Outline

Overview

The twin foci of this unit are: to enable students to participate as design engineers by developing an understanding of the design principles and techniques involved in the planning of a range of construction activities; and to assist students in preparing themselves for the role of a site engineer in a construction project wherein they will become familiar with the planning and execution of those activities, albeit with supervision and guidance from experienced professionals. Construction topics include hard rock tunnelling and general rock excavation; soft ground tunnelling; underground construction; micro tunnelling; cut and cover tunnelling; earth retaining systems; piling; formwork and falsework; dewatering; pavement design and construction - rigid and flexible; stormwater drainage design and construction; marine construction; civil construction in environmentally sensitive areas; contract administration for construction engineers; general engineering in remote localities (project based); construction methods in bridge engineering; QA documentation on a typical project; insurance in the construction industry, OHandS issues in the construction industry; timber engineering; post-tensioned/prestressed concrete construction.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Civil Engineering
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	CIVL1810 or CIVL2810
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	CIVL4811
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Faham Tahmasebinia, faham.tahmasebinia@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Faham Tahmasebinia, faham.tahmasebinia@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Supervised exam ?	Final Exam Students will solve a real problem in practice.	40%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment 1 Research and analysis task.	20%	Week 05 Due date: 03 Sep 2023 at 23:59	TBA
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment 2 Research and analysis task.	20%	Week 09 Due date: 08 Oct 2023 at 23:59	TBA
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment 3 Research and analysis task.	20%	Week 13 Due date: 05 Nov 2023 at 14:03	TBA
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

The overall assessment will be based on submitting three technical assignments and a final exam.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

The late submission will be penalized 10% of the overall weight of the assignment per day after the due date.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Composite Structures	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 02	Post Tension Concrete Floor Systems	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 03	Introduction to Detailing in Reinforced Concrete Members	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 04	Foundations and Retaining walls Constructions.	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 05	Introduction to Tunnel Engineering (Rock Mechanics)	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 06	Introduction to Bridge Engineering (Part 1)	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 07	Introduction to Bridge Engineering (Part 2)	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 08	Wind Loading on High- Rise Buildings	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 09	Green Construction and design light structures using bamboo	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 10	Introduction to Building Technology	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 11	Introduction to Earthquake Loading in Structures	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 12	Introduction to Fire Engineering and Introduction to Dam Engineering	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 13	Future of Digital Construction and Review	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Students must attend either the online or face-to-face tutorial sessions.

Also, they need to try to make some technical contributions during the tutorial sessions. Students who cannot participate in the tutorial class will lose two marks per tutorial session.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Students will have access to the lecture slides, pre-recorded lectures, and extra teaching resources to better understand the practical aspects of engineering construction.

Strand 7, as the main Finite Element commercial package, teaching and training videos will be comprehensively provided. Students are encouraged to spend time understanding the offered weekly technical content fully.

Also, several weekly online consulting sessions will be offered to help students to improve their design skills while using Strand 7.

The Strand7 Student Version is available for students enrolled in an approved university course. As a student, you get access to all Strand7 modules with no limits on model size. The software may only be used for your coursework. Access costs AU$10 per month.

Students may want to buy their licenses ( 10 $ per month) if they are unwilling to use the provided licenses at the University of Sydney.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Demonstrate knowledge of the construction techniques and processes of building composite structures, including material selection, design considerations, fabrication methods, and installation procedures.
LO2. Understand the principles and benefits of post-tensioning in concrete floor systems, including improved structural performance, reduced cracking, increased load-carrying capacity, and enhanced durability.
LO3. Understand the importance and significance of detailing in reinforced concrete members, including ensuring structural integrity, durability, and meeting design requirements.
LO4. Understand the fundamental principles and concepts of foundations and retaining walls in civil engineering, including their roles, functions, and importance in providing stability and support to structures and soil slopes.
LO5. Understand the principles and concepts of tunnel engineering, specifically focusing on the role of rock mechanics in the design, construction, and maintenance of tunnels.
LO6. Understand the fundamental principles and concepts of bridge engineering, including the roles, functions, and importance of bridges in transportation infrastructure.
LO7. Identify and analyze the different types of bridges, such as beam bridges, arch bridges, suspension bridges, and cable-stayed bridges, and understand their structural behavior, advantages, and limitations.
LO8. Understand the principles and concepts of wind loading on high-rise buildings, including the effects of wind forces on structural behavior, design considerations, and the importance of wind engineering in tall building design.
LO9. Understand the principles and concepts of green construction and sustainable design, specifically focusing on the use of bamboo as a renewable and environmentally friendly material for light structures.
LO10. Understand the codes, regulations, and standards governing building technology, including building codes, energy codes, accessibility requirements, and environmental regulations. Collaborate effectively with architects, engineers, and construction professionals to integrate building technology considerations into the overall design and construction process, ensuring coordination and optimization of building systems.
LO11. Understand the fundamental principles and concepts of earthquake loading in structures, including the causes and characteristics of earthquakes, and the effects of seismic forces on buildings and infrastructure.
LO12. Evaluate the performance of building materials and systems under fire conditions, including the behavior of structural elements, fire spread through combustible materials, and the effectiveness of fire protection measures.
LO13. Identify and analyze the different types of dams, such as gravity dams, arch dams, embankment dams, and rockfill dams, and understand their design considerations, structural behavior, and construction techniques.
LO14. Apply engineering principles and analysis techniques to perform structural analysis using FEA, including static analysis, dynamic analysis, stress analysis, and modal analysis.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Based on the following suggested plan, the proposed course layout became more practical for students planning to have their internship in the coming summer.

Additional information

Students will have access to the lecture slides, pre-recorded lectures, and extra teaching resources to understand the practical aspects of engineering construction better.

Also, several weekly online consulting sessions will be offered to help students to improve their design skills while using Strand 7.

Students may want to buy their licenses ( 10 $ per month) if they are unwilling to use the provided licenses at the University of Sydney.

Additional costs

The Strand7 Student Version is available for students enrolled in an approved university course. As a student, you can get access to all Strand7 modules with no limits on model size. The software may only be used for your coursework. Access costs AU$10 per month. Students may want to buy their licenses ( 10 $ per month) if they are not willing to use the provided licenses at the University of Sydney.

Site visit guidelines

Students are required to fully comply with the safety rules implemented by the University of Sydney, including covid safety requirements, when taking part in campus tutorial classes.

Work, health and safety

Students are required to fully comply with the safety rules implemented by the University of Sydney, including covid safety requirements, when taking part in campus tutorial classes.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Site visit guidelines

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

CIVL3811: Engineering Design and Construction

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Site visit guidelines

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect