Level 4 core modules

• Civil Engineering Construction

  This module covers earthworks and groundwork techniques. It covers the principles and practice of earth-moving plant selection, safety, cycles and economics. Soil stabilisation techniques of dynamic consolidation, vibratory systems and grouting are also included as well as foundations suitable for these systems. In addition conventional piled foundations will be covered. Temporary and permanent support techniques, such as cofferdams; contiguous piling and diaphragm walls are discussed. Long-span low-rise and medium rise structures will be discussed in terms of material selection, construction methods, foundation types and form and processes used in their construction. The assessment for the module is group based with students undertaking a civil engineering related problem. They will present their solution in the form of a report and 20 minute presentation.

• Engineering and Building Mechanics

  The aim of this module is to introduce the basic concepts underpinning both solid and fluid mechanics and material technology. These principles form the foundation for future study in many of the core subject areas encountered later in the course. A sound grasp of Newtonian mechanics and its application within civil engineering is fostered and students' understanding of the topics is enhanced and developed through a carefully arranged sequence of laboratory work to compliment lecture material. The module is also designed to provide an insight into the behaviour and properties for a variety of materials commonly used in the construction of buildings and civil engineering projects. The behavioural properties and performance of these materials will be explored using basic scientific principles in order to develop students' ability to make informed choices. The module is assessed through a piece of practical coursework which includes laboratory experiments together with an end of module examination.

• Geotechnics and Engineering Geology

  This module aims to: Introduce students to the broad area of Geotechnical Engineering and basic Geological concepts. Introduce students to modern methods of treating soils and rocks in order to improve their engineering properties and explains the underlying principles of different methods of ground treatment. Provide students with the fundamental understanding of the classification, properties, behaviour and mechanics of soils that will allow them to proceed at a later stage to geotechnical design. Introduce students to soils laboratory practice and gives the opportunity to relate the results of soil laboratory tests to theoretical concepts and the practical needs of civil engineering construction. Provides a medium for development of skills in algebraic manipulations which are applied to the relationships between basic soil properties.

• IT, Comms and Research Skills

  This module is designed to develop fundamental skills required by Civil Engineering professionals in these major areas - CAD, Information & Communication Technology and Research. The use of commercial software packages allows students both to develop their own and to gain an appreciation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills for research, information management and presentation purposes. It encourages students to use contemporary ICT methods for research and for the production and presentation of reports, in a style suitable both for their university coursework requirements and in a commercial environment. Students will be introduced to workstation based 2D drafting techniques using a powerful set of tools. They will also be introduced to the use of Autodesk's AutoCAD software series which is currently in the forefront of commercially available drafting software. Skills in this medium are highly sought after in the construction industry. Students will undertake two pieces of coursework, one is a reflective report which introduces research skills learnt in the module, the other is a CAD drawing.

• Land Surveying

  Through the use of a range of traditional and contemporary instruments and methodology the module will enable students to gain experience in applying the elementary surveying techniques of levelling and linear measurement, both for detail acquisition and setting out. The relevant mathematical skills will be introduced and developed contextually. Final survey drawings will be produced and annotated.

• Site Management and Safety

  The module provides course members with the opportunity to examine health and safety issues within the construction industry and their integration throughout the processes of design, tender award and construction. The roles of all parties involved will be explored from both moral and legal viewpoints. Past and current attitudes will be discussed. Students will consider the safety record within the construction industry and identify health and safety legislation aimed at reducing accident rates. The process of hazard identification and risk assessment will be explained and students will produce method statements following on from their risk assessments. Safe systems of work will be identified enabling the student to relate theory and practice.

