Computing skills, including both computer programming and the application of specialist software for design and analysis, are an increasingly important requirement for renewable energy professionals and engineers. This module has been designed to enable students to start developing these skills in the first year of their degree programme. Students will be provided with a hands-on introduction to two industry-standard software packages for GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and CAD (Computer Aided Design). They will also be introduced to the fundamental principles of programming to enable them to adapt the software tools that they acquire during their studies to solve specific problems. These skills can be applied and developed further in other modules throughout the course and during industry placements at the end of year 2.

The key aim of this module is to enable you to develop computing skills that will aid you throughout your programme and in your future careers in the renewable energy industry. It will provide you with a broad understanding of the application to renewable energy projects of two industry-standard technical software tools for spatial analysis and engineering design, thereby providing an understanding of spatial data collection, processing and visualisation, and building an awareness of the design process. By learning what it means to program a computer using easily accessible languages you start to see how to implement your designs by creating computer based systems. The module will draw the three elements together in an assessed group project that will develop your skills in collaborative working and innovative thinking.

On successful completion of this module you should be able to:

Module-specific Skills and Knowledge:

1. Show competence in the use of industry-standard software packages with a specific focus on renewable energy technologies;

2. Understand the fundamental principles of physical computing and be able to write simple programs.

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

3. Understand spatial and geographic data;

4. Recognise the importance of engineering design principals;

5. Appreciate how computer devices work and how to implement a computer-based solution.

Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and  Knowledge:

6. Manage and direct your own learning;

7. Work effectively in a team;

8. Solve problems to develop solutions to an engineering challenge.

Spatial data analysis lectures and practicals:

- Introduction to maps and spatial data;

- Co-ordinate systems and projections;

- GPS and other sources of spatial data;

- Introduction to GIS;

- MapInfo practical exercises.
 

Solidworks lectures and practicals:

- Overview of computer aided design and SolidWorks;

- Introduction to the SolidWorks software;

- Design process and output;

- Solidworks practical exercises.

Programming:

- Introduction to physical computing;

- Devices and Logic Control;

- Use of microcontrollers;

- Familiarisation with a visual programming environment;

- Fundamental concepts of program design;

- Program flow;

- Programming practical exercises.

Group project:

- Combining all three elements to address a practical engineering challenge.

Individual project combining elements from all three components of the course, 60%; Mini-viva, 20%; Worksheet exercises, 20%

Basic reading:

ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk

Web based and Electronic Resources:

Electronic copies of key texts provided on ELE

Other Resources:

Relevant academic papers and industry reports provided on ELE.

Relevant academic papers and industry reports provided on ELE.

Reading list for this module: