MSc Sustainable Design and Construction degree

This module will use building information modelling (BIM) to design and manage the whole life cycle performance of complex intelligent buildings. You will develop team skills through working in design groups to understand resilient design and to generate schematic concepts before developing the best. You will also work with 3D architectural and engineering BIM models using appropriate software to further develop your concepts individually.

Module content will cover resilient design and design detailing to minimise repairs, disruption and potential health and safety risks, as well as balancing costs, functionality and performance, quality and the visual perception of a building in delivering best value. You will also explore cradle to cradle life-cycle processes, achieving greater integration of the design, manufacture and construction processes, and extend such integration through the life-cycle to span facilities management, mid-life upgrades and ultimate disposal, and reuse. The module will also consider the appropriate levels of design development corresponding to key RIBA work stages, the use of BIM as a technique for clash detection and the evaluation of buildability, maintenance and replacement of components, and the interoperability and limitations of BIM in relation to building performance modelling.

This module will familiarise you with and provide an understanding of the wide range of research methods and skills needed to investigate, understand, communicate and execute a research project.

You will plan a research project, including identifying the knowledge gap, framing the research question, identifying objectives and how they will be achieved, and recognising potential risks, the likelihood of them occuring and effective techniques to minimise risk.

You will review journal and conference papers, analysing, interpreting and critiquing the research approaches and methods. The module will also allow you to develop skills in quantitative and qualitative research methods, understand their applicability, and develop data analysis/visualistation techniques and tools.

Topics studied may include:

• research process
• research approaches
• research designs
• research methods (qualitative and quantitative)
• research philosophy and methodology
• critical analysis and literature reviews
• data analysis techniques
• research ethics.

This module will provide you with the fundamental principles of managing a project during the design and construction phases. You will explore the importance of managing the design process, the design and construction of framed buildings, the role and principles of estimating and tendering, and of planning construction projects, and the importance of health and safety in relation to design and construction activities.

Module content will explore the role of design in relation to construction, evaluate frame design problems, critically evaluate a project estimate, project programme, and identify the key health and safety risks on construction projects.

This module will give you an understanding of the theories, principles and practice of sustainable design and construction. It will also introduce you to the main requirements, tools, technologies, methods, processes and systems required to develop a sustainable building.

Topics studies may include:

• an introduction to sustainable development
• sustainable development goals
• conceptual and theoretical sustainability frameworks
• sustainability and corporate social responsibility
• sustainable design and construction principles and strategies
• sustainability assessment schemes.

This module will provide you with experience of the process and methodology of research by defining and studying (on an individual basis) a complex problem in a specialised area of sustainable design and construction. You will develop a knowledge and understanding of the state-of-the-art of your chosen field of research, as well as of ethical issues in research, the impact of research studies on others and the associated psychological and reputational risk implications. 

The project will be driven by you with tutoring/research and reporting/training from your allocated supervisor.

This module will give you an understanding of the application of automatic control and smart meters in energy monitoring and commissioning. You will also examine the control problems in buildings and develop control strategies that will improve thermal comfort and building energy use.

Topics studied may include:

• local loop control (including proportional–integral–derivative [PID] control and sequencing of component operation)
• final control elements
• supervisory control (including optimum start control, control of natural ventilation and night cooling strategies)
• smart meters
• model predictive control (MPC)
• building energy management system (BEMS)
• commissioning of mechanical and passive systems
• 3M-monitoring
• maintenance and management
• fault detection
• soft landings
• post-occupancy evaluation (POE).

Topics studied may include:

• context: climate change, projected scenarios and adaptation, legislation and regulations
• process: building lifecycle, design process and procurement, engineering ethics and risk awareness
• principles: climate responsive design and low and zero carbon technologies and strategies
• assessments: climate analysis, carbon footprint, environmental assessment and lifecycle analysis
• decision-making: optimisation and risk-based decision-making, sensitivity analysis.

This module will provide you with experience of the process and methodology of research by defining and studying (on an individual basis) a complex problem in a specialised area of sustainable design and construction. You will develop a knowledge and understanding of the state-of-the-art of your chosen field of research, as well as of ethical issues in research, the impact of research studies on others and the associated psychological and reputational risk implications. 

The project will be driven by you with tutoring/research and reporting/training from your allocated supervisor.

This module will develop your understanding of the principles of design management and techniques for cost and value management. On completion of the module, you will be able to use process mapping techniques for design, analyse and optimise the design process and critique conceptual design alternatives and design plans. You will also develop an understanding of the internal workings of a design office and their relationship with the construction team.

Topics studied may include:

• managing the design team
• value management
• briefing
• roles and workings of conceptual, schematic and detail design phases
• process protocol
• process mapping techniques
• dependence structure matrix
• design economics.

This module will develop your knowledge of cutting-edge contemporary management concepts and innovations and how these contribute to successful construction projects, including the management of risk and construction logistics.

Topics studied may include:

• site strategy
• risk management
• innovation
• building process
• off-site production
• logistics.

The creation, deployment and use of aggregated and integrated (levels 2 and 3) models are key goals of collaboration through Building Information Modelling (BIM). This module will give you hands-on practical skills on the use of BIM technologies (i.e. design software and collaboration tools) for real-time collaboration of federated/aggregated 3D BIM models. The theories of group working, workspace awareness and shared situational awareness within design teams/processes will be explored.

Topics studied may include:

• theory of group working
• collaboration processes and technologies
• aggregated BIM models containing various specialty 3D content (architecture, structures, and MEP)
• coordination of BIM models based on client brief, site conditions, cost targets, time constraints and code compliance
• real-time collaboration
• clash detection/avoidance
• BIM data standards and protocols
• common data environments.

This module will provide you with experience of the process and methodology of research by defining and studying (on an individual basis) a complex problem in a specialised area of sustainable design and construction. You will develop a knowledge and understanding of the state-of-the-art of your chosen field of research, as well as of ethical issues in research, the impact of research studies on others and the associated psychological and reputational risk implications. 

The project will be driven by you with tutoring/research and reporting/training from your allocated supervisor.