CE1CSE-Construction Site Engineering

Module Provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Timothy Lees
Email: t.j.lees@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Designers are placing ever increasing demands upon the Engineering community, with larger, taller and more complex built structures. These now include mega towers stretching almost 1 km into the sky. Understanding the key principles behind engineering is vital for any construction professional today if they are to manage and cost such projects. From previous years of running surveying, it is clear that student fail to understand how design and construction drawing become real buildings or structures and the fundamentals for achieving this.

Aims:

The module aims to provide students with an understanding of the principles of Construction Engineering Methods.

Assessable learning outcomes:

• Conduct a levelling practical, including checks and associated survey drawings.


• Conduct an angular measurement practical, including checks and associated survey drawings.


• Set out a building from a construction drawing to acceptable tolerances.


• Understanding of Engineering errors.


• Engineering case study.

Additional outcomes:
􀀕 Key to the construction sector is communication and teamwork. Thus, a key element of the module will be working in teams in order to solve practical problems.
􀀕 Preparing joint written reports.
􀀕 Linking site work with construction drawings.
􀀕 Understanding of digital Engineering tools, e.g. digital scanners and BIM.

Outline content:

Autumn Term:Ìý

(Based on 90 students with 8-10 sets of working, calibrated equipment and support for practicals) Based on 3 hour sessions each week.

• Introduction lecture: Terminology, uses, accuracy required, units of measurement, different methods, booking, checks, surveys and drawing. Demonstration of equipment, including initial student familiarization session.


• Levelling – lecture (whole class) and 2 peg tests (4 x 30 m ins sessions in groups).


• Levelling (flying levels 2 x 1 ½ hours sessions).


• Levelling (flying levels 2 x 1 ½ hours sessions).


• Angular measurement – lecture and familiarization (4 x 30 mins sessions).


• Angular measurement (control peg and setting out 2 x 1 ½ hours sessions), case study development.


• Angular measurement (control peg and setting out 2 x 1 ½ hours sessions), case study deve lopment.


• Angular measurement (control peg and setting out 2 x 1 ½ hours sessions), case study development.


• Directed study, catch up practicals as required and assignment workshops.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

• Class room lectures, using real life examples to illustrate issues.


• Demonstrations of equipment use.


• Real life site engineering challenges to solve through case studies, e.g. how was this ‘sample’ building Engineered?


• Peer learning in teams to solve problems, whilst closely supervised.


• Team Engineering reports.