Update XV

This week i finalized my outline and completed my informal practice run for the formal presentation that i will have to do next week. For now i will continue work on my outline and do my best to make my presentation as strong as possible. I want it to better match up with my blog, so i am improving my labels and the colors of my blog to make it more easily readable. I will also have to make some changes to my outline and define certain parts of the project that i blurred together on the informal presentation. I have two grade sheets from my instructors that i will use to help re-create my formal presentation in order to make it the best it can be.

Background Information

For our senior project we are required to plan, design, and construct a scale model of a green marina. The marina is located in the Atlantic Highlands Municipal Harbor. This marina must be converted to meet more environmentally friendly criteria. The project is separated into two distinct portions, a structural aspect, and a civil aspect. The civil standpoint takes place mostly on land, dealing with issues such as parking lots, and proper waste run-off. Anthony will take the roll of the civil engineer for this project. He will be focusing on pre-engineering portions of the project such as: sitescape/landscape analysis, deed description, site plan, roadway grade and the interpolation of contours. As the civil engineer he is responsible for re-designing all of the land based structures and other parts of the marina un-related to the dock itself. In order to properly manage the civil engineering parts of the marina, Anthony will first need a site plan of the already existing marina and base his new design around what we are able to work with at the site. The structural engineer’s job is to ensure that the proposed plans are structurally sound and that the proper precautions are in place to protect the docked boats, i.e. breakwaters. John will be taking the role of the structural engineer. This section of the project is sometimes referred to as the (wet portion), because it entails the aspect of the marina that is located on the water. John will have to decide upon an environmentally friendly material to use as a dock. John will also have to take the necessary precautions to ensure the boats are protected from the forces of nature. The final solution must meet the client’s demands, and in the end must meet their satisfaction. All of these needs must be met while the marina still meets “green” codes. All progress achieved during the span of this project will be logged electronically via a weblog as well as copied into a notebook. The logging of progress throughout this project is crucial. It keeps the designer on track while at the same time informs the client on the progress so far. Mentor contact is also crucial in this project. Mentor contact will help the designers stay on the right track as well as help them with any problems they may have along the way. For our senior project we have decided upon the “Green Marina” project. This project entails the design, planning, and construction of a scale model marina complete with accessories that help it meet environmentally friendly protocol. The final solution must be testable, and it must meet the demands and wants of an unspecified client.

One of the number one problems of the marinas of today (other than pollution) is the fact that there are too many boaters on the water on a regular basis. This is going to be one of the main problems to look in to as we develop our site plans for the marina.

Update XIV

Starting on wednesday of this week we began viewing of the informal reports of progress for my peers. I did not have the chance to give my presentation. I will present on monday of next week.

Update XIII

This weekend I finalized my model. I think it looks great! Now all i have to do is finish my outline for my informal report of progress. There are also some changes i might have to make to the blog so it is ready for the report. For instance my specifications grid did not copy on to the blog correctly and it is very frustrating trying to make it appear in the proper format.

Update XII

After a long discussion with my partner, we decided that is will be most effective to create 2 seperate models. He will design his structural engineering part on a board, and I will design the civil engineering aspect on a seperate board. Last night I began the initial work on my model but much more will need to be done this weekend.

Update XI

Over the weekend, my partner and i visited a craft store where we bought supplies to be used for our models. We also did some investigation behind the store where we located a bunch of cardboard that the were disguarding. It seems like a perfect material to use for the civil aspect of my part of the model.

Update X

This weekend I plan to meet with my partner John Degirolamo and discuss the production of our models in person. We will brainstorm several ideas in order to create the best possible functioning models.

Update IX

This weekend I finalized my Specifications and Limitations. I have composed a specifications grid to show how i came to choose my alternate solutions. I will now begin to fill in the grid with all of my specifications, and appoint appropriate grades to all of my alternate solutions for each specification.

Update VIII

At the beginning of this week i finalized my selection/rejection/intentions report with my specification matrix and posted it on the blog. For the rest of the week i have been working vigorusly on my next project - the model. We will be designing a model of the marina based off of both of our innovations. My partner John Degiralomo and i have been discussing possible ways to create the model, and also what we thinki the final outcome should look like. This has been a productive week, but future weeks will have to be more productive then this. Even though i think of how much I've accomplished, There is still much more to do. It was not until recently that I had realized that my calendar had issues on the blog. Not only would it follow you around everywhere you go, but it did not fit into the provided calendar space. I talked to Mrs. Hoffman and she helped me to resolve my problem. I think my blog has a much sharper appearence now.