Civil Engineering Fundamentals

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Explain chemical and biological processes of corrosion formation and measures applied for corrosion control.
• Detail methods of assessing the accuracy in surveying.
• Explain the importance of groundwater.
• Appreciate the importance of environmental sustainability and life cycle thinking to civil engineering
• Describe methods of resource reduction and pollution control to reduce negative environmental impacts of civil engineering projects
• Define the principles and techniques of basic land surveying.
• Explain the approach of footprint analysis and life cycle assessment in civil engineering
• Describe geohazards and geotechnical risks.
• Outline the importance of geology to civil engineering.
• Describe geological materials, their origins, distribution and uses.
• Model real structures to enable calculation of structural adequacy.
• Define common types of loading on structures and structural forms suitable to resist them.
• Explain procedures for setting up and using surveying instruments.
• Select common site operations with due regard for their capabilities and limitations.
• Understand importance of team working, leadership and communication in construction.
• Explain plate tectonics and the structure of the Earth.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Planning and time management.
• Independent learning.
• Group working.
• Apply critical analysis and judgement.
• Communication of ideas.
• Leadership.
• Decision making.
• Exercising of independent judgment.
• Presentation of data and analysis results.
• Numeracy-data interpretation.
• Time management.

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Analyse a soil profile and calculate effective stresses in drained and undrained conditions.
• Determine normal total and effective stresses, shear stresses and failure planes for simple situations.
• Evaluate the role of geological processes in ground engineering.
• Report progress and expenditure of resources during a construction project.
• Appraise technical drawings and their engineering implications.
• Explain the procedures used to calculate carbon footprint, water footprint and energy footprint of construction materials and civil engineering projects.
• Describe a range of technical issues associated with geology and geotechnics.

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Effectively communicate using a range of media and methods.
• Work Safely.
• Identify geological features seen on field visits.
• Compile a method statement for a model construction project and manage the tasks and processes of a construction project.
• Carry out basic surveying techniques including the use of a level to establish a site datum and use a Total Station for surveying and the basic setting of a site.
• Perform a variety of basic construction tasks.
• Carry out basic soil and rock description.
• Identify areas of pre-existing slope instability.

a. Environmental Sustainability

Concept of life cycle thinking

Carbon footprint, water footprint and energy footprint calculation for construction materials and civil engineering projects

Principles of life cycle assessment

Resource recycling to improve environmental performance of civil engineering projects

Pollution control to improve environental performance of civil engineering projects

b.. Geology for engineers

The structure of the earth, plate tectonics, continental drift and their engineering implications

Geohazards and geotechnical risks

The origins, distribution and variability of a range of geomaterials

Properties of geomaterials with importance for construction

Groundwater

Effective stress and Mohr’s circles and soil strength

Laboratory classes: Engineering description of soils and rocks; Classification and index testing of soils

Field visits: Two full-day field trips will be organised to the Isle of Wight and the Dorset coast.

c. Construction

Surveying

• Map projections and datums
• Levelling
• Use of theodolites.
• Total station and distance measurements.
• Setting out.

Quantitative design, related to Constructionarium

• Common types of loading on structures.
• Idealisation of real structures to enable calculation.
• Calculation of structural adequacy of steel and reinforced concrete structures and shallow foundations

Constructionarium field course

• Interpreting drawings, including taking off quantities.
• Construction planning (method statements, task lists, programming).
• Health, safety, welfare and the environment in construction.
• Construction practice (excavation, reinforcement, formwork, concrete, steel erection, final finishing, temporary works).
• Project management techniques (cost estimates, monitoring progress against plan, adapting plan to unforeseen events).

This module will be delivered through a combination of the following:

• Lectures for the delivery of new material and concepts.
• Tutorial sessions for the discussion of topics, support for student learning by means of examples, and to support project development.
• Practical Classes, Workshops and Fieldwork to develop understanding and skills through practical application.
• Student presentations to develop communication skills.
• Self-paced/ online course material to support independent learning.
• Field visits
• Individual and group work.

Environmental Sustainability:

For Environmental Sustainability, teaching methods will involve lectures.

Geology:

For Geology, teaching methods will comprise lectures, supported by 2 one-day field visits and 2 laboratory classes. Students produce reports on the field visits and laboratory classes, which are assessed and on which feedback is given.

Construction:

You will start with a series of lectures and practical exercises in surveying. This key civil Engineering skill will be employed at the constructionarium later in the year. A series of lectures in semester 1 will give an overview of the constructionairum projects and associated tasks and skills required. You will also learn about more detailed structural form and key mechanical principles of each project.

There will be a series of lectures on construction methods, health and safety risk management, with particular emphasis on the Constructionarium. Project groups are allocated by course tutors.

Shortly before the constructionarium there will be the final set of tasks including a short course to learn how to set out your structures using a modern theodolite or total station. Finally there is a briefing day which includes a health and safety briefing, planning management and team working exercises to ensure you work effectively as a group. Attendance for this briefing day is COMPULSORY.

The Constructionarium residential field course takes place at the end of semester 2 over 5 days (plus one day of travelling) at the National construction college at Bircham Newton in Norfolk.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.