Construction Methods and Materials (ECM2108)

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Module status - Active
Module description status - Inactive
Credits - 15
College code - EMP
Academic year - 2014/5

Module staff

  • () - Convenor

Duration (weeks) - term 1

0

Duration (weeks) - term 2

11

Duration (weeks) - term 3

0

Number students taking module (anticipated)

71

Module description

Specific specialisation in civil engineering is offered here for the first time via the practical introduction of new skills, like surveying, as well as a unique opportunity to gain career counselling from professional engineers. Bringing together all the civil engineering elements learned over the first three semesters, you now have the opportunity to see how these skills fuse together through design exercises and fieldwork. As well as gaining an introduction to surveying for the first time, you'll undertake projects that build on your conceptual design techniques by devising a railway footbridge and a sustainable urban drainage system. Civil engineering materials, such as steel and concrete, come into focus more on this course and an opportunity to forge personal industry links is provided with your first chance to professionally network and gain career advice from visiting civil engineers and to attend institution lectures. This module encourages you to apply all knowledge learned during your programme so far and equips you with the confidence to merge these skills with new practice. By the end of the course you'll have acquired surveying skills and improved your design and conceptual design methods, as well as gained advanced knowledge of man-made civil engineering materials and construction health and safety issues.

Module aims

To make students aware of the design process in Civil Engineering and introduce procedures for systematic design. To make students aware of the manufacture and properties of 'man-made' civil engineering materials, particularly for their use and suitability in construction. To make students aware of the principles and practice of engineering surveying and its relevance to the construction process. To make students aware of the statutory obligations for safety incumbent on all those working in Civil Engineering. To link the students academic studies with construction industry processes and the civil engineering profession.

This module covers Specific Learning Outcomes in Engineering, which apply to accredited programmes at Bachelors/MEng/Masters level. These contribute to the  educational requirements for CEng registration (as defined under the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence – UK-SPEC).

This module correlates to references U1, U2, E1, E2, P1, P2 and P6. These references are indices of the specific learning outcomes expected of Bachelors/MEng/Masters candidates set out in UK-SPEC, codified with reference to systems used by professional accrediting institutions. A full list of the standards can be found on the Engineering Council's website, at http://www.engc.org.uk

ILO: Module-specific skills

  • 1. plan, conduct and assess routine civil engineering survey work
  • 2. understand design principles including basic optimisation methods, and apply this knowledge to simple civil engineering systems
  • 3. appreciate the properties of materials and their selection for the common range of civil engineering applications
  • 4. recognise the requirements and priorities of civil engineering professionals and their professional institutions

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

  • 5. comprehend precision measurement and error control in practical work
  • 6. apply theoretical understanding and models to engineering design in a systematic way

ILO: Personal and key skills

  • 7. demonstrate advanced research and report writing skills
  • 8. show enhanced teamwork skill
  • 9. reveal improved precision in observation and data handling

Syllabus plan

Materials: compositions and engineering properties of concrete, steel and other construction materials. Suitability of materials for purpose. Surveying: use of common survey instruments such as theodolite, level, tapes, E.D.M. Data handling and processing. Error resolution. Design of Surveys. Design: design of simple structures. Design rationale and planning. Systematic design and optimisation. Selected institution lectures, lectures and workshops by visiting professors and other external speakers, career counselling by professional civil engineers.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
55950

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 11Lectures
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 6Workshops
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 10Tutorials
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 16Laboratories
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 12Fieldwork
Guided independent study95Lecture and assessment preparation; wider reading

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
10000

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Coursework – two design exercises3320 hours2,6 and 8Written comments on the coursework; Oral feedback from tutors in classroom
Coursework – three fieldwork exercises and associated workshops3320 hours1,5,8 and 9Written comments on the submitted report; Feedback and guidance from tutors during the fieldwork
Coursework – materials investigation and report123000 to 4000 words3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9Written comments on group report and BART sheet
Coursework – library study and report12BEng: 1000 + 200 words MEng: 1500 + 300 words; A4 size logbook 4,7,9Individual comments on report and BART sheet
Coursework – log book10documenting work done on the module1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10Individual comments on the logbook entries and BART sheet

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
All aboveCoursework (100%)AllCompleted over summer with a deadline in August

Re-assessment notes

If a module is normally assessed entirely by coursework, all referred/deferred assessments will normally be by assignment.
If a module is normally assessed by examination or examination plus coursework, referred and deferred assessment will normally be by examination. For referrals, only the examination will count, a mark of 40% being awarded if the examination is passed. For deferrals, candidates will be awarded the higher of the deferred examination mark or the deferred examination mark combined with the original coursework mark.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Building Construction Handbook,Chudley, R, Greeno, R,8th ,Elsevier Science and Technology,2010,690 CHU,9781856178051

Module has an active ELE page?

Yes

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk

 

Module ECTS

7.5

Module pre-requisites

None

Module co-requisites

None

NQF level (module)

5

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

19/11/12

Last revision date

19/11/12

Key words search

Surveying, construction management, conceptual design, civil engineering profession