Note: This unit is an archived version! See Overview tab for delivered versions.

CIVL2810: Engineering Construction and Surveying (2016 - Semester 1)

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Unit: CIVL2810: Engineering Construction and Surveying [no longer running] (6 CP)
Mode: Normal-Day
On Offer: Yes
Level: Intermediate
Faculty/School: Civil Engineering
Unit Coordinator/s: Mr Weber, Richard
Session options: Semester 1
Versions for this Unit:
Site(s) for this Unit:
Campus: Camperdown/Darlington
Pre-Requisites: None.
Prohibitions: CIVL1810.
Brief Handbook Description: The objectives of this unit are to gain an understanding of the fundamentals of engineering construction including

- design, control, management, measurement and construction methods for excavation, embankments and other earthworks, hauling and associated operations.

- building construction fundamentals, including reinforced concrete, masonry, steel and timber.

- drilling and blasting

Engineering Survey topics aim (a) to provide basic analogue methods of distance, angle and height measurement and (b) to provide an understanding of three dimensional mapping using basic total station electronic field equipment with associated data capture ability and (c) to give an insight into future trends in the use of GPS and GIS systems.

At the end of this unit, students should develop basic competency in earthwork engineering and economic optimisation of related construction, including proposing and analysing systems and methods, estimation of probable output, unit cost and productivity evaluation. Students should have a basic knowledge of vertical construction in reinforced concrete, masonry, steel and timber. Students should also develop proficiency in the design and implementation of mapping systems in Civil Engineering, using analogue and electronic field equipment and associated software packages.

The syllabus comprises introduction to the framework under which construction projects are formulated and analysed; construction engineering fundamentals; construction systems related to excavation, hauling and embankment construction, including selection and evaluation of plant and methods as well as the expected output and cost; introduction to construction operations management. Introduction to engineering surveying, distance measurement, angle measurement, levelling, traversing, topographic surveys, electronic surveying equipment, future surveying technologies.

This course is also conducted as Civl9810
Assumed Knowledge: MATH1001 AND MATH1002 AND MATH1003 AND MATH1005.
Additional Notes: In recent years - the course has included a 1.5 day camp at Webbs Creek (about 80km from Sydney). The camp is located in a bushland setting. It aims to provide valuable practice in practical field survey and has a secondary aim of providing a basis for social gathering (this aspect being requested in student feedback over recent years)
Lecturer/s: Mr Weber, Richard
Tutor/s: Tutoring Staff members are selected senior students. Tutoring assistance is provided

a. In Engineering Construction Tutorials

b. In Campus Survey Pracs

c. At Webbs Creek Camps

d. On Blackboard Teaching Platform
Timetable: CIVL2810 Timetable
Time Commitment:
# Activity Name Hours per Week Sessions per Week Weeks per Semester
1 Lecture - Eng Const & Survey 1.00 1 13
2 Lecture - Eng Const 2.00 2 13
3 Workgroup-Campus Survey Prac Fortnightly 3.00 1 6
4 Tutorial 2.00 1 12
5 WebbsCk Camp 1 day(overnight) during semester
6 Independent Study 2.00 13
T&L Activities: Workgroup: Survey Exercises (supplemented by Engineering Const & Survey Camp)

Lecture: Lecture

Attributes listed here represent the key course goals (see Course Map tab) designated for this unit. The list below describes how these attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment tabs for details of how these attributes are assessed.

Attribute Development Method Attribute Developed
Course assignments include problem solving in civil engineering construction and numerical analysis in engineering survey Design (Level 1)
All aspects of the course are relevant to the expertise expected in civil engineering professionals. Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 1)
Course topics include a broad range of civil engineering fundamentals Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 1)
Students will use the internet to collect supplementary information relating to course content. Information Seeking (Level 1)
Engineering Construction Assignments may involve preparation of a report on a specific topic Communication (Level 1)
The technnical content of the course is applicable to professional practice in civil engineering design and construction. Professional Conduct (Level 1)

For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table.

Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.

Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 1)
1. Design, control, management, measurement and construction methods for excavation, embankments and other earthworks, hauling and associated operations.
2. Understand application and methods for drilling and blasting.
3. Understand building construction fundamentals, including reinforced concrete, masonry, steel and timber.
Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 1)
4. Practical competence in methods of distance, angle and height measurement.
5. Limited practical competence and general theoretical competence in three dimensional mapping using basic total station electronic field equipment.
6. Limited knowledge in application of GPS and GIS systems.
Assessment Methods:
# Name Group Weight Due Week Outcomes
1 On Line Quiz No 8.00 Week 5 (Tuesday, 11 pm) 1, 4,
2 Report Yes 5.00 Multiple Weeks 4,
3 Mid-Sem Exam (Exam 1) No 24.00 Week 8 (Tuesday, 8 pm) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
4 Final Exam No 59.00 Exam Period 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
5 Peerwise No 4.00 Multiple Weeks (Sunday, 11 pm) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
Assessment Description: 1. On line quiz Tues pm/evening – 2 sittings - Exact timing and locations to be advised dependent on availability of large space with computer terminals for Blackboard based quiz, supervisor availability and final student numbers. Circumstances may force a change including cancellation and incorporation into Exam1 (in which case Exam 1 would have the collective weighting of Item 3 and Item 1).

2. Report: Survey Practical Assignments - weighting above is approximate (a guide) and may be varied . See detailed course Unit of Study document (produced for each specific course), for further details

3. Mid-Sem Exam (Exam 1) : Mid Semester Exam - weighting above is approximate (a guide) and may be varied . See detailed course Unit of Study document (produced for each specific course), for further details

4. Final Exam (Exam 2): Final Exam - weighting above is approximate (a guide) and may be varied . See detailed course Unit of Study document (produced for each specific course), for further details

5. PeerWise is used by students to create and to explain their understanding of course related questions, and to answer and discuss questions created by their peers. (Google for more detail)

Note 1.- the detailed Unit of Study Instruction also includes an On line Quiz – not included in course assessment (info only) – Week 2 Tues night - dependent on Blackboard Quiz functions working effectively.

Note 2.:- Weightings above are approximate (a guide) and may be varied marginally. See detailed course Unit of Study document (produced for each specific course), for further details
Grading:
Grade Type Description
Standards Based Assessment Final grades in this unit are awarded at levels of HD for High Distinction, DI (previously D) for Distinction, CR for Credit, PS (previously P) for Pass and FA (previously F) for Fail as defined by University of Sydney Assessment Policy. Details of the Assessment Policy are available on the Policies website at http://sydney.edu.au/policies . Standards for grades in individual assessment tasks and the summative method for obtaining a final mark in the unit will be set out in a marking guide supplied by the unit coordinator.
Policies & Procedures: See the policies page of the faculty website at http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/student-policies/ for information regarding university policies and local provisions and procedures within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies.
Online Course Content: The Unit of Study Elearning Blackboard website is available to students enrolled in the Unit. The website is used intensively as a basis for course management, instruction,discussion, query resolution.
Note on Resources: There are no text books prescribed for the course. The course WebSite (Blackboard elearning site) contains

-course administrative notices

-course notes

-topic outlines

-example problems

-URL links

Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp

Week Description
Week 1 Course Briefing - Earthmoving Fundamentals – Production Estimation and the objectives of production estimation.
Engineering Survey - Introduction to Surveying
Week 2 Traction based equipment and Front End Loaders – Applications and performance
Engineering Survey - Basic survey equations & units
Week 3 Engineering Survey - Height determination - Levelling
Scrapers and Trucks - Applications and performance estimation.
Week 4 Engineering Survey - Horizontal directions
Excavators - Applications and performance estimation Equipment owning and operating costs and replacement strategies - the Volvo Magic Screen.
Week 5 Engineering Survey – Theodolites
Embankments – Construction/Quality Control
Production estimation
Assessment Due: On Line Quiz
Week 6 Earthworks Design,earthworks control, earthworks measurement & contractual issues.Optimal Earthmoving Strategies and planning – Session 1 of 2
Engineering Survey - Distances - Bands
Week 7 Earthworks Design,earthworks control, earthworks measurement & contractual issues.Optimal Earthmoving Strategies and planning – Session 2 of 2 ........Aggregates and other construction materials1.
Engineering Survey - Distances - EDM
Week 8 Fact Sheet discussion - ??
Concrete Construction including Formwork, Reinf Steel Fixing, Services fixing, Concrete Placement and finishing, Concrete testing (Note: this does not include concrete mix design or reinf concrete design)
Engineering Survey - Traversing
Assessment Due: Mid-Sem Exam (Exam 1)
Week 9 Miscellaneous Building Construction Fundamentals -incl Masonry, Steel, Timber and emerging substitiutes.
Week 10 Engineering Survey - Curves & Errors
Compressed Air, Drilling and Blasting
Week 11 Engineering Survey - Cartography
Underground construction
Week 12 Fundamentals of Construction Contracting – estimating, the contract, variations, OHS and WorkCover safety, Environmental controls. Engineering Survey - Setting out & GPS
Week 13 Course review
Engineering Survey - Photogrammetry & GIS
Exam Period Assessment Due: Final Exam

Course Relations

The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.

Course Year(s) Offered
Civil Engineering / Arts 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Civil Engineering / Commerce 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Civil Engineering / Design in Architecture 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Civil Engineering / Medical Science 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Civil Engineering / Science 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Civil Engineering / Law 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Civil Engineering 2015
Civil / Arts (2022 and earlier) 2015
Civil / Commerce 2015
Civil / Design in Architecture 2015
Civil / Project Management 2015
Civil / Science 2015
Civil / Law 2015
Project Engineering and Management (Civil) / Arts 2011
Project Engineering and Management (Civil) / Commerce 2010, 2011
Project Engineering and Management (Civil) / Science 2011

Course Goals

This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:

Attribute Practiced Assessed
Project and Team Skills (Level 1) No 0%
Design (Level 1) Yes 0%
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 1) Yes 49.89%
Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 1) Yes 50.09%
Information Seeking (Level 1) Yes 0%
Communication (Level 1) Yes 0%
Professional Conduct (Level 1) Yes 0%

These goals are selected from Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.