classes and work together in teams to study real world challenges and offer recommendations to those problems.

The experience gives students the hands-on preparation they need to be successful after graduation.

One of the capstone groups, All Things Civil, evaluated the US 63 and Route WW Interchange in Columbia to recommend how best to restructure that intersection. The group looked for ways to improve congestion, capacity and safety while also assessing the environmental impact and cost estimate. They considered three alternatives to the current structure: folded diamond with roundabout, diverging diamond and a widening of the existing network.

Ultimately, All Things Civil decided a diverging diamond was the best course of action. It was the most cost-effective and had the least environmental impact despite requiring a new bridge.

The Roof Raisers assessed a renovation and addition for Fulton High School, which includes 20 new classrooms, a gym and additional parking. The group evaluated materials takeoff, such as beam and column, structural steel, rebar, siding and roofing, concrete, as well as excavation, utilities and paving. They also calculated cost estimation, scheduling and risk management for the project. Overall, Roof Raisers concluded the project would take just over one year.

Below are the full capstone projects from the Fall 2022 semester. Take a few moments to learn how civil and environmental engineers develop solutions to engineering problems.

Group: All Things Civil
Team Members: Joseph Baer, Matthew Braden, Bill Faust III, Collin Walsh and Bryce Reynolds
Objective: US 63 & Route WW Interchange Study

Group: The Roof Raisers
Team Members: Sotirios Korakis, Joe Bowers, Sulli Wallisch, Lauren Ferguson and Collin Leach
Objective: Fulton High School Renovation and Addition

Group: Skylark Engineering
Team Members: Seth Johaning, Alexandra Signore, Seth Mueller, Kay Kay Aung and Michael Weissinger
Objective: Develop a save, constructable and cost-effective design concept of a pre-engineered metal building