KB6031 - Integrated Group Design Project

This module is based around the completion of a design according to practice simulating that in industry. An initial short series of lectures will present the project brief and supporting resources and will assist you in identifying the problem parameters and beginning to consider solutions. Thereafter you will work in groups to formulate design options and choose a final solution, this process being supported by weekly workshop sessions with the opportunity to work together, discuss issues with staff and to hear short presentations on issues of relevance to all groups where these arise. Some workshop time may take the form of role-play client meetings where you will learn to act as a designer in industry, relating to their client. There may be occasions within the semester where normal teaching will be suspended to allow your learning to be supplemented by a range of activities such as design workshops, guest presentations, professional body events, site visits and field work.

You will be supported in workshops, giving you ample opportunity to ask questions regarding the design task, as well as to seek specific help, for example with the creation of the assessment submissions. At other times, you will have regular access to University academic staff online, including the use of discussion boards and chat rooms in the University’s virtual learning environment (VLE). This will allow you to access support regularly at convenient times.

The module and the wider programme teams will also offer a supportive approach, enabling you to quickly and easily access and speak to any member of the programme team, as required.

The University Library and other student services also offer a variety of academic skills training , which you can access as needed.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Analyse complex problems systematically and creatively, demonstrating application of rigour in the decision process when faced with incomplete data.
2. Synthesize knowledge of the technical, business, financial, commercial, structural analyses and design and geotechnical design issues pertinent to the project and work within the constraints imposed, to deliver a design with the appropriate level of technical difficulty.


Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. Create a project design schedule adopting information from new theories, models and/or methods.


Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
4. Apply engineering techniques accounting for a breadth of commercial and technical constraints and communicate these to the client effectively.

Module Learning Outcomes (MLOs) (Max. of five in total*, for standard 20-credit modules)
* this can increase to a maximum of 10, for modules with more than 20 credits
What will I be expected to achieve? How will I be assessed?
Please give details of all formative and summative assessment process indicating which MLOs will be addressed and how feedback will be provided. Programme (Level) Learning Outcomes that this module contributes to:
Please refer to the programme specification for the PLOs
Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Analyse complex problems systematically and creatively, demonstrating application of rigour in the decision process when faced with incomplete data.
2. Synthesize knowledge of the technical, business, financial, commercial, structural analyses and design and geotechnical design issues pertinent to the project and work within the constraints imposed, to deliver a design with the appropriate level of technical difficulty.


Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. Create a project design schedule adopting information from new theories, models and/or methods.


Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
4. Apply engineering techniques accounting for a breadth of commercial and technical constraints and communicate these to the client effectively.
You will have two components of summative assessment.

The first of which is will be a group coursework (maximum 2500 words) in which your group will demonstrate the ability to capture the design brief and identify the various issues and constraints which will affect the final design solution. This will assess MLOs 2 and 3 and will be worth 30% of the module.

At the end of the module you will prepare a design report on your final design including text, calculations and drawings of your final solution together with a design risk register and outline method statement for its implementation. This will require you to identify your individual contribution to your group’s design. This will assess MLOs 1 and 4 and will be worth 70% of the module.

Formative assessment will be by means of regular meetings with academic staff during seminars, many of which will take the form of client meetings, roleplaying the design process in industry. You may also be asked to give presentations detailing your progress, you will receive formative feedback on these which can be fed into your learning and your summative assessments.
Knowledge and Understanding

KU1, KU3, KU4


Intellectual / Professional Skills and Abilities:

IPSA1, IPSA2


Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):


• PVA2, PVA3

N/A

N/A

Design is central to the role of the civil engineer. In your career, you will be involved in designing civil engineering projects to improve human life, economic performance and the environment and an appreciation of all the processes involved in design is central to your employability. This module allows you to gain an understanding of the complete process of design in the context of a realistic project encompassing a range of different disciplines within civil engineering, and considering technical, social and business factors linked with creating civil engineering designs. Completing the module will allow you to fit rapidly into design teams in civil engineering consultancies or contracting organizations upon graduation.