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Unit outline_

CIVL5531: Advanced Integrated Building Engineering

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Students are exposed to advanced design methodologies that underpin integrated building engineering. The Unit of Study is articulated in the following four components. Selected cased studies are presented in the initial part of the Unit of Study to introduce some of the key design challenges in dealing with structural projects with complex geometries and joints, for which efficient structural arrangements and details can support cost-effective solutions and have a positive effect on other building functionalities. In the second part of the Unit of Study, students will be introduced to available design methodologies and technologies that enable the embedment of a wide range of functionalities within the structural building components, therefore supporting a holistic approach to the building design. Particular attention will be given to the influence of different structural typologies and construction materials on the expected performance of the buildings and how this is perceived by occupants. Current technology available to constantly monitor the building structural performance will also be covered. These considerations will be covered focusing on the different design stages, from conceptual to final design, and the associated documentation. Students will be exposed in the third part of the Unit of Study to current technology available to mitigate urban overheating when considering the design of buildings. Particular attention will be devoted to available engineering solutions that could be installed in buildings and that could find wider applicability in future developments for urban overheating mitigation strategies. In the last part of the Unit of Study, optimisation techniques will be outlined and utilised to investigate the influence of key design parameters on complex structural systems. Sensitivity analyses will be performed to explore the impact of design parameters on the final design, with particular attention devoted to the detailing and arrangement of structural joints. Students will also be exposed to latest trends in building engineering design that support integrated approaches from conceptual to final design stages.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Civil Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

CIVL1900 Introduction to Civil Engineering and CIVL2110 Materials and CIVL2201 Structural Mechanics and MATH2061 Linear Mathematics and Vector Calculus and (CIVL3511 Introduction to Integrated Building Engineering or CIVL9511 Introduction to Integrated Building Engineering)

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Gianluca Ranzi, gianluca.ranzi@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Take-home short release) Type D final exam Final exam
Questions and answers
30% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO8 LO9 LO10
Assignment Assignment 1
Questions and answers.
15% Week 05 5-15 pages / 10 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
In-semester test (Take-home short release) Type D in-semester exam In-semester test
Questions and answers
25% Week 08
Due date: 12 Apr 2022 at 15:00

Closing date: 12 Apr 2022
80 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Assignment group assignment Assignment 2
Questions and answers. Presentation.
30% Week 12 10-30 pages / 20 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
group assignment = group assignment ?
Type D final exam = Type D final exam ?
Type D in-semester exam = Type D in-semester exam ?

Assessment summary

- Mid-semester Test in Canvas.

- Submission of assignments 1 and 2 in Canvas.

- Final exam managed by the Exam Office

Assessment criteria

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85-100

Have a thorough understanding of the concepts in this Unit of Study and are able to apply these concepts to new problems

Distinction

75-84

Increasing understanding and abstractions

Credit

65-74

Increasing understanding and abstractions

Pass

50-64

Are able to apply the analysis and design approaches covered in this Unit of Study to basic problems

Fail

0-49

Have no understanding of the concepts covered in this Unit of Study and are not able to solve basic problems

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:

Late penalties: (i) 10% per day of full mark of assignment; (ii) late penalties for quizzes to be managed in accordance with University policies and (iii) late penalties for final exam to be managed in accordance with University policies.

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.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Revision of key concepts at the basis of integrated engineering analysis and design of buildings. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO4 LO5 LO9 LO10
Week 02 Key design challenges and identification of design requirements for complex building systems. Role of project stakeholders in defining the requirements. Presentation of selected case studies. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO8
Week 03 Introduction to the structural and thermal performance of buildings. Structural analysis and design of complex joints and systems. Introduction of the project-based assignment. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7 LO9 LO10
Week 04 Structural analysis and design of complex joints and systems. Considerations for the fabrication, erection and construction of the joints for cost-effective solutions. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7 LO9 LO10
Week 05 The importance of a holistic engineering design approach. Overview of the influence of specifying different structural typologies and construction materials concepts on the possible energy consumption and comfort in a building. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 06 From conceptual design to final design. Opportunities of digital information flow. Overview of selected case studies to demonstrate growing use of digital technologies to enhance design efficiencies and quality control. Outline of available monitoring strategies implemented in current projects to verify the design assumptions of complex buildings and, when required, to specify adjustments during construction (e.g. deformations and/or shortening of members and components due to the time-dependent Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 07 From conceptual design to final design: presentation of selected case studies to illustrate the design stages from conceptual to final design and the associated documentation. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO3 LO4 LO6 LO7 LO9 LO10
Week 08 Presentation of selected case studies to illustrate the design stages from conceptual to final design and the associated documentation. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO3 LO4 LO6 LO7 LO9 LO10
Week 09 Introduction to prefabricated construction. Introduction to urban overheating and climate change, and how these will affect the design of buildings. Presentation of selected case studies. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO4 LO5 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 10 Role of buildings for mitigating urban heat island effects. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 11 Role of buildings for mitigating urban heat island effects (continued). Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 12 Sensitivity studies and optimisation techniques applied to the design of complex building systems. Overview of the influence of selected structural design parameters. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO6 LO9 LO10
Week 13 Revision for final exam. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO7 LO9 LO10

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.

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.

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

  • LO1. Demonstrate written, oral and graphical communication skills at professional engineering standard including capacity to justify an engineering position
  • LO2. Develop team skills through the completion of a project-based assignment
  • LO3. Evaluate & synthesise a wide range of resources demonstrating research skills & ability to work across disciplines
  • LO4. Design of building components based on integrated design approach
  • LO5. Carry out analysis of building components to determine their performance from a structural and thermal viewpoint as well as to evaluate their functionalities
  • LO6. Perform optimisation analysis to identify better performing designs among available options
  • LO7. Evaluate and compare the results of computer analyses with those obtained by hand calculations
  • LO8. Address complex problems requiring interdisciplinary approaches amd solutions
  • LO9. Apply the fundamental methods of analysis
  • LO10. Derive analytical solutions for simple scenarios related to building components

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
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

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

This is the first time this unit has been offered.

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.