• Mathematics for Civil Engineers 1

  This module is designed to provide the underpinning knowledge and skills in mathematics for use in subsequent modules in civil engineering such as structural analysis, structural design, hydraulics and geotechnics together with application of mathematical techniques to surveying and management. About half the module will cover the theory and applications of calculus to engineering problems. The module will also deal with a range of mathematical theories and techniques but in particular will develop practical applications such as the position and second moment of area for a given shape. The equations of curves from observed or measured data, the calculation of irregular areas and volumes and problems of geometry will also be explored. Students will also study basic statistical techniques applied, where possible to engineering applications such as concrete mixes. Assessment will be by assignment and examination.

Level 5 core modules

• Concrete Technology

  This module is designed to give civil engineering students a thorough grounding in the principles and manufacture of concrete as a construction material. The aim is to provide students with a practical understanding of the factors, which influence the properties and durability from the design requirements to the finished product. Students will become conversant with various types of concrete in use and the importance of good quality control, compacting, placing and curing will be assessed. The nature and importance of a variety of additives and cement replacement materials used in modern concrete and their effects on the fresh and hardened properties of concrete will be explained in order to develop the students' ability to make or identify good quality concrete made with normal and recycled aggregates. A well-structured laboratory work programme is used to give the students practical experience of the theoretical concepts explained in the lectures.

• Design of Structures 1

  This module covers design of structures in general and the elemental design in three materials. The aim is to introduce the students to basic design philosophy, principles and procedures used in the design of structural elements in buildings and structures, link knowledge of structural forms, loading, structural analysis and materials behaviour, help students to appreciate the importance of producing structural drawings of elements in sufficient details for construction and/manufacture. The module is specifically designed to cover the fundamentals of structural design for simple elements in bending in simple frames. It will also cover strut or column design with axial, eccentric and biaxial loading for timber, concrete and steel. The student is expected to learn mainly through application of the design theory covered in class and by completing the design coursework and tutorial exercises and through independent study. It is envisaged that students undergoing this course will gain an appreciation of the role of the designer in the construction process and have an understanding of the design process.

• Fluid Mechanics

  This module will: Introduce the principles of fluid mechanics and establish its relevance in civil engineering. Develop the fundamental principles and mathematical concepts required to model flow of liquids and gasses. Demonstrate how these are used for the design of simple hydraulic components. Students will cover the principles of hydrostatics and fluids in motion in pipes and open channels. They will derive and apply equations for calculation of pressures and forces on submerged and partially submerged objects. Continuity, energy and momentum equations are used to analyse uniform flow in pipes and open channels. The principle of flow in networks for water supply and surface water drainage is examined using simple models, whilst awareness is given of the availability of commercial computer models for more complex analysis. Laboratory sessions will be used to give the students the opportunity to explore the limitations of the mathematical models of fluid behaviour. The assessment is in the form of a group based lab report covering a series of fluid mechanics experiments and a written examination.

• Group Design Project

  This module is designed to develop students' ability to evaluate and resolve practical problems and work as part of a design team. The module aims to apply the skills and knowledge developed in other modules of the course (and where possible, experiences from work) within a major piece of work that reflects the type of performance expected of construction technologists. It is designed to bring small groups of students together into teams so that they co- ordinate their individual skills and abilities. The scheme of work should allow the individual student an opportunity to take responsibility for their own contribution to the outcome and to demonstrate their ability to work as part of a team. The brief will include an agreed timescale for the staged development of the overall plan of work within defined constraints, with the team working towards an acceptable and viable solution to the brief.

• Mathematics for Civil Engineers 2

  The module is designed to build on work in the pre-requisite module by introducing techniques that lie behind the solution of engineering problems. The methods tend to be hidden within software and the module will provide an insight into the techniques, their application and their limitations so that students can make informed judgements on reliability of software solutions. It is intended that the module will enable students to undertake appropriate analysis in areas such as hydraulics, geotechnics, structural analysis and design. This will provide a basis for students to understand the techniques used in software packages that they may subsequently meet during their employment and allow them to make informed judgements on their suitability and limitations. Assessment will be through an in class test and an end of module examination.

