MEng/BEng (Hons) Civil and Environmental Engineering

Year 2 Core Modules

You must study and pass all five core modules

Brief description

Advanced structural analysis and basic structural design procedures.

Indicative content:

• Structural analysis: Compression members: modes of failure, slenderness and instability, Euler’s buckling load i.e. timber columns. Basic concepts: Statically determinate vs statically indeterminate structures i.e. flexibility and stiffness methods. Influence lines Symmetry.
• Structural design: Requirements of structural design, design philosophies. Design requirements, loads and material strengths, partial safety factors, design process Introduction to timber column design. Introduction to masonry. Introduction temporary works.
• Laboratory work: Timber beams tested to destruction and Buckling of (model). Struts.

Brief description

Learn practical application of civil and environmental engineering skills, techniques and knowledge. 

Indicative content:

• Land Surveying: Large area traverse control survey; levelling survey for vertical control; detailed topographical survey using total stations / electronic data capture; computer processing and plot production; calculations for setting out (plan position and vertical control); setting out for small projects.
• Preparation of profession report and plan diagrams: Preparation of profession report and plan diagrams based on field application of surveying techniques and practice.
• Construction Practice: Planning, execution and appraisal for the construction of a civil engineering activity; temporary works; materials and equipment requirements, method statements, resource management, health and safety assessment, sustainability assessment.
• Professional reporting: Preparation and professional reporting of engineering practice and outcomes.
• Risk assessment: Awareness and application of risk assessment and health and safety requirements for all aspects of engineering practice.
• Sustainability considerations: Awareness and application of sustainability considerations for all aspects of engineering practice.
• Conceptual design: Client requirements; scheme design and evaluation.

Brief description

Fundamental principles of hydrology and hydrostatics. Learn to apply these principles to model problems relevant to water resources and civil engineering.

Indicative content:

• Hydrology: Review of the hydrological cycle. Fundamental principles of hydrology. Precipitation, occurrence and forms, estimation and measurements, rain gauges and methods of data handling. Evaporational influences and estimation methods.
• Water Use and Quality: Demand, use and re-use of water. Sustainable water use. Human and environmental needs for water and water conservation. Introduction to water quality parameters; quality of various types and sources of water; factors affecting quality.
• Water related disasters, and Sustainable Water Management: Floods and droughts - nature and causes. Sustainable water management, sustainable catchment management and sustainable drainage systems (SUDS).
• Fluid Properties: Review of the properties of liquid fluids. Reynolds experiment; Reynolds number, mean velocity, discharge; description of types and patterns of flow; velocity gradients, laminar and turbulent motion, streamlines and flow nets.
• Fluid Statics: Variation of pressure in a fluid; pressure measurements; pressure forces on surfaces; hydrostatic forces on plane and curved surfaces submerged in fluids; buoyancy forces; stability and metacentric height.
• Fluid Dynamics: Continuity equations, conservation of mass, steady flow; Bernoulli equations: application to devices; the momentum equation.

Brief description

The properties and application of a range of construction materials as an introduction to highway design and Building Information Modelling (BIM).

Indicative content:

• Properties and Uses of Materials: Origin, occurrence, appearances, identification, classification, properties, manufacture, conversion, production and uses of various construction materials; material selection and specification, sustainability of materials.
• Materials Testing: Testing and evaluation applied to common construction materials.
• Highway Engineering: Road Alignment: Theory and practice in the layout of vertical and horizontal curvature. Road realignment project with a focus on sustainability. Computer based road design packages. Influence of safety on design solutions.
• Highway Intersections: Layout and analysis of priority junctions, roundabouts, signal control and grade- separated interchanges. Influence of safety on design solutions. Highway Materials, Design and Construction Pavement construction: flexible and rigid pavements, bound and unbound materials, mix design, specification for materials and construction, testing. Pavement loading, design of flexible and rigid pavements. Sustainability and recycling issues.
• Highway Pavements: Design and Construction Pavement construction: flexible and rigid pavements, bound and unbound materials, mix design, specification for materials and construction, testing. Pavement loading, design of flexible and rigid pavements. Sustainability and recycling issues.
• BIM: BIM in practice, BIM in cost estimation and control.

