Civil Engineering and Construction Management
MSc

The module will examine the principles and techniques involved in value engineering which aims to provide the best value for money for the client over the whole life cycle of a project. Students will evaluate industry practice relating to cost control and the financial management of projects, linking this also to the monitoring and control of time-related progress.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

• Apply and critically evaluate project planning techniques used in the management and control of construction/civil engineering projects
• Identify, analyse and critically appraise risk, value and financial management in the context of the built environment

Module content

Identification and management of risk

• Risk in the context of the built environment including; financial risk, project risk, client risk, contractor risk, tendering risk, health and safety issues and environmental considerations
• Project management risk, risk registers, probability theory and the changing risk scenarios during projects
• Risk identification, analysis and response
• Models and methodologies used in the technical assessment of risk

Project planning and programming

• Planning techniques used during phases of a project; sequencing activities and programming techniques; lead times, predecessors, float, baselines, critical path analysis; resource scheduling, allocation and reconciliation; procurement programmes, cost and cash flow forecasts, links to effective site management, IT software tools for project planning and as contemporary management tools

Project monitoring and control

• Project progress tracking and reporting, project control procedures, controlling time, controlling money, controlling resources, communicating work schedules, health and safety considerations, links to effective site management

Value Engineering

• Identifying and removing unnecessary cost, improving value and function, maintaining quality, safety, life, reliability, dependability, features, and aesthetics. Feasibility, design, and construction phases
• Life cycle costing

Financial Administration of Construction and Civil Engineering Projects

• Periodic payments, evaluating work in progress and materials, accounting for variations, fluctuations in resource costs, reimbursement for loss and expense, payment procedures, retention, final payment

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:

1. Critically analyse a sector of industry relevant to your industry/specialism on a global scale
2. Utilise appropriate methodology to forecast future trends and analyse their impact on your industry/specialism worldwide
3. In depth preparation and justification of a coherent ethical business and marketing plan for an organisation

Module content

Strategic management

• Definitions, mission statements
• Analysis of industries using strategic models
• Development of strategic thrusts in a global environment

Management of people and quality

• Effective management of people organising and motivating people, and controlling activities
• Managing research, development, design, and production activities
• Improving quality – overview of philosophies from a strategic viewpoint

Financial and cost analysis

• Methods of financial and cost analysis
• Applying financial and managerial accounting to the effective management of technology projects

Economic analysis

• Projections of future economic environment, growth of demand, planned expansion, use of resources, levels of confidence in projections, risk evaluation and profitability analysis

Business ethics

• Concepts of ethics/ethical codes relevant to your chosen professional body and applied to strategic scenarios

Your learning will include how to identify, evaluate, and apply diverse research approaches to your own research and the process of collecting and evaluate different types of data and relating your findings to current research. During your study you will be able to compare the use of both quantitative techniques and qualitative techniques in research. The module can be accessed through blended/face-to-face delivery or online learning depending on your programme of study.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to: 

• Develop and apply an appropriate research approach and strategy to address a set of defined research objectives
• Critically evaluate, develop, and apply appropriate quantitative and qualitative methodologies for collecting and analysing data in order to form conclusions and recommendations for future work in a particular field

Module content

Research methods

Research aims and objectives and the requirements for producing a research methodology

Evaluating different research approaches and methodologies for their suitability and relevance to a proposed research scenario.

Quantitative and qualitative methodologies

Key aspects of both methodologies and their application to a proposed research scenario.

Developing an overall research strategy and contextualising it with current practices and developments

Critically reviewing current practitioners work in terms of the approaches, successfulness and relevant similarities to a proposed research scenario.

The obligation of doing more than just complying with legal obligations and thus benefiting the environment is balanced against the economic imperatives of private industry and the public accountability of NGOs and governments.  This is an interdisciplinary module so that students will be asked to work outside their areas of expertise and interact with other students and members of the community from different cultural, social and disciplinary areas to evaluate and offer design and technological decisions to reduce environmental risks. The module can be accessed through blended/face-to-face delivery or online learning depending on your programme of study.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to: 

1. Critically evaluate the implications of environmental factors and associated legislation from both a global and local context
2. Develop a critical understanding of sustainable development methodologies

Module content

Sustainable development – global context

Historical and political contexts. Assessing the global, national and local context of environmental pressures and risk. Appraising the dichotomy of sustainable development and continued industrialisation and the uses of methodologies for weighing costs of against benefits.   The role of international agreements and environmental stewardship to produce a low carbon society. Environmental threats and indicators of consumption, such as ecological footprints and similar measures. Tools for improving environmental performance e.g. economic instruments, technological solutions, legislation and social and moral pressure. Soft systems methodology applied to sustainable development to

• living within environmental limits
• ensuring a strong, healthy and just society
• promoting good governance
• achieving a sustainable economy
• using sound science responsibly

Resources management

Assessment and implementation of techniques for the optimisation of efficient use of resources and costs in manufacturing industry and other organisations. 

