| Unit name | Design Project |
|---|---|
| Unit code | CENGM0062 |
| Credit points | 40 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. De Risi |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
Successful completion of Year 3 (Level H/6) engineering units |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Civil, Aerospace and Design Engineering |
| Faculty | Faculty of Engineering |
Why is this unit important?
This unit is important because it allows students to capitalise on what they learned during the previous years, putting into practice the multidisciplinary skills they acquired that are relevant to any civil engineering project. This unit will allow students to work on all-around projects usually provided by the industry. Structural, geotechnical, system and water engineering components are developed with sustainability and resilience in mind. A key unit component will be the teamwork experience, reflecting the real-life conditions in any engineering company.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
Design is embedded across all years of study in our Civil Engineering programmes. The principles of design are taught in multiple units, including Civil Engineering Practice in Year 3, and Design Project in Year 4 (this unit). However, the development of design skills also builds on the fundamentals of structural, geotechnical, and water engineering delivered in separate units. In this context, the Design Project is a capstone project that integrates and applies the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the course.
An overview of content
The unit consists of developing a RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) stage 2 project starting from a basic brief provided by the industry or by an academic. Students are responsible for the progress of their projects. Students meet their supervisor at least once per week for the first few weeks, but after that, the expected frequency of meetings is fortnightly. Therefore, students should be well prepared to make the most of these supervision meetings. Some projects may have other named academic advisors who may occasionally be consulted on specific aspects of the project.
Several projects will have industrial advisors giving their time voluntarily to assist with the projects. For projects without industrial advisors, other staff may fulfil the role. It is the student's responsibility to make the most of the help offered. A preliminary meeting is typically set up to get project data, information and input. Then, the typical arrangement is that the industrial advisors will provide constructive feedback on the project twice during the year at the poster session and once nearly halfway through the main report submission. This will be a beneficial experience for the project and students' general professional development. Students should arrange the meetings with the industrial advisors well in advance, in consultation with their supervisor. Students must be well prepared for the meetings. Some industrial advisors may be more involved throughout the year.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
This unit aims to enable students to develop conceptual and detailed solutions for a realistic civil engineering project, utilising and extending their knowledge, understanding and skills acquired throughout the degree programme; it encourages group working on inter-disciplinary problems; and allows students to practise management teamwork and organisational skills.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, successful students will be able to:
1. work and coproduce in a team,
2. design solutions for complex problems defined by an initial outline brief
3 research background information and perform a desk-based study,
4. create and evaluate a range of design solutions, considering technical, economic and environmental contexts,
4. select a preferred solution using a holistic and proportionate approach,
5. develop a detailed design of some specific parts of the preferred design,
6. plan and manage the project using project management, QA (quality assurance) and CDM (Construction Design and Management) procedures,
7. prepare a competent technical report and associated design output,
8. function effectively as an individual and as a member or leader of a team; evaluate the effectiveness of their own and their team's performance,
9. Identify and evaluate the construction phases and the risks associated with construction phases,
10. assess and communicate costs associated with civil engineering projects.
Teaching will be delivered through synchronous sessions, including lectures, site visits, practical activities supported by drop-in sessions, problem sheets and self-directed exercises.
The critical delivery aspect is the bespoke supervision students have with their supervisor. Any group can consult the unit director as a general consultant on any aspect of their project
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Regular meetings will be held with the supervisor, and feedback will be provided as the project progresses. Feedback will also be provided on a draft of the group's final report. Each student will submit a zero-weighted abstract of the individual annex, and feedback will be provided on the appropriateness of the selected topic.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Group poster comprising 2xA0 pages (10%)
Group final report comprising 30xA3 pages (60%)
Individual technical annex comprising 4xA3 pages (30%)
The group report will include peer evaluation which will inform the final individual student marks.
When assessment does not go to plan:
If a group fails the joint components (poster and report combined), they will have to resubmit a group report.
If, following the peer assessment and marks moderation, it is decided that a single student fails the joint components, they will have to retake the unit.
If a student fails the individual annex, they will have to resubmit this component only.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. CENGM0062).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