Brief description

This module applies the principle of environmental engineering in the analysis and management of environmental pollution.

Indicative content:

• Water Quality: Overview of the principles of air, water and land interaction and surface water quality management: Introduction of water quality and management; Fate of water pollutants in rivers and lakes; Drinking Water Quality standards, UK and EU Directives; Fundamentals of self-purification; Models used as quality predictive tools: Streeter Phelps equation.
• Water Treatment: Coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection process.
• Groundwater quality and management: Surface Water and Groundwater Interaction, Stream- Aquifer Interaction. Aquifer management.
• Air quality and pollution management: Overview on sources of air pollution and monitoring and control of emissions of air pollutants; Dispersion of air pollutants in atmosphere; Air pollution modelling approaches and Indoor air pollution.
• Environmental impact assessment (EIA): EIA procedure. Preparation of Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Case studies and EIA of developments.

Years 1 and 2 Elective Modules

You must study and pass one elective module of your choosing

Brief description

Introduction of the concept of smart cities - hard infrastructure, social capital including local skills and community institutions, and digital technologies to fuel sustainable economic development and provide an attractive environment for all.

Module content:

• Social impacts

There is an overall need for theoretical and methodological plurality in how we assess the impact and value of future cities in terms for individual and societal well−being. Gaps in our understanding relate to the complex ways individuals and groups engage with built and natural settings, the cultural goods and consequent benefits that may arise and the inequalities associated with these cultural benefits.

• Security

Different types of cyber-attacks that could be launched against a Smart City. Impact of cyber-attacks. Approaches to securing the smart grid and critical infrastructure, i.e. improving cyber resilience.

• Sustainable urban food production

Includes the long established allotments movement to large-scale projects based on sustainability throughout the food chain. Urban food production includes the long established allotments movement. The demand for urban growing also responds to the densification and intensification of living areas, due to population rise, migration and demographic aging with lower housing and ‘garden’ space standards placing greater importance on collective production.

• Energy, waste and water

At present, water and wastewater facilities are often the largest and most energy intensive responsibilities owned and operated by local governments, representing up to 35% of municipal energy use. Future cities will need to utilise more sustainable methods of water and wastewater management and renewable energy production.

• Digital technologies

​Digital technologies will play a major role in creating sustainable and resilient cities offering a vehicle for more inclusive decision−making process and promoting dialog amongst architects, urban planners, the public and technologists.

Brief description

Develop a range of skills, knowledge and techniques within the natural, technological and social sciences relevant to the study of environmental sustainability and life in the twenty-first century. Understand the critical issues that confront humanity and begin to discern appropriate responses.

Module content:

• The challenge of sustainable development
Problems associated with life in the 21st Century and the relationship to scientific provisionalism and uncertainty.

• The genesis of sustainable development concept
Developments associated with the Club of Rome are outlined while Limits to Growth and the Tragedy of the Commons.

• Evolution of sustainable development
The Reo Summit and Suitability, and Policy Developments thereof.

• Scientific inquiry and sustainable development
Controversial issues like climate change, oil peak, and food production and the role of science in helping delimit them as problematic.

• Mainstreaming sustainability
Sustainability and Mitigation, Adaptation and Resilience, as individual and social concerns, and their role in transformation.

• Communicating sustainability
Human well-being, Environmental Justice, Environmental Policy and the practicalities of Sustainability in Scotland.

• Sustainable development in practice
Community Empowerment associated with Land Reform. Energy Production and Food Production in Tayside.

• Ethics and sustainability policy
Active citizenship and globalisation.

• Innovating locally, transforming globally
Transformations required to embrace Sustainability.

• Active relationship for sustainable futures
Thinking globally, acting locally.

Brief description

How lifestyle can affect physical and mental well-being. Reflect on your own lifestyle choices and how to incorporate good health behaviours into your life.

Module content:

• Sleep and stress
  The impact of sleep and stress on health and performance. Completion of sleep diaries and questionnaires related to sleep patterns and stress.
   
• Physical activity
  Current physical activity recommendations, components of physical fitness.
   
• Physical inactivity
  Understanding why people are inactive. The link between physical inactivity, obesity and type 2 diabetes.
   
• Physical activity and mental well-being
  The effects of physical activity on mental well-being.
   
• The effect of carbohydrate consumption and exercise on blood glucose
  Measurement and recording of blood glucose in response to the carbohydrate ingestion and exercise.
   
• Simple health and fitness testing
  Measurement and recording of data. Tests will include blood pressure, strength, endurance and flexibility. Data will be compared with normative values for these tests.

Brief description

Develop critical thinking skills that form the basis for progression across the academic disciplines of the university. Learn how to recognise, construct, evaluate, criticise and defend different forms of argument.

Module content:

•    Potential 'timeless' debates 
Debates delivered by internal and external experts on: e.g. existence of God; privacy and civil society; private property; money as source of 'evil'; nature/nurture; free speech; pornography; capital punishment; prostitution; animal experimentation; meaning of justice; abortion; affirmative action; just war; trade union power; good life/good political community; human nature; monarchy; value of democracy; meaning of equality; citizenship rights.

•    Potential 'timely' debates
Debates delivered by internal and external experts on: eg, Scottish independence, academic freedom; drug legalisation; drug use in sport; immigration; free health care; war on terror; EU membership; euthanasia; progressive taxation; race and gender discrimination; gay marriage; human rights; politics/sport; global warming; internet censorship; nuclear power; education league tables; nuclear weapons; GM agriculture; religion; cloning; fair trade; value of contemporary culture.

•    Critical thinking seminars
Follow-up discursive discipline specific seminar sessions led by teaching staff on topics covered in formal debates. Learn to identify types of argument presented, evaluate perspectives and to reflect upon their own reasoning processes and value assumptions. The debates and seminars facilitate a foundation for the acquisition of graduate attributes.

•    WEB CT Wiki discussion forum
Work in small groups to write a short 800 word indicative "Thinking Summary" online Wiki of the arguments presented in each debate. These summaries will be constructed by each designated Thinking Group of three students using the Wiki facility on Blackboard which will facilitate further discussion on the moderated WEB CT discussion forum.

Brief description

The social, managerial, economic, political, and technical challenges and opportunities associated with emerging renewable energy innovation, production, supply and consumption.

Module content:

•    Renewable energy non-technical challenges and opportunities
Social and political challenges and opportunities of renewable energy production supply and consumption. Economic and environmental challenges of renewable energy production supply and consumption. Strategic and managerial challenges of renewable energy production supply and consumption.

•    Renewable energy technological challenges and opportunities
Geotechnical, Geophysical and Hydrographic information; Knowledge of sources of hydrographic information and interpretation of published charts. Forces on structures; Appreciation of the various forces acting on marine structures. Technical limitations and challenges of energy distribution systems and energy storage. Current technological development trend, collaborative innovation in renewable energy.

Brief description

An understanding of the concepts of tolerance, and the importance of making sound ethical decisions. Develop the qualities, characteristics and skills to meet the aspiration for Abertay graduates to become global and active citizens. 

Module content:

•    Introduction to equality and ethics legislation 

•    Diversity competence and moral/ethical reasoning 
Inclusiveness, equal opportunities, positive action, reasonable adjustment.

•    Attributes for the workplace and for global citizenship.

•    Reflective practice 
Application of models of reflective practice.

•    Contemporary issues

Brief description

Learn how to adjust language to suit context. Analyse a range of linguistic issues, including “proper English”, how language can be used to create moral panics, and the ethics of communication.

Module content:

•    “Good English”
The role of standardisation, dialect and idiolect − how we choose language to reflect our identities and our role in a speech or discourse community.

• Language and influence
How the media constructs narratives to persuade or inform the audience (and how to tell the difference).

• Creating a narrative across genres
The conventions, freedoms and limitations of different forms; using these forms in new ways.

• Narrative changes over time
How authors reinvent old stories to reflect current concerns.

• Technical writing
The use and manipulation of data; hearing the author's voice; critiquing "bad science".

• The ethics of communication
 (Electronic) media and ownership, attribution and theft.

Brief description

“Personal” digital safety to make computer security fun, practical and eye-opening.  Learn the base knowledge that will continue to be relevant to future generations of devices.

Module content:

•    Current state of computer security
An overview including legal aspects.

•    Cyber-attacks, vulnerabilities and threats
Malware, Network attacks (denial of service, packet sniffing etc.), bots and rootkits. How the bad guys can obtain your password.

•    Information leakage
Recovery and forensics recovering deleted or corrupted files. What your browser knows about you. Web browser forensics.

•    Securing networks, accounts and devices
Defence against malware, honeypots, Secure protocols, intrusion detection, Password security, Mobile device security.

•    Human aspects of cyber security 
The Psychology of Hackers, Social Engineering, identity theft, Usability vs security.

•    Breaking the code
An introduction to cryptography, Encryption and Decryption, public and private keys, the key exchange problem.

•    History of cryptography 
The Caesar cipher, polyalphabetic ciphers, the Playfair cipher, the role of Enigma and the Bletchley Park cryptographers in WWII.

•    Computers and Crypto Diffie-Hellman and RSA encryption
Phil Zimmerman and “Pretty Good Protection". Quantum Cryptography – Provably unbreakable information hiding. Mathematical Underpinnings – Large prime numbers and why they matter.

•    Steganography
 A picture's worth a thousand words when you're hiding the wood in the trees.

•    The law, society and cryptography 
Why you can be imprisoned for forgetting your password. The Civil Liberties Arguments for and against strong-crypto. International perspectives on information hiding, information freedom, the right to privacy and the conflicts between these. Are unbreakable cyphers an unqualified “good thing”?

Brief decription

Develop perspectives on the key challenges faced by humankind such as environmental change, pollution, food security, energy provision, conflicts, terrorism, emerging diseases, and changing demographics. Understand the overwhelming complexity of the problems and the need for interdisciplinary approaches to create solutions.

Module content:

• Interdisciplinary research
  Introductory lectures will discuss the definitions, methods, benefits, challenges, and drawbacks of disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches and the role of public policy influencing research
   
• Global challenges
  Challenges from different disciplines. Examples include: Climate Change: causes and impact; Serious Games: science and application of visualization and games; Global Security: valuing ecosystems: balancing policy, economics and environment; Contemporary Challenges to Healthy Living; Food Security: global threats and local needs; Energy Poverty: space travel.

Brief description

Design an activity to communicate and present scientific principles to primary school children. Learn about working as a group and how to communicate complex ideas.

Module content:

• Developing a science communication activity
Target audience, sources of information to identify suitable activities (CfE documentation etc.), health and safety, issues around working with specific groups, accessibility, ethics, costing and sustainability.

• The landscape of engagement and current practice
Types of public engagement activities, target audiences, funding, role of learned societies, universities and other bodies. Public engagement in Dundee and Tayside.

Brief description

Work in a team to develop game design concepts for serious applications. Gain the knowledge, processes and techniques of game design and study examples of serious games developed to benefit society.

Module content:

•    Overview of Games
A brief history of games, game art and gamification.

•    Games for change
Understanding how games can benefit society.

•    Game mechanics
Deconstructing core components of popular game genres.

•    Gameplay constructs
What is gameplay and how is this broken down and communicated within the game design.

•    The game design process
Conceptualisation, iteration, phases of workflow.

•    Game design theory and practice
Identifying the elements within effective design and how they are implemented.

•    Documenting the design interactive
Oriented design, technical design, capturing requirements.

•    Business models
Exploring methods that can be used to generate revenue within the game design.

Brief description

Develop the knowledge and awareness required to make good career decisions and the skills and confidence to successfully navigate each stage of the recruitment process for graduate jobs.

Module content:

• Developing self-awareness
  Profiling of personal strengths, values and priorities in relation to career choice.
   
• Developing opportunity awareness
  Generating career ideas based on your personal profile; Exploring the range of graduate opportunities within job sectors of interest; Reviewing occupations that are directly related to your own subject discipline.
   
• Developing a career action plan
  Matching your personal profile with best fit opportunities in the job market; Creating a timeline of actions to improve your prospects of meeting your aim.

• Developing job seeking skills
  Sourcing suitable job opportunities - both advertised and unadvertised; Creating a professional image online; Identifying the skills and qualities employers look for in graduates; Learning how to produce targeted applications for specific job roles; Practising the presentation of your strengths and motivations in face to face selection activities.

Brief description

Learn about natural disaster such as landslides and flooding, structural disasters such as the Tay Rail Bridge and the system of critical infrastructure (such as road, rail, air and shipping transport networks, power grid, gas and water networks, health system) that constitute the backbone of modern societies.

Module content:

•    Overview of the scope and the content of concept of critical infrastructure failure during natural disasters and resilience against such failures
The consequences of geophysical, hydrological and meteorological disasters on critical infrastructure and critical infrastructure protection capabilities against natural disasters. Interdependencies of critical infrastructures during large disasters, presents a brief review of current research being done in this field, and presents a methodology to address interdependencies.

•    The identification of the vulnerabilities of the critical systems
The critical systems upon which modern society, economy, and polity depend. The identification of the vulnerabilities of these systems threats that might exploit these vulnerabilities. The effort to develop techniques to mitigate these vulnerabilities through improved design.

•     Flooding in Scotland
General overview of fluvial, pluvial and coastal flooding, the structural, economic and societal impact and responses to flooding. Resources will include historical examples, current policies and information (including SEPA flood maps). Case study (with virtual/actual field visit?) the Perth Floods of 1990 and 1993 and the Perth flood defence scheme*

•    Landslide origins, types and mitigations
General overview what landslides are, why they happen and what can be done to prevent them.

•    Structural failure
An example such as why the Tay Bridge failed and what it meant for the Forth Rail Bridge.

•    Reports and investigations
The role of reports in accident and disaster investigations in creating informative reports; case studies of accidents, disasters, learning from history, learning from case studies, learning from common law

Brief description

Introduction to the skills and knowledge needed to launch a small business successfully. This module will define and help you acquire the personal and professional skills needed to develop a professional career and/or to succeed as entrepreneurs in Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs).

Module content:

• Understanding entrepreneurship.
   
• Generating successful business ideas.
   
• Environmental scanning.
   
• Developing a credible business plan that includes evaluating business ideas.
   
• Presenting the business idea.

Brief description

An understanding of some of the processes involved in food production. Discuss common misconceptions and ideas which present the food and nutritional industries in a bad light.

Module content:

•    Student led investigations
Student led investigations of the different sectors within the food and drink industry including: prebiotics – and the controversy surrounding the term; if barbequing is a healthy cooking method; and exposing the celebrity chef - common Myths about cooking.

•    Consumerism
Does the food industry listen to us? Understanding consumer and sensory science to better understand why you buy the products you buy.  How food/public health is reported by the media? The French paradox / Mediterranean diet.

•    Future of food
Ethical food production and the future of foods, and what’s waste got to do with it?

•    Debunking myths
Debunking food myths, more science than science fiction in our food today, like the science behind getting sauce out of a bottle and what to drink – Whisky or Beer?

•    Facts from fiction
Finding facts from fiction, investigating the three-second rule – should I eat things that have fallen on the floor? What’s so super about super-foods? Fat or sugar: Which is worse?

