Introductory description

ES2F0-15 Civil Engineering Design

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Surveying:
 Planning and control: Whole to part, Geodetic vs plane, Types of survey
 Common techniques and equipment: tape, level, theodolite, EDM, GPS
 Techniques of measurement and error evaluation and control: Error types and mitigation, Bowditch, Least Squares, GPS
 Setting out: profiles, curves
 Instrumentation and Monitoring

Introduction to structural design:
 Conceptual design
 Actions on structures, design standards and basic load analysis hand-calculations
 Load paths and structural stability
 Handling ill-defined briefs
 Identifying key requirements
 Rapid communication – sketching
 Critiquing designs

Introduction to geotechnical structural design:
 Geotechnical problems, slope stability desk and walkover studies and preliminary analysis methods
 Engineering Geology
 Groundwater and seepage
 Introduction to foundation selection and design
 Approximate methods of structural analysis appropriate for very preliminary scheme design

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Specify appropriate surveying techniques and apply them with due regard to survey control, analysis and purpose.
• Evaluate and interpret topographical survey data.
• Develop conceptual structural and geotechnical solutions to Civil Engineering design problems; interpreting briefs; bounding problems and identifying key issues; and critiquing, iterating and selecting solutions.
• Use sketching, models and other techniques to develop and communicate design thinking.
• Appreciate how civil engineers design and construct infrastructure with safety and professional ethics at the core of the process.
• Demonstrate effective written communication to a range of work/practice and/or academic audiences.

Indicative reading list

Surveying:
Uren J. & Price B, (2010). Surveying for Engineers. Palgrave Macmillan, 5th ed. ISBN-10: 0230221572, ISBN-13: 978-0230221574
Bannister, A., Raymond S. and Baker R., (1998). Surveying. Prentice Hall, 7th ed. ISBN-10: 0582302498, ISBN-13: 978-0582302495

Geotechnical engineering:
Barnes, (2016) G.E.Soil Mechanics: Principles and Practice, 4th Ed. ISBN-10: 1137512202, ISBN-13 978-1137512208
Waltham (2009), Foundation of Engineering Geology, 3rd Ed, Spon

Structural engineering:
Structural Engineer’s Pocket Book, Fiona Cobb, 2nd Ed, CRC Press, 2015
The Structural Basis of Architecture, Bjorn Sandaker, Arne Eggen, Mark Cruvellier, Routledge, 2nd Ed, 2011
Sketching for Engineers and Architects, Ron Slade Routledge, 2016
M. Millais. Building structures: from concepts to design. 2nd Ed. Taylor and Francis, 2005. TH 854.M4

Subject specific skills

1. Ability to conceive, make and realise a component, product, system or process
2. Ability to develop economically viable and ethically sound sustainable solutions
3. Ability to be pragmatic, taking a systematic approach and the logical and practical steps necessary for, often complex, concepts to become reality
4. Ability to seek to achieve sustainable solutions to problems and have strategies for being creative and innovative
5. Ability to be risk, cost and value-conscious, and aware of their ethical, social, cultural, environmental, health and safety, and wider professional engineering responsibilities

Transferable skills

1. Communicate (written and oral; to technical and non-technical audiences) and work with others
2. Plan self-learning and improve performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD
3. Exercise initiative and personal responsibility, including time management, which may be as a team member or leader
4. Awareness of the nature of business and enterprise in the creation of economic and social value
5. Overcome difficulties by employing skills, knowledge and understanding in a flexible manner
6. Ability to formulate and operate within appropriate codes of conduct, when faced with an ethical issue
7. Appreciation of the global dimensions of engineering, commerce and communication
8. Be professional in their outlook, be capable of team working, be effective communicators, and be able to exercise responsibility and sound management approaches.