This course consists of three main components.  Part one is an introduction to computer programming, including its application to engineering problems; part two is an introduction to the basic techniques used in engineering sketch development and understanding structural behaviour and part three involves participation in the 'Constructionarium' fieldwork course involving practical, construction-related activities.

2 x lectures per week

1 x lab per week on a variety of topics

1 x intensive multi disciplinary design project with architecture students form GSA

1 week Constructionarium field course

None

None

20% Written Exam: Programming class exam

30% Written Assignment: Programming project (30%)

20% Design project

30% Course assignment

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below.

It is not possible to re-attend the Constructionarium.

The aims of this course are to:

■ provide an understanding of how engineering problems can be framed in computer programs and to develop a logical top-down problem-solving approach to this process in order to be able to write well-structured programming solutions;

■ develop knowledge and understanding of the basic techniques of engineering sketching and structural behaviour;

■ develop knowledge and practical experience of modern civil engineering construction methods;

■ develop experience in designing within a multi disciplinary team.

By the end of the course students will be able to:

■ solve simple engineering problems using Python or an alternative programming environment;

■ analyse a problem, adopt a logical sequential approach to its solution and be able to formalise this solution strategy within a programming environment;

■ demonstrate knowledge of basic programming techniques, such as input and output, iteration, branching and user-defined functions;

■ perform basic software testing to validate programming code;

■ demonstrate a working knowledge of drawing conventions and sketching techniques;

■ demonstrate a familiarity with common structural forms;

■ analyse simple structural frames with respect to deformation.

Students must attend all workshops and the class examination. Students must also submit a course assignment and team design project.

Students must attend the timetabled laboratory classes and the Constructionarium.