Brief description

Learn how we approach and understand mental health, from historic, social, therapeutic, and individual perspectives. Explore questions such as ‘what is madness?’, ‘how does society position people with mental illness?’, and ‘how do we best respond to challenges to our mental health?’

Module content:

• Historical and cultural perspective on mental illness
  How do we ‘think’ about mental health, and mental ill health?
   
• Diagnosis and the anti-psychiatry movement
  Who holds the power to decide what is normal in terms of psychological well-being and behaviour?
   
• Gender, culture and mental health
  How gendered cultural expectations and representations influence how we respond to mental health issues.
   
• Media representations
  The impact of film and literature on attitudes and understandings of mental health.
   
• Resilience, treatment and recovery
  Common mental health problems in the UK, treatment and management, and frameworks for enhancing well-being and resilience.

Brief description

An introduction to the wide range of disciplines in forensic investigation. Learn how crimes are investigated from the moment of reporting through to the presentation of the evidence in court. A hypothetical case study provides an over-arching framework in which to explore the critical aspects of forensic investigations. It involves not only physical and electronic evidence, but also statements from witnesses, suspects and victims which requires cross discipline collaboration of professionals.

 

Module content:

• Crime scene investigation
How a crime scene is examined in the context of incomplete contextual information and to avoid loss or contamination of evidence and the maximising of the value of evidential material.

• Media involvement
Positive and negative effects of the media/public interest in the crime.

• Forensic biology
Examination and evidential value of body fluids, DNA, hairs and fibres.

• Forensic chemistry
Analysis for drugs, toxicological analysis, firearms, explosives, and trace evidence.

• Digital sources
Evidence from CCT, mobile phones, computer hardware, on−line behaviour.

• Forensic reasoning and practice
An introduction to forensic problem solving, thinking styles, case assessment and interpretation.

• Psychology of witnesses and suspects
False confessions, offender profiling, effects and avoidance of cognitive bias in forensic science through process design.

Year 3 Core Modules

You must study and pass all four core modules

Brief description

Structural design in reinforced concrete and steel. Learn to investigate and solve geotechnical and structural problems related to the built environment.

Indicative content:

• Design loads: Wind loading and snow loading.
• Reinforced concrete: Material properties, limit state design requirements, loads and partial safety factors, failure mechanism and criteria Design of structural elements including singly and doubly reinforced beams, one-way and two-way slabs, axially loaded columns, foundations and cantilever retaining walls.
• Design of steel structures: Material properties and grading, partial safety factors, section properties and classification, Design of beams subject to uniaxial bending, Design of columns and base plates, Design of steel connections.
• Plastic collapse of steel structures: Plastic hinge formation, plastic moment capacity, plastic section modulus, shape factor, failure criterion, upper and lower bound theorems, plastic analysis of statically indeterminate beams and single storey, single bay portal frames.
• Use of computer packages and design.
• Laboratory work: Concrete lab. Safe working practices in a laboratory situation.

Brief description

Initial development of geotechnical analysis and design, and their application in civil engineering. Gain an understanding of soils physical and mechanical properties in theory and practice, and an introduction into geotechnical engineering problems.

Indicative content:

• Physical properties of soil: Factors controlling the weathering of rock and the formation of soils. Moisture content, density, void ratio, porosity, air content and saturation.
• Soil compaction and re-use: The compaction of soils − theory and practise. Suitability criteria and the re−use of fill for engineering purposes.
• Effective stress: The concept of total and effective stress and pore water pressure.
• Soil shear strength: The theory of soil shear strength, Mohr Coulomb failure criterion. Determine shear strength parameters for design purposes from shear box, undrained triaxial.
• Consolidation of soils: Measurement of the consolidation of cohesive soils in the laboratory, theoretical consideration of amount and rate of settlement, over-consolidation ratio and the application of the e/log p’ graph.
• Seepage: Flow net construction, seepage into excavations, seepage forces and piping.
• Laboratory work: Determine moisture content, Atterberg Limit and shear strength of sand and saturated clay. Safe working practices in a laboratory situation.

