Heritage Preservation Training in Civil Engineering Education: Modern Roads Restoration Projects

Abstract

The curricula of civil engineering schools in most countries exclude subjects related to heritage assessment and preservation of public works. In the very few that do include it, the teaching process continues to focus purely on the heritage of isolated public works, such as large structures and outstanding bridges. This lack of attention to the territorial dimension of public works should be remedied by teaching initiatives to instill greater awareness among engineering undergraduates of the history and heritage of historic transport networks and infrastructure. In this respect, the object of this article is to present and evaluate the teaching proposal established in the subject “History and Aesthetics of Civil Engineering” given at the School of Civil Engineering in Ciudad Real (University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain). Following the conceptual basis of the project-based learning (PBL) method, the students carry out documental studies, map work, and field studies to develop a proposal for the identification, assessment, and restoration of a modern road with heritage value.