Evaluation Plan:

Each team must consist of at least three students and a faculty advisor. While not required, the team members should have multidisciplinary backgrounds that encompass engineering/science and environmental studies. Extra credit will be given to multidisciplinary proposals. The competition will be managed jointly by the Houston Advanced Research Center, Texas A&M Department of Civil Engineering and the Department of Petroleum Engineering. Representatives from academia, oil and gas industry, government agencies and environmental organizations will serve on the judging panel.

The competition will be carried out in three phases.

Phase I (Due by October 9, 2009)

Teams are required to send a qualification statement to the competition management team.   (There is an example on the website). This statement should not exceed four single-spaced pages and include:

(1) Names of the team members and faculty advisor.

(2) Area of specialties or majors of the team members.

(3) Description of the design concept and its relationship to the guidelines given     in Appendix B.

(4) A letter signed by the faculty advisor indicating interest in participating in the

competition.

Seven teams will then be selected to move onto Phase II.  If their proposal is accepted for Phase II, A&M will reward an expense reimbursement of $2,000 to the team to help defer the expense of preparing their design concept for the final competition. Teams may elect to secure additional funding from their own sources.

The information should be sent to:

Cheryl Monk

Petroleum Engineering Department

710 Richardson Bldg.

TAMU-3116

College Station, TX 77843-3116

Phone: (979) 845-2272

Fax: (979) 862-7407

Email: cheryl.monk@pe.tamu.edu

Phase II (Due by February 19, 2010)

This is the phase in which teams will develop their design concept. At the end of this phase, each team will submit a report discussing the following issues and points will be awarded as indicated:

1)      The engineering design concept of the Disappearing Road.  The design should meet the environmental requirements given in Appendix B.

•    Up to 30 points for the validity of the concept and its ability to meet the engineering guidelines.

2)      The environmental guidelines and measures that will be used reduce the impact of the Disappearing Road on the environmental both in short term and long term.

•    Up to 20 points for the validity and objectivity of the proposed measures and guidelines.

3)      The assessment of how the environment will be restored after the use of the Disappearing Road is over.  Assessment should be presented after a one-year period and after a five year period.

•    Up to 20 points for the validity and objectivity of the proposed assessment technique concerning the “Disappearing” nature of the road.

4)      Engineering evaluation of the design and demonstration of its ability to function within the design period.

•    Up to 15 points for validity of the engineering design.

In addition to the points discussed above, Up to 15 points will be assigned for report organization and team make-up. The report should not exceed 15 single space pages with a font size equal to at least 10 points. It is recommended that the report includes illustrations or pictures that can support the concept of the Disappearing Road. Each of the reports will be reviewed by three reviewers that represent academia, industry and environmental interests.

At the end of Phase II, the judging team will select five winning teams that will qualify to

proceed to Phase III. Each team that is selected to continue onto Phase III will be awarded $2,000 to assist with expenses associated with the Phase III effort that includes preparing the presentation and travel to the greater Houston area. Teams may elect to secure additional funding from their own sources.

Phase III (will be presented at A&M on May 15, 2009)

The 3 winning teams from Phase II will be invited to visit the greater Houston area in order to make a presentation about “Disappearing Road” Design concept. The presentation should include all the items listed in Phase II. Teams can choose to include virtual deign of the road in order to illustrate the functionality of the Disappearing Road. A panel of judges will evaluate each of the presentations based on the items and point system listed in Phase II.