Brief description

Prepare for the diverse opportunities provided within the engineering profession. Develop essential knowledge and skills in order to contribute to the organisation and management of engineering projects.

Indicative content:

• Health and Safety: CDM and other current health and safety regulations, roles obligations and responsibilities under legislation for health and safety.
• Procurement strategies, tendering and construction contracts: Management of the design process, estimating and tendering, pre-tender planning, construction contracts; contract formation, contractual problems. Topical procurement issues.
• Project control tools: Planning and programming tools and techniques, strategies for managing uncertainty, PERT and related techniques. Cost control systems, quality management.
• Economic and sustainability assessment: Economic evaluation: life Cycle costing, CEEQUAL and BREEAM. Cost benefit analysis Sustainability assessment approaches. Sustainability indicators, Multi-criteria analysis.
• Professional employability skills: Employer/employee relationship. Interview skills and techniques. Presenting a professional CV. Equality and diversity. Professional codes of conduct (such as ICE) and specific issues including resolving ethical dilemmas through case studies.

Brief description

Gain structured and practical experience of working in the world of Civil Engineering through a work placement. As a planned part of your education and training, a placement is a complement to and an extension of the work you undertake while at university. It provides an opportunity for you to accept responsibility for your own personal and professional development, learning and training.

Indicative content:

• Briefing: Final preparation for placement building on Civil Engineering Practice module.
• Placement: Individual learning experiences will vary depending on the organisation to which you are attached. The work placement is unpaid and for the whole of the term. You are visited at least once during the placement period by your university supervisor.​
• Debriefing: Follows immediately upon completion of the period of work placement and is designed to offer guidance to better enable able you to transfer your learning experience back into the university-based setting and for consideration for future learning.

Year 4 Core Modules

You must study and pass all six core modules

Brief description

Understand the interaction between geotechnical and structural analysis in the design of civil engineering structures.

Indicative content:

• Design of foundations: Design of foundations on cohesive and granular soils and bedrock. Comprehend the value of safe and economic design.
• Design loads: Design of gravity and cantilever retaining wall.Wind loading and snow loading.
• Slope stability: Stability of soil and rock slopes.
• Selected specialist subject within structural engineering. e.g. Pre-stressed concrete, fire safety

Brief description

Regulatory and technical aspects of waste and wastewater treatment and management. Gain the skills required for the selection, design, operation and maintenance of sustainable systems for the treatment and management of wastes, contaminated soil and wastewaters, and associated by-products. 

Indicative content:

• Waste and Contaminated Land Regulations: European and UK policy on land, waste management and the role of environmental regulatory agencies. The EU/UK Waste Management Hierarchy. Different regulatory framework and approaches to remediation of contaminated groundwater, compared with contaminated land. E.g. the “limit of detection” threshold for pollutants in groundwater.
• Waste Characterisation, Collection, Transport and Storage: Waste arisings by type, quantity and disposal route. Collection and Transport options.
• Waste Management and Treatment Technologies: Waste minimisation, re-use and recycling. Treatment technologies: Thermal (Incineration, Pyrolysis and Gasification); Anaerobic digestion and Composting. Landfill Technology.
• Contaminated Land Management and Remediation: Ground investigation techniques. Assessment of hazards and risks. Treatment/Remediation methodologies and techniques.
• Wastewater Management and Treatment: Wastewater management regulations. Characterisation of municipal wastewater (sewage). Consideration of unit treatment processes and operations including sedimentation and biological processes. Analysis of various treatment systems for large and small and decentralised populations. Analysis of treatment and management options and objectives for industrial effluents.
• Sludge Treatment and Management: Analysis of options for treatment, utilisation and disposal of wastewater treatment sludges, with associated environmental standards.

Brief description

The theories, concepts and principles of research methodology and statistical analysis and the range of methods used in conducting research. Gain the skills and knowledge necessary to undertake an original in-depth investigation in those fields. 

