In my Engineering Design Abroad class, my group was tasked with reconstructing an inadequate beach entrance. The most important part of the project wasn't the construction; it was the prep work.

By talking to the locals, we realized the path wasn't just for pedestrians; locals needed to drive motorcycles loaded with cargo down to the beach. A standard walkway would have been useless for them. We adjusted our design to provide a ramp for vehicles and stairs for pedestrians, while separating the two functions for safety.