KA4001 - The Evolution of the Built Environment

Lectures will identify, reinforce and focus key issues, concepts and topics, related to commentary concerning significant buildings in Newcastle, where we will look at the history and development of these buildings. Workshops, following an introductory lecture, in building information modelling will develop skills in key industry software and using case study buildings to develop understanding in using the software before assessment using the presentation skills expected of a surveying professional.

You will also be supported by the provision of on-line resources via the module e-learning portal. These resources include lecture and workshop information, interactive reading list with on-line access to a number of key articles plus links to topical news reports. Teaching staff will also respond to individual questions via the module’s discussion board so that everyone taking the module can benefit. Furthermore, module teaching staff are responsive to communication via e-mail to support your learning.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
• MLO1: Explore how buildings and urban societies evolved from antiquity to the modern age, identifying differing architectural and constructional styles.
• MLO2: Evaluate developments in materials and technologies and how these have led to new ideas on construction and urban living, along with how social and environmental sustainability affects our built environment.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• MLO3: You will be able to research, evaluate and communicate information on buildings, at an individual level and within a wider historical and built environment context.
• MLO4: You will be able to use building informational modelling software as a way of digitally recording and describing existing buildings, including historic buildings.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• MLO5: You will develop an awareness of the cultural values behind the evolution and future development of the built environment.

Your assessment will be by means of production of a BIM model and an examination.

Presentation (60%): Working in groups, you will prepare individual BIM models for a specific historic building and present the models as a group presentation. This assessment will develop skills in using industry standard building information modelling software and transferable skills in professional presentation. MLO1, MLO2, MLO3 and MLO4.

Examination (40%): You will undertake an individual multiple-choice examination. This assessment will cover how buildings and urban societies evolved up to the modern age, the differing architectural and constructional styles, and the developments in materials, technologies and the challenges of environmental sustainability. MLO1, MLO2, MLO3 and MLO5.

N/A

N/A

From early classical civilisations up to today and into the future, urban settlements changed and will continue to change. In ‘Evolution of the Built Environment’, you will learn about the influences enabling changes in building design and develop skills in how we describe existing buildings using building information modelling (BIM) digital representation of buildings (BIM).

We will describe how developing technologies and structural developments allowed changes urban settlements and describe important buildings in the history of buildings, talking about the architects and engineers who influenced these changes. Exploring these changes will be in the context of ideas influencing societies and the environmental concerns that will affect the future. You will learn how to use BIM software as a way of recording and describing existing buildings, including buildings of architectural, historical or cultural importance, developing surveying practice skills in communicating information concerning buildings by way of presenting your research through a verbal presentation. ‘Evolution of the Built Environment’ will help your understanding of buildings in surveying practice, enabling you to see individual buildings in the wider city context, and how to communicate this knowledge in a technology rich environment.