Course Number and Title:
CET 125 Civil & Environmental Drafting & Design
Prerequisites
Prerequisite: SSC 100 or concurrent and (MAT 099 or higher).
Course Credits and Hours
3 credit(s)
2 lecture hours/week
4 lab hours/week
0 offsite lab hours
Course Description
This course introduces fundamental drafting and design concepts in civil and environmental engineering. Students develop skills in hand drafting and computer-aided drafting (CAD) to create basic civil drawings, including plot plans, grading layouts, drainage, and utility systems. Emphasis is placed on interpreting survey and hydrology data, applying legal descriptions, understanding zoning and soil considerations, and incorporating sustainable site design principles. Students learn to visualize site layouts, contour maps, and conceptual grading plans while considering regulatory requirements and environmental factors.
Additional Materials
Drafting kit
Core Course Performance Objectives (CCPOs)
- Indicate and describe the types of civil drawing and their functions. (CCC 1, 2; PGC: CET 1, 5; CTO 1, 4)
- Demonstrate basic drafting techniques through conceptual hand sketches and computer-aided drafting tools. (CCC 1, 2; PGC: CET 3, 4, 7; CTO 1, 2, 3, 4)
- Interpret legal descriptions and site data. (CCC 1, 2; PGC: CET 1, 3, 4, 5, 7; CTO 1, 2, 4)
- Interpret survey and hydrologic data. (CCC 1, 2, 6; PGC: CET 1, 3, 4, 5, 7; CTO 1, 2, 3, 4)
- Apply zoning, regulatory frameworks and environmental constraints to sketch conceptual plot plans and grading layouts. (CCC 1, 2, 4, 5, 6; PGC: CET 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7; CTO 1, 2, 4)
- Describe sustainable site design methods and their application. (CCC 1, 2, 4; PGC: CET 1, 3, 5, 7; CTO 1, 2, 4)
- Interpret design concepts for wet utilities, including stormwater, sanitary sewer, and site drainage systems. (CCC 1, 2, 4; PGC: CET 1, 3, 5, 6, 7; CTO 1, 2, 3, 4)
See Core Curriculum Competencies and Program Graduate Competencies at the end of the syllabus. CCPOs are linked to every competency they develop.
Measurable Performance Objectives (MPOs)
Upon completion of this course, the student will:
- Indicate and describe the types of civil drawing and their functions.
- Define key terms related to civil drafting, mapping, and surveying.
- Identify drawings in a set of site design plans, including road profiles, sewer plans, stormwater management plans, and sediment and erosion control plans.
- Interpret zoning classifications and existing record plans by reviewing examples.
- Demonstrate basic drafting techniques through conceptual hand sketches and computer-aided drafting tools.
- Identify basic drafting tools and CAD software used in civil and environmental design.
- Identify key interface components and organizational features of CAD software (e.g., ribbon, command line, tool palettes, drawing templates, settings panels).
- Identify annotation tools and standard drafting conventions, including line types, symbols, text, and dimensions.
- Identify and interpret scales, dimensions, and measurements on drawings.
- Sketch and reproduce layouts such as plan, section, and profile views using hand drafting and CAD tools.
- Reproduce 2D plot layouts using hand drafting and CAD, following standard conventions for layers, scales, text, dimensions, annotations, and basic sheet layout principles.
- Interpret legal descriptions and site data.
- Define key terms related to legal descriptions, plot plans, and site layout.
- Draft plot plans using legal bearings, distances, and zoning boundaries.
- Identify soil and watershed data relevant to conceptual plot layout and grading.
- Interpret legal and site-related text to support basic visual representations using hand sketches and CAD tools.
- Interpret survey and hydrologic data.
- Identify types of contour lines and describe their role in site planning.
- Explain how survey and hydrologic data are used to generate civil drawings.
- Recognize how interpolation and survey data inform slope, flow direction, and watershed boundaries in conceptual contour maps.
- Illustrate survey and hydrologic data, including points and contours to show basic site topography and drainage using manual and CAD methods.
- Apply zoning, regulatory frameworks, and environmental constraints to sketch conceptual plot plans and grading layouts.
- Identify the roles of government agencies in land development.
- Interpret zoning ordinances and subdivision regulations, including building placement, driveways, parking, pedestrian circulation, and ADA accessibility.
- Sketch and draft site layouts that incorporate zoning and environmental constraints at a conceptual level, applying ordinances to basic plot and grading layouts.
- Describe sustainable site design methods and their application.
- Identify plot plan features that relate to regulatory and ecological considerations.
- Describe principles of sustainable site development, including low-impact development techniques.
- Explain how site analysis and construction practices support environmental sustainability.
- Summarize common sustainability-focused site analysis techniques.
- Interpret design concepts for wet utilities, including stormwater, sanitary sewer, and site drainage systems.
- Indicate approximate slopes and runoff directions from sample hydrology and soil data for a conceptual site.
- Define and use appropriate terminology related to the hydrologic cycle, site drainage practices, and wet utility systems.
- Prepare conceptual grading plans and utility layouts with slope arrows, elevation callouts, and invert elevations using sketches and computer-aided drafting tools.
- Identify stormwater, sanitary sewer, and water distribution systems and relate design elevations to surface elevations.
Evaluation Criteria/Policies
The grade will be determined using the Delaware Tech grading system:
| 90-100 |
= |
A |
| 80-89 |
= |
B |
| 70-79 |
= |
C |
| 0-69 |
= |
F |
Students should refer to the
Catalog/Student Handbook for information on the Academic Standing Policy, the Academic Integrity Policy, Student Rights and Responsibilities, and other policies relevant to their academic progress.
Final Course Grade
Calculated using the following weighted average
Evaluation Measure | Percentage of final grade |
Summative |
2-3 Exams, Equally Weighted | 30% |
Final Design Project and Presentation | 35% |
Formative |
The course will contain various formative assessments including but not limited to: (all equally weighted) - In-Class Drafting Assignments
- Homework
| 35% |
TOTAL | 100% |
Program Graduate Competencies (PGCs are the competencies every graduate will develop specific to his or her major)
CET/EET
1. Apply technical knowledge, skills, and engineering principles in various civil and environmental engineering applications.
2. Conduct field and laboratory testing using industry-standard procedures.
3. Select and apply appropriate materials, technologies, and best practices for civil and environmental engineering projects.
4. Utilize engineering software, visual communication tools, and technical documentation to support diverse civil and environmental engineering activities.
5. Interpret and apply relevant industry regulations and standards to civil and environmental engineering applications.
6. Pursue industry-recognized certifications related to civil and environmental engineering technology.
7. Demonstrate professionalism and ethical responsibility while prioritizing safety, quality, timeliness, and continuous improvement in civil and environmental engineering practices.
Core Curriculum Competencies (CCCs are the competencies every graduate will develop)
- Apply clear and effective communication skills.
- Use critical thinking to solve problems.
- Collaborate to achieve a common goal.
- Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct.
- Use information literacy for effective vocational and/or academic research.
- Apply quantitative reasoning and/or scientific inquiry to solve practical problems.
Students in Need of Accommodations Due to a Disability
We value all individuals and provide an inclusive environment that fosters equity and student success. The College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Students are encouraged to schedule an appointment with the campus Disabilities Support Counselor to request an accommodation needed due to a disability. The College's policy on accommodations for persons with disabilities can be found in the College's Guide to Requesting Academic Accommodations and/or Auxiliary Aids Students may also access the Guide and contact information for Disabilities Support Counselors through the Student Resources web page under Disabilities Support Services, or visit the campus Advising Center.