Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

1. To provide a high-quality educational experience that develops and sustains students' knowledge about design, delivery and maintenance of civil infrastructure;
2. To promote students’ skills relating to collaborative design and project management of complex infrastructure projects;
3. To provide students with advanced knowledge and skills on modelling and new technologies to optimise the design and management of infrastructure projects.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external and internal reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

Programme outcomes were defined taking into account: 

• Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) (2014) Part A: Setting and Maintaining Academic Standards: The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies, QAA, Gloucester.
• Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) (2015) Subject Benchmark Statement: Engineering, QAA, Gloucester
• Engineering Council (2014) The Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes: UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competencies, The Engineering Council,
• Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) (2015) Characteristics Statement: Master's Degree.
• JBM guidelines for developing degree programmes;
• JBM Technical/Non-Technical Guidelines for MSc - Progression from IEng to CEng July 2018

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of: 

1. Types of infrastructure and their interdependencies
2. Constraints and implications for stakeholders in the value chain
3. Current practice and emerging technologies for the delivery and maintenance of infrastructure
4. Mathematical and computational models for the design and management of infrastructure
5. Fundamentals of research methods and research processes

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: 

1. Evaluate constraints and stages involved in infrastructure projects
2. Analyse and choose technical solutions compatible with constraints for infrastructure delivery and maintenance
3. Critically assess the social, economic and environmental implications of infrastructure projects
4. Evaluate positive and negative synergies between adjacent infrastructure during design, delivery and maintenance
5. Apply advanced technical solutions to enhance the resilience of infrastructure facing demand or environmental change

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: 

1. Design processes and technical solutions to enhance performance and durability of infrastructure
2. Apply computer programmes and tools for the design and management of infrastructure projects
3. Apply methods and predictive models to assess the current and future state of infrastructure
4. Apply technical solutions to reduce capital and health and safety risks in infrastructure projects
5. Compare infrastructure maintenance strategies taking constraints into account

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:  

1. Communicate technical concepts and ideas in the context of infrastructure design, delivery and maintenance using a variety of media
2. Collect and critically analyse data needed for infrastructure design, delivery and maintenance
3. Synthesise information from the literature and from their research
4. Work in teams, devising co-operative strategies and contributing to achieve planned goals
5. Manage their time and effort in individual and group activities

4. Programme structure

OUTLINE STRUCTURE FOR FULL-TIME STUDENTS 

Semester 1  

Compulsory Modules (60 credits) 

 Semester 2 

Compulsory Modules (45 credits)

Optional modules (Students should select one module (15 credits) subject to availability and timetabling)

Semester 1, Semester 2 and Semester 3 

Compulsory Module (60 credits)

OUTLINE STRUCTURE FOR PART-TIME STUDENTS 

YEAR 1

Semester 1 

Compulsory Modules (30 credits)

Semester 2 

Compulsory Modules (15 credits)

Optional Modules (Students should select one module (15 credits) subject to timetabling)

 YEAR 2

Semester 1 

Compulsory Modules (30 credits)

Semester 2 

Compulsory Modules (30 credits)

Semester 1,  Semester 2 and Semester 3

Compulsory Module (60 credits)

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements set out in Regulation XXI.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the purposes of Final Degree Classification

Not applicable.

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

The aims of the programme are to introduce and explore the Intelligent Transport Systems concepts within a real-world context through the application and development of: a range of technologies; advanced approaches to collecting and managing large and multi-faceted datasets; state-of-the-art techniques for modelling and presenting data, for example machine learning, artificial intelligence, data visualisation and simulation; and cutting-edge research and problem-solving methods.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external and internal reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

There is no nationally agreed subject benchmark statement for transport programmes.  The external and internal benchmark standards which have been devised are based on the relevant accreditation requirements of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, the professional body with chartered status (See https://ciltuk.org.uk/PD/Accreditation), the 3rd Edition of the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (SPEC) (see https://www.engc.org.uk/ukspec.aspx), and the QAA Characteristics Statement of Master’s Degrees (see https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/quality-code/master's-degree-characteristics-statement8019abbe03dc611ba4caff140043ed24.pdf?sfvrsn=86c5ca81_12).

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of… 

K1: The concept of Intelligent Transport Systems and the economic, social and environmental issues associated with its development in a variety of real-world contexts. 

K2: New transport and related technologies driving the shift towards a more intelligent mobility future given specific political, legal and institutional constraints. 

K3: State-of-the-art approaches to the collection, storage and management of primary and secondary data, including so-called ‘big data’, appropriate for use by Intelligent Transport Systems. 

K4: Emergent approaches to the analysis and presentation of primary and secondary data including machine learning, artificial intelligence, simulation and visualisation techniques appropriate for use by Intelligent Transport Systems. 

K5: Suitable research and ethical and data management processes applicable to Intelligent Transport Systems-related topic areas.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: 

C1: From a range of disciplinary perspectives, critically assess the evolution and operation of Intelligent Transport Systems in practice. 

C2: Identify and critically evaluate innovative emergent technologies in addressing major transport issues and their economic, social and environmental impacts on society. 

C3: Select, justify and apply appropriate methods to collect and manage large and multi-faceted datasets suitable for analysis by state-of-the-art machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques. 

C4: Develop and critically evaluate state-of-the-art data modelling, simulation and visualisation techniques within an Intelligent Transport Systems context. 

C5: Critique and implement suitable research designs appropriate for investigating Intelligent Transport System-related challenges.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: 

P1: Identify and evaluate situations experiencing transport-related issues, and formulate alternative strategies for addressing them whilst taking account of the needs of stakeholders and the wider context. 

P2: Design, apply and critique an appropriate Intelligent Transport Systems technology to solve a real-world problem. 

P3: Formulate and implement an appropriate strategy for collecting and managing data within an Intelligent Transport Systems context. 

P4: Apply appropriate data analysis techniques and present informed judgements as to the associated outputs. 

P5: Develop and undertake an original piece of research on an Intelligent Transport System-related topic.

c. Key transferable skills:

T1: Demonstrate problem solving abilities both individually and within a group context, and show self-reflection in these activities. 

T2: Design and critique appropriate technological solutions, taking account of socio-economic, political, legal and institutional circumstances. 

T3: Source and critically assess the quality of available data. 

T4: Communicate complex arguments to a range of audiences, verbally, visually and in the written form using a range of media. 

T5: Plan and manage a project to completion within schedule and resource availability.

4. Programme structure

OUTLINE STRUCTURE FOR FULL-TIME STUDENTS  

Semester 1  

Compulsory Modules (60 credits) 

Semester 2  

Compulsory Modules (30 credits) 

Optional modules (Students should select a module or modules to the value of 30 credits)

Semester 1, Semester 2 and Semester 3

Compulsory Module (60 credits)

OUTLINE STRUCTURE FOR PART-TIME STUDENTS

YEAR 1

Semester 1 

Compulsory Modules (30 credits) 

Semester 2 

Compulsory Modules (30 credits) 

YEAR 2 

Semester 1 

Compulsory Modules (30 credits) 

Semester 2 

Optional modules (Students should select a module or modules to the value of 30 credits, subject to availability and timetabling)

Semester 1, Semester 2 and Semester 3

Compulsory Module (60 credits) 

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements set out in Regulation XXI.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the purposes of Final Degree Classification

Not applicable.