Infrastructure planning for sustainable development

A review of the historical development of planning from organic to planned spatial design. Development of design guidelines and the place of making strategies.  The importance of ecological restoration policy and the use of initiation, site identification, site appraisal, brownfield and greenfield sites and policy instruments will be introduced.  The use of legislation to assess environmental risk such as environmental statements and environmental impact assessments is covered.

Environmental decision making

The definition of the environment to include biophysical, social, political, economic and other factors is explored with a systems framework when managing risk and making environmental decisions in complex situations. The use of various techniques such as environmental standards and instruments for environmental decision making applied to real case studies in areas such as manufacturing, design, process development, architecture and civil engineering is included. 

Approaches to limiting disruption and damage from flooding have changed significantly in recent years. Worldwide, there has been a significant move from a strategy of flood defence to one of flood risk management. This includes the use of flood defences, where appropriate, but recognises that managed flooding is essential to meet the requirements of a sustainable flood strategy. The success of this approach is dependent on integrating enhanced defences and warning systems with an improved understanding of river systems,  governance, emergency planning and disaster management actions.

The UK is an international leader in flood prevention policy and practice and the module will start by introducing the concepts of flood risk analysis and management within the context of current UK and European policies and legislation. Current techniques in considering climate change will be presented in outline, as will latest guidance on producing flood risk assessments. The module will focus on river and urban flooding, including hydraulic modelling techniques, and is designed for anyone who requires an understanding of flood risk and its relevance to river management and development planning. The application of these approaches and techniques will also be considered in a global flood planning and mitigation context.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

• Critically evaluate the effectiveness of UK/EU policy and legislation to address flood risk in the context of expected future climate change
• Critically analyse flood risk assessments and suggest appropriate structural and non-structural methods to reduce the impact of flooding

Module content

• policy and legislation
• risk analysis
• climate change
• flood Risk Assessments (FRA)
• flood mitigation
• integrated urban drainage

The aim of this module is to develop in-depth knowledge and skills in application and evaluation of BIM enabled design in true collaborative environments, critically reflecting upon the current BIM procedures, protocols and standards required to implement efficient integrated project collaboration within the multidisciplinary built environment team.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

• Undertake advanced and independent research, analyse and critically appraise the building information modelling and project collaboration relationships and influences.
• Critically evaluate the theoretical approaches and generate complex building information modelling and project collaboration proposals showing awareness of current issues and insights.
• Demonstrate an in-depth understanding and critically evaluate and apply the appropriate methods, processes, execution plans, specifications and technologies to design integration and project collaboration.

Module content

Collaborative Environment

Creating multidisciplinary teams. Organisational structures and roles within the BIM process. BIM execution plans, protocols and standards.   Interoperability and technologies for collaboration. Process change. Selected case studies. Current research and advancements.

Information analytics

Advanced methods for information retrieval, analysis and integration.  Decision-making using appropriate BIM collaboration tools. 

BIM and Project Stages

• marketing and winning BIM projects
• design and preconstruction- selecting the right team, vision, communication, managing expectations
• scheduling design, tendering, logistics and planning
• construction - model coordination and BIM scheduling
• construction activity tracking
• feedback and health and safety
• contractual administration and document control

Facilities Management

• BIM and information handover
• BIM and building management system (BMS) integration
• BIM-enabled building performance monitoring and control
• maintaining the model, ongoing investment and logistics

BIM Case Studies

• project collaboration and integrated design
• current practices and future research

The aim of the module is to expand on your undergraduate knowledge and critically evaluate principles, methodologies and techniques involved in the selection and specification of sustainable construction methods and materials. The necessarily site specific context for the specification of materials for a sustainable architecture varies widely. Considering both the energy in use and the embodied energy of materials, one of the important remits of sustainable construction is to mitigate the use of fossil fuel based energy consumption.

You will be encouraged to explore, critically analyse and evaluate comparative approaches in the effective specification of environmentally sustainable materials that the successful implementation of sustainable architecture requires. As practitioners within the construction industry, you must be able to choose the right material for applications with due regard to the life cycle of building materials, the environmental cost and embodied energy in the manufacturing method.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:

• Independently research and critically evaluate sustainable construction methods and materials and their application within built environment projects
• Identify, analyse and critically appraise sustainable construction methods and materials methodologies in the context of sustainable architecture projects
• Critically evaluate key sustainability indicators/design methodologies and their importance in the selection and specification of sustainable construction methods and materials in delivering sustainable architecture

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module the student should be able to:

• Critically analyse the road, rail and water systems which together form the majority of the transport infrastructure, including composition, life cycle costs, and engineering interfaces
• Evaluate the essential requirements, under current regulatory frameworks, for the design, planning and implementation of transport infrastructure projects, including the challenges to related asset management programmes
• Apply appropriate environmental assessments, legislation, and financial monitoring, to the delivery and operation of transport infrastructure schemes
• Assess the need for innovation and change in relation to infrastructure policy, design and operation, including consideration of current constraints and methodologies that influence the potential for change

Engineering Professionals need to ensure that Infrastructure assets are regularly monitored to ensure that embankments remain stable and that reactive measurements can be made to assess structural elements after incidents such as bridge strikes.

