Emma Oelmann and Blake Misfeldt developed a preliminary design for a trail in West Burlington for their senior design project.
Two civil and environmental engineering (CEE) students designed a trail that would make a busy business corridor safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and motor vehicles in West Burlington, Iowa.
The students — Emma Oelmann and Blake Misfeldt — not only addressed a critical safety issue but also earned the city a $60,000 credit from its consulting firm, Bolton & Menk.
“The students’ work reduced the scope and cost of what future engineering or consulting firms will need to do,” said Gregg Mandsager, city administrator of West Burlington.
Mandsager said the students “gave us professional-level planning, design, and research that will directly inform future projects.”
The student team conducted a site visit, gathered on-site elevation data, and developed a comprehensive design that included horizontal and vertical alignments, trail cross-sections, pedestrian crosswalk layout, adjustments to traffic light timing, material quantities, and cost estimates. Their final product — a preliminary design — included a trail along the north side of Agency Street with pedestrian-friendly intersections and connections to existing trails.
“It pays off to do your due diligence and research,” said Oelmann, the project lead and liaison to city staff. “Understanding the site and the client’s needs really strengthens the design process.”
Oelmann, a fall 2024 graduate from Williamsburg, Iowa, now works for Foth, a Cedar Rapids engineering firm. Misfeldt, a fall 2024 graduate from Erie, Illinois, joined the United States Army.
Senior design is a rite of passage for Iowa engineering students who spend a semester or more examining a complicated problem for a client. The students gain experience with a real-world project and feedback from working professionals. CEE students always work directly with communities across the state of Iowa.
Paul Hanley is CEE’s senior design lead instructor and served as faculty advisor on the Oelmann and Misfeldt project. CEE students have completed 150 projects in more than 40 communities, often partnering with the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities.