Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

To enable students to work efficiently in a small team and to reflect on personal performance and define personal goals.
To introduce the student to aspects of the preparation and decision making in a major multi-disciplinary project.
To develop skills needed to operate as project leaders in the gathering, analysis and comparison of relevant data from diverse sources.
To be able to define alternative solutions to a problem, select a preferred solution objectively and be able to present and defend that decision using a variety of techniques. To learn how to communicate with different end users.
To be able to apply sustainability principles to the design of a large city development and to understand the dilemma of project funding and sustainability.

Summary:
This is a project which introduces the students to hypothetical aspects of a real project that they could encounter after graduation. The tasks are typical of the ones that will be faced in a multi-disciplinary Civil Engineering masterplanning project. The project will integrate the knowledge students have gained in other parts of the course (environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, transport engineering, fluid mechanics, engineering materials and integrated design) into a single project based on the masterplanning of a city development.

Outline Of Syllabus

Outline of Syllabus       Students will receive lectures in the following:
•       The masterplanning process, including project funding and fit with local economic and spatial strategies.
•       How to produce a spatial layout for a site, including the transport layout, building layouts, services and waste.
•       Sustainability frameworks
•       Geotechnical Appraisals
•       Surface water planning, including sustainable urban drainage
•       Environmental Statements and Impact Assessment
•       Carbon footprint appraisal of materials and processes (construction and post-construction).
•       Effective group working, self-reflection and personal goal setting

External professionals from industry and the University Estates Support Service and Sustainability team provide technical input, background and feedback at key stages.

There is a ‘Visualisation and BIM’ thread through the Civil Engineering programmes and Design of Sustainable Engineering Systems (DSES) project modules in particular. Reinforcing the importance of manual sketching skills developed in DSES2 (CEG2004), students are encouraged to record and convey design ideas in team meetings with manual sketches in their log books. Professional 2D and 3D technical drawings and 3D imagery using AutoCAD and SketchUp (or similar software), are expected in the technical client reports and videos. The Spatial Data Engineering and BIM (CEG3708) module covers the latest requirements and opportunities for Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the context of construction projects, while this DSES3 module, running the same Semester, allows the students to apply Revit, a practical tool for the application of BIM principles to collaborate, handle data and produce effective visualisations. For MEng students, this thread will continue into the Sustainable Engineering Systems Design Project (CEG3004) in Semester 2.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
1. Discuss how major development projects fit with local economic and spatial strategies (C5).
2. Interpret and critique the types of engineering data/information required in masterplanning (C4).
3. Define aspects of the planning processes for major masterplanning projects (C6).
4. Translate sustainability aspects of masterplanning, including carbon-footprinting of materials and processes, into original designs (C7 & C13).

Intended Skill Outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will:
1. Be able to present technical information using a variety of media to a variety of audiences (C17).
2. Be able to work collaboratively, communicate and act in a professional manner/environment, under pressure (C16).
3. Be able to plan and record self-learning, reflection and development as the foundation to lifelong learning and professional recognition (C18).
4. Be able to assess risks in the conduct of a site walkover (C9)

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Each lecture is linked to a small group teaching activity and a group work exercise which in turn are linked to a piece of assessed work. When all of the pieces of work are put together they will complete the masterplan and achievement of an effective masterplan will lead to successful achievement of the learning outcomes. Additionally students will be asked to extend their writing and presentational skills, both of which will be supported by a lecture and group work exercise and will be assessed. The group work and personal reflection will begin with a lecture and group activity and followed up with personal reports during the learning process.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Each group will produce a contract outlining how they will operate as a team and their individual expectations and how they will be supported by the group. This is not assessed but used as the basis for peer assessment and group progress and reflection both during and after the module.

A Group video for a public audience will be used to assess their ability to communicate to a variety of audiences and their ability to defend their work. This will receive feedback from a client team which is then used to inform production of the group report to follow.

A group report for a non-technical audience (client team), containing all of the elements delivered in the lectures, will be used to assess the students’ understanding of the masterplanning process (and all of the identified elements), their understanding of sustainability concepts, and their ability to appraise lots of information from a variety of sources (2000 words per student).

Each individual will hand in a Reflective Report on the group working process using their initial group contract as the basis for the reflection (400-600 words) plus a report on lessons learnt and a self /personal development plan (1000 words). This report must be accompanied by a log book, kept and updated throughout the module. The report must cross reference the log book entries. A numerical appraisal of group functioning and respective effort from each group member (peer assessment) must also be submitted which should also cross reference the log book.

General Notes

Oralpres - Presentation to a mixed audience of experts, technical people, "public". Taking questions from the audience.
Planning - Planning multi-disciplinary work, data sources, supply of data to others, receipt of data from others.
Problem solving - Solving problems associated with major projects, appreciation of the political, environmental and economic pressures of such projects.
Adaptability - Adapting innovation to practicality, showing that ideas can be brought to fruition.