• Site and Engineering Surveying

  This module is designed to expose students to both traditional and contemporary advanced survey techniques. They will capture, manipulate and utilise field data for both horizontal control and detail acquisition. The theory and practice of traditional traversing and curve ranging techniques will be given emphasis alongside contemporary practices. Students will gain hands on experience in the use of advanced contemporary surveying equipment (theodolites and total stations) for data capture and for setting out. Acquired data will be sorted and processed both manually and electronically, the latter to be converted into a format suitable for CAD output. Final survey drawings will be produced and annotated using AutoCAD 2006 and will be presented in a style appropriate to industry. These field and office skills are invaluable in the workplace and are transferable to across a wide range of survey products and to many branches of the construction industry. Students will also gain an understanding of how remote surveying by extra-terrestrial systems has evolved and of how a variety of control systems relate to the Ordnance Survey National Grid.

• Structural Mechanics and Dynamics

  The primary objective of this unit is to introduce the student to structural behaviour under static and dynamic actions (forces and moment). The aim of the structural mechanics part of the module is to understand how structures resist external static loads by internal actions; the distribution of internal actions within structures; and the fundamental relationship between loads, shear force, bending moment as well as the effect of combined shear and direct/bending stresses. The students are also introduced to the deformability of structures and the principles of static indeterminacy and the methods of analysis of simple indeterminate forms. The structural dynamics part of the module aims to develop an understanding of effects of dynamic actions (loads) and its applications to predict the dynamic response of civil engineering structures. The module is taught by combination of formal lectures and tutorial classes and laboratory sessions. The fundamental principles of the structural theory underlying the analysis methods introduced in lectures are reinforced through group-based problem solving tutorial classes. The student is expected to learn mainly through application of the theoretical concepts covered in class and by completing the coursework and tutorial exercises and through independent study.

Level 6 core modules

• Civil Engineering Contract Administration

  This module is in two parts: the first considering the selection of partners for achieving successful design and construction of a civil engineering contract and the second the way in which traditional and more modern contracts handle situations that may arise on site. In the first part different approaches to contractual arrangements and payment bases are compared so that the student may advise on the most appropriate approach for a particular project. The purpose and inter-relationship of the different documents comprising the contract is explored as are methods of selecting partners. Consideration is give to developments in the construction industry that are intended to foster a team approach. Account is taken of external influences such as European and National legislation and standards. In the second part an examination is made of the rights and obligations of the parties during the performance of a traditional contract such as the ICE 7th edition and how these apply to various events that may occur. The traditional approach is then compared with the Engineering and Construction Contract that encourages a more co-operative approach. Assessment is by coursework

• Design Methods for Sustainable Buildings

  This module is one response to the concern of many about the effect that the built environment is having on the natural environment. The module has been designed to give the students an insight into the scientific basis of the environmental performance and construction of buildings and their services. The main focus is on the introduction of modelling tools that can be used to simulate a building's performance and its affect on the environment. Understanding the principles by which a building interacts with the external environment through its fabric, is therefore key in understanding building performance. Considerable emphasis is placed on the use of environmental criteria to assess a building's thermal, visual and aural performance. A number of scientific methods are explored and there will be a limited amount of practical experiment-based work. A number of technical solutions will be explored for lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning a building. The passive design features of a building are explored. This module identifies and evaluates different low-carbon energy strategies available, to be incorporated whilst designing low-carbon buildings. The module will introduce different standards and benchmarks for low-carbon buildings, and highlight strategies and approaches that could be deployed in heating and cooling of buildings. Students will undertake an individual piece of coursework on environmental building design and services and have an end of module exam.

• Design of Structures 2

  This module is to enhance the students' understanding of the behaviour of low rise steel and concrete structures. The module has two parts: Analysis and Design. The analysis part aims to introduce students to the modelling and solutions of indeterminate frames and trusses. The design part of the module aims to introduce students to the design of low-rise structures and alternative forms of structural elements. Other aims of the module may be summarised as follows: to enhance the students' confidence in applying the design theories for tackling structural analysis and design problems for simple steel and reinforced concrete structures, to link knowledge of structural forms, loading, structural analysis and materials behaviour, to appreciate how connections can affect fabrication and erection of steel work, to appreciate how the methods of construction are considered in modelling the structural behaviour, analysis and design of steel and reinforced concrete structures. The lectures are specifically designed to cover the fundamental principles of structural analysis and design theory. These are reinforced through group-based coursework assignments and problem solving tutorial classes. The student is expected to learn mainly through application of the design theory covered in class and by completing the design coursework and tutorial exercises and through independent study. Students will undertake a piece of coursework on structural design to Eurocodes as well as an end examination.

• Environmental Management (for the Construction Industry)

  The growth in environmental awareness, at all levels from local to international, over recent decades is introduced and considered in the context of the construction industry. Legislation and other pressures for the protection of the environment are considered, including pollution control and environmental impact assessment. The advantages and disadvantages of formal and informal environmental management systems are examined. Design implications of concepts such as life cycle analysis are considered. It is intended that the student should, by the end of the module, look at environmental management, not as a burden, but as a fundamental part of the efficient management of the construction industry. Such an outlook is likely to enable the student to guide their present or future employers towards a sustainable future.

• Geotechnical Engineering

  This module extends the knowledge of basic soil properties gained in the pre-requisite module to include: an appreciation of the nature of soil strength in the context of the principles of total and effective stress, an introduction to modern methods of treating soils in order to improve their engineering properties, an insight into the range of methods available for measuring soil parameters for design, and the rationale for selecting the most appropriate method for a given case, identification of when such treatment may be necessary, and what results can be expected in different soil types, introduction to geotechnical design methods for foundations and modern design of earth-retaining systems, use of Codes of Practice and the philosophy of Factor of Safety within soils design. The module is assessed through a piece of coursework and end examination. For the coursework students will be expected to show an understanding of geotechnic engineering through a piece of design work.

• Research Methods and Individual Project in Civil Engineering

  This module enables students to carry out an individual piece of research in the civil engineering field which will require a literature review of current knowledge in the chosen topic area, the formulation of a research question and the collection of primary data - by case study, interview, questionnaire or experimentation. Advice will be given by civil engineering staff on choosing a research topic in a briefing session delivered towards the end of the academic year prior to that in which the student undertakes their dissertation. The research will be undertaken under the supervision of an academic member of staff but the early part of the module is supported by classroom sessions to explain the processes of reviewing literature, formulating a research question, and the collection and the evaluation of primary data. A minimum number of four supervision tutorials will take place during the academic year in which the module is studied. 10% of the marks are to be for attendance and performance at these tutorials which are to be recorded in an appendix to the dissertation. A research proposal will be submitted early in Semester 1. This will normally be a maximum of 2000 words in length. The dissertation will not only present the literature review and results of the research but will also describe and reflect upon the research process. The dissertation will be a maximum of 8,000 words in length and will be handed in on or before the penultimate week of teaching of the academic year. Students will also identify their achievements and skills and provide a plan for progression via the production of a cv and exit plan.

Level 6 optional modules

• Flood Defence

  The module introduces the administrative background to flood defence, including the roles of the bodies involved in executing and funding works. Methods of flood prediction are examined. Traditional hard engineering approaches are compared with techniques such as managed re-alignment that are closer to 'working with nature'. Techniques of economic appraisal are introduced together with an indication of their limitations when assessing intangible effects of flooding. The content is placed in the context of climate change and planning policies.

• Highways Design and Construction

  This module is designed to enable the student to appreciate problems and techniques associated with highway design, construction and maintenance and to formulate technical solutions. Students will become conversant with pavement design, which would be discussed in the context of construction techniques. They will also acquire knowledge on the principles and practice of bridge construction, maintenance and design. The concept of sustainability in construction using recyclable materials will be discussed. Project work is used to give students a practical feel of the theoretical concepts explained in the lecture.