Indicative content:

• Introduction to Research: The nature and purpose of research; different types of research (quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, developmental, practice-based) and their mapping within different philosophical paradigms (positivism, interpretivism, pragmatism); strengths and weaknesses.
• Dealing with practical issues: the research process; identifying a research topic and setting research objectives; developing a research strategy; characteristics of a good research project; ethical issues in conducting research.
• Searching and reviewing the literature: The purposes and main steps of a literature review; searching, evaluating, organizing and synthesizing the relevant literature; and, writing a literature review and managing bibliographic records. In addition, developing research questions for qualitative and quantitative research; and identifying characteristics/attributes
• Data collection and analysis: Approaches to data collection and analysis (quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, iterative); questionnaire design; populations, samples, and sampling methods; data mining.
• Writing your research proposal: Identifying a research problem or issue, the purpose of the research and the main research question(s); choosing the research strategy and methods; writing a research proposal. In addition: discussing findings, formulating conclusions, making recommendations, and reporting; planning, executing, writing up, and submitting a dissertation.
• Descriptive statistics for quantitative and qualitative data: Summarising and visualising data sets; finding trends in data and formulating a research hypothesis.
• Introduction to Probability and Statistical Inference: Basic concepts of probability and probability distribution; discrete and continuous random variables; basic probability distributions; introduction to the hypothesis testing procedure.
• The Hypothesis Testing Procedure: Parametric and non-parametric tests; Chi-squared Test for Association; Independent Sample t-Test; One and Two Way Analysis of Variance ANOVA; power calculation and sample size estimation.
• Correlation and Regression: Relationship between two numeric variables, dependent and independent variable; Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient; Simple Linear Regression.
• Multiple Regression: Multiple Regression Analysis and introduction to the General Linear Model.

Brief description

The opportunity to work with others as part of a diverse team, integrating skills learned in previous modulesto solve a realistic series of project problems for a construction project..

Indicative content:

• Review of client brief: Justification of design options and production of outline design solutions.
• Project analysis and design: including calculations and detailing of the design project.
• Review of solutions: including sustainability assessment, taking off quantities, producing risk assessments and method statements, pricing bills of quantities and carbon costing.
• Building information management: Review of building information management in the design and operation of the project.

Brief description

Undertake an individual in-depth study of a relevant specialised aspect of civil and environmental engineering. Provide a report and deliver a presentation.

Indicative content:

• Supervision: A member of academic staff will assist and guide you in carrying out the project, and monitor progress. It is recommended you meet with them at least once in a fortnight to discuss progress. You must keep a log book whichis part of the assessed materials.
• Final Report and Presentation: Submit a final written report on your chosen subject, prepared in accordance with the University's regulations for the submission of theses. Present yourself for a final oral assessment.

Brief description

Apply the fundamental principles of fluid dynamics to be able to analyse and design water infrastructure.

Indicative content:

• Fluid dynamics: Review of basic concepts of fluid motion. Continuity equations, conservation of mass, steady flow; the Bernoulli equations: application to devices; the momentum equation.
• Pipeline: Pipe flow and Reynolds number. Frictional effects in pipe flow and Darcy head loss equation. Analysis of pipe systems - use design aids: flow charts, computational packages.
• Drainage systems: Combined and separate sewer systems. Urban storm water pollution control. CSOs. Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems. Estimation of foul and storm flows. Design of simple systems for foul and surface water.
• Hydraulic machines: Types of hydraulic machines. Selection and installation of pumps, using pump and system performance curves. Cavitation and associated issues.
• Open channels uniform flow: Frictional resistance formulae for steady uniform flow in open channels. Channel design considerations, including optimum shape of cross-section for uniform flow in open channels.
• Non-uniform flow in open channels: Specific energy and alternative depths of flow. Occurrence of critical flow conditions. Flow over a broad-crested weir. Classification of water surface profiles. The hydraulic jump and the use of critical depth in flow measurements. Design of spillways.