The module will consider modes of failure of structures and ancillary elements including embankments. Modelling of these will be done in 3D to allow detailed analysis, methods of data capture using both remote and traditional topographical methods.

Establishing ground control models to optimise field time and ensure high-density 3D monitoring using industry software packages. The role of asset management will be considered with relation to BIM and ISO 55000 and how engineers can manage risk with proactive intervention.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:

• Critically assess failures in infrastructure assets and their causation
• Collect and manipulate 3-dimensional data from the field to provide robust data sets for analysis
• Model and formulate, using geomatic processes, an existing structure to provide a datum for future monitoring
• Inform asset registry with the information necessary for both BIM and ISO55000

Module content

Asset Registry

Provide data sets for asset registers aligned to BIM and ISO 55000, considering inventory and risk analysis of different elements of infrastructure networks, including embankment, bridges, retaining walls etc…

Structures

Consider the implication of structural inspections and the role of non-destructive testing. Apply the related Eurocodes and British Standards in structural analysis and assessment of reinforced and steel structures. Identify typical modes of failure of different structure and the impact of collisions.

Geotechnics

Critically assess the modes of failure in both natural and manmade slopes. Assess the role of site investigation and testing to predict failure prone slopes. Model slope stability and the influence of loading and pore water pressure on clay and silt grounds.

Geomatic Monitoring

Manage and carry out LiDAR surveys and remote surveying of structures at an appropriate density to create suitable monitoring models, with industry-based Health and Safety risk management. Produce and analyse models from data sets and clouds. Prepare repeatable controls to ensure prolonged monitoring of both stable and unstable assets.

Legal Compliance

Consider the role of the Engineer under Statute law and processes to mitigate third party claims. Employment and Health and Safety law related to the asset teams and any programming for scheduled inspections.

The module includes aspects of negotiation, project management, target setting and implementation of objectives situated in practical experience realised in the context of work-based learning. The alignment of the agreed project aims and objectives with the required learning outcomes for the module is an important and integral requirement for the successful completion of this module.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

• Establish appropriate objectives to realise effectively the aims of a work-based learning project at postgraduate level
• Critically reflect on the experiences of the project, evaluating strengths, weaknesses, benefits accrued and industry relevance

Module content

In order to undertake this module successfully students will need to be in direct contact with industry, either through their employment or via an industrial placement or negotiated support agreement from an industry. Initially students will negotiate and agree an appropriate work-based learning project with the tutor that appropriately satisfies the required learning outcomes for the module. Following proposal submission, students will then progress their agreed project to completion with ongoing support from the tutor and/or industrial tutor as necessary in order to assist and guide in the successful completion of the project. The project work and achievements will be evidenced by the build-up of a portfolio during the course of the project and this will also be required to include the necessary reflective evaluation on the overall progress, development and outcomes for the project.

You will be challenged to demonstrate a critical understanding of how the boundaries of knowledge are advanced through research in production of clear, logically argued and original work related to the field of your study.

Module learning outcomes

On completion of this module, students will be able to:

1. Critically question current practices, methods and research. Apply appropriate research methods and evaluate and select relevant alternatives within the scope of the subject area of the study
2. Work on your own initiative utilising project management, problem solving, research methods and communication skills
3. In depth reflection upon the research and project development, place the results in context in relation to theories and practices and the specification developed for the study
4. In depth discussion of the findings, and clearly communicate, including presentations, the critical issues and key features. The discussion includes the ethical investigation that forms part of the work carried out and any necessary actions

Module content

This Module represents a major learning experience, providing an opportunity to pursue in considerable depth and with suitable academic rigor, a specific specialism related to the programme. Study will be supervised by tutors appointed by the Programme Leader, individually negotiated and agreed. It will be approved and monitored under the following general headings:

• Selection of a suitable research topic / project, identification of potential scope and appropriateness, given the content of your Masters studies
• Formation of project tutor groups for mutual support and guidance
• Research methodology, sources of information, timing of programme
• Gathering relevant and appropriate evidence and critical analysis of data
• Evaluation of the final proposals against "concepts"
• Demonstrably feasible and implementable resolution, conclusions and recommendations, with a full consideration given to the research ethics of the investigation and any relevant health and safety factors

Project workshops will be held to prepare you for your Masters level dissertation. At the early stages, group sessions will be held in which topics will be considered in detail. As the work develops, one-to-one tutorials will be used to monitor and guide project progress.

Relevant guided reading will be recommended throughout your postgraduate study, with you being encouraged to take full and early responsibility for the achievement of the learning outcomes from the exercise. You will be encouraged to review and reflect on the process as well as the end result, both with peer-groups and their MSc studies tutor.