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Given the need for civil engineers to develop solutions to society's infrastructure challenges, they must possess a deep understanding of engineering fundamentals so that they can tailor design solutions to meet growingly-complex constraints. Since research suggests that student conceptual development is enhanced through employment of engaging classroom practices, a variety of active pedagogies are being implemented in engineering education. Consequently, there is a need for assessment tools to monitor the learning outcomes of these educational interventions. Concept inventories have emerged as quick tools for examining conceptual understanding in a variety of engineering domains. While a concept inventory has been developed for fluid mechanics, it was designed for application in mechanical engineering classes. Thus, the goal of this project was to complete preliminary steps for creation of a civil engineering fluid mechanics concept inventory.Using an expert panel and student input, concept inventory items were systematically evaluated for applicability in civil engineering courses. The expert panel reviewed items using a modified Delphi-process, while student input and performance on the existing concept inventory were used to validate outcomes from the expert panel. Results generally concurred that topics related to fluid statics, pressure measurement, conservation of mass, Bernoulli's equation, and conservation of momentum were important for civil engineers. In contrast, compressible flow and boundary effects were generally classified as beyond the scope of a civil engineering course. In addition, participants suggested that additional questions related to viscous flow in pipes and open channel flow should be added to a future civil engineering fluid mechanics concept inventory.

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