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Unit information: Design Project 4 (EDES) in 2021/22

Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.

Unit name Design Project 4 (EDES)
Unit code CENG30013
Credit points 40
Level of study H/6
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director Dr. Harper
Open unit status Not open
Pre-requisites

CENG20015 Design Project

Co-requisites

None

School/department Department of Civil Engineering
Faculty Faculty of Engineering

Description including Unit Aims

In Design Project 4, work is conducted in groups of 4-6 students to develop an in-depth understanding of a product or system through research and modelling activities. Although the students communicate and share relevant knowledge as a team, each student has his/her own individual project and develops expertise in a subject area that is valuable to the group design project undertaken in Year 5 (Design Project 5). The individual project involves a detailed investigation of an artefact, process or sub-system that is vital to the overall product/system’s functionality, including the associated economic, environmental, business and social design drivers. Depending on the specific project, the construction of analytical and/or physical models is used to quantify design parameters and to understand manufacturing implications. Each student’s project has separate objectives and reporting, and is marked independently. The projects are run in association with industrial companies and relevant University research teams.

The unit aims to give each student an experience of planning, conducting and recording a detailed research/modelling activity, in order to develop specialist knowledge that can be applied in the Year 5 Group Design Project. A strong emphasis is placed on enhancing the student’s ability to develop and apply analytical models, both to evaluate existing designs and to aid future design work. The unit’s project management lectures aim to provide an understanding of techniques that can be used to co-ordinate project tasks, manage risk, and achieve goals on time and to budget. These techniques can be applied both within this unit’s individual project and during the Year 5 Group Design Project.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the unit the student will be able to:

  • Plan, conduct and record open-ended investigations.
  • Perform quantitative analytical, numerical and/or experimental modelling.
  • Describe techniques for managing projects effectively.
  • Communicate research methods and outcomes through both oral presentations and formal reports.

Teaching Information

Students will work in allocated groups supported by a Project Advisor and Specialist Advisors as required and an advisor from the Industrial Sponsor. Lectures/Labs on Modelling and Project Management are provided to support the work undertaken and each group has at least 3 formal meetings with their Industrial Sponsor during the course of the project (1 Project Introduction Meeting and 2 Progress Review Meetings). Work is presented to staff, students and industrialists at the end of the project via a poster display at a Projects Colloquium.

Assessment Information

1. Formative 'Must-Pass' interim assessment (not graded)

2. Summative final assessment worth 100% of the unit

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. CENG30013).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.

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