Civil Engineering and Management MSc

This module is designed to introduce digital technologies used in the built asset life cycle, namely in building or built infrastructure’s planning/design, pre-construction, procurement, construction, and post-construction.

This module provides an in-depth understanding of digital technologies and construction-related information modelling in the built environment context. The module will cover the concepts, principles, standards, adoptions and implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM), Digital Twins (DTs), Smart Sensor (e.g., Internet of Things (IoT)), construction automation and robotic systems, digital built asset and project management (costing, planning and control), machine learning, remote sensing technologies and blockchain and distributed ledgers and wearable technologies. Students will learn how digital construction has revolutionised the construction industry and how BIM and its closely related digital technologies are used as tools for the realisation of the construction industry 4.0. Students will also learn about BIM software, collaboration techniques, project delivery methods, and related basic programming skills.

The module is designed to introduce both more conventional and emerging concepts in project management in civil engineering and construction.

The module is designed to introduce both more conventional and emerging concepts in project management in civil engineering and construction. To this end, more conventional topics such as: key concepts of project management, project life cycle, project stages and scope, management theories, organisational design and behaviour, project teams, conflict management, motivation, and leadership, project governance and stakeholder management, business strategy and investment appraisal, procurement and contracts, project risk management, project scheduling and monitoring, and health and safety management will be covered. Alongside these topics, emerging concepts such as lean management in civil engineering and construction and value management will also be covered. Practical implications of civil engineering project management theories and tools will be discussed with real life examples.

The module will introduce basic corporate finance concepts, including the time value of money, financial markets, shares and bonds, financial risk and return, raising money, and the elements of investment.

The aim of this module is to examine the fundamental principles of marketing management. Specifically, introduce the concept of marketing as an approach to business, discuss the nature of marketing strategy, investigate the challenges of managing the marketing mix, and illustrate how understanding and application of the principles of marketing can assist in the strategic management of the firm.

Topics include:

• What is Marketing? The Marketing Environment.
• Consumer Behaviour
• Research and Insight
• Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning
• Products and Innovation
• Pricing
• Channels and Partnerships
• Communication and Promotion
• Strategy and Planning
• Relationships and Responsibility

To introduce the context, terminology and essential techniques of accounting.

This will include the following:

• Considering the uses of accounting both internally to the business and externally
• Financial statement analysis
• The raising of finance
• Cost accumulation
• Information for decision making
• Managerial accounting for planning, control and performance measurement.

This module introduces important aspects affecting the professional practice of Civil Engineering including sustainability, environmental impact, quality management, continuous improvement and management principles. It will also develop knowledge and skills that will be used in the summer project, including writing a literature review and how to critically review your own and others’ writing.

This is the major project element for all MSc plans in the Department of Civil Engineering. It will normally take the form of an in-depth investigation, whether it involves experimentation or an extensive review of work already completed by others. Typically, but not exclusively, it will include the following:

• Project definition and aim
• Literature review
• Practical experimentation / investigation
• Presentation of results
• Critical analysis of findings

The detailed technical content of the module will depend on the specific area under examination. Assessment is based on submission of a report (typically 10,000 to 20,000 words) which covers the above elements.

The project area is flexible and will be supervised by an academic member of staff.

Previous research projects have included:

• Weather impact on construction schedules
• Predicted future climate change trends
• The use and abuse of GPS in current UK survey practices
• The utilization of laser scanning system for examination and monitoring of tunnel deformation and structural integrity
• Life cycle assessment of the M25 highway widening scheme

This is a compulsory course for all students studying an MSc in the Department of Civil Engineering. The course provides an introduction into important aspects affecting the professional practice of Civil Engineering and facilitates the development of knowledge and skills that will be used in the summer project, including literature review and writing skills, and developing a proposal for the activities to be conducted in the summer. 

The module will incorporate a mixture of learning environments/resources, including one-on-one tuition with personal tutors to formulate ideas and plans related to the summer project, classroom activities focused on resources relating to writing a literature review and how to critically review others’ as well as one’s own writing, and three 2-week workshops which provide knowledge in aspects that are important within the context of the professional practice of Civil Engineering.

This module is designed to deliver an understanding of sustainability principles and how, in particular, transport infrastructure engineering as well as the wider construction industry can contribute to sustainable development.

The module will include the following themes:

• Sustainability: an introduction to sustainability, sustainable development; sustainable construction; and how transport infrastructure engineering can contribute to sustainable construction.
• Environmental impacts of infrastructure construction: a review of the positive and negative environmental impacts of construction including resources and waste and energy and climate change.
• Social impacts of infrastructure construction: a review of the positive and negative social impacts of construction including; corporate social responsibility, responsible sourcing, poverty reduction and sustainable development goals.
• Assessment: indicators, assessment systems, environmental life-cycle assessment, life-cycle cost analysis.

Delivery

Assessment method

Sustainable companies are those that are managed in socially, economically, and ecologically responsible ways. Today's managers are expected to understand the impact of management decisions and practices on the environment and society.

This module considers how sustainability principles are applied in organisations, and how to manage for sustainability. Through use of multiple learning approaches, the module enables you to practically interact with real businesses to address some sustainability challenges faced by the organisation.

The module introduces the you to frameworks and theories use to critically assess sustainability, and to integrate sustainability into the business strategy.

The module enables you to develop an understanding of the practical dilemmas facing businesses as they seek to respond to multiple, and often, conflicting stakeholders expectations. You will be expected to critically reflect upon your practical experiences and capture these using a learning journal.

The module covers:

• Strategic sourcing concepts
• Supplier management
• Supplier segmentation
• Category management
• Negotiation
• Retail buying
• Services sourcing
• Compliance
• Sustainability
• Procurement organisation

The module covers:

• Strategic analysis
• Industry analysis
• Positioning
• Creating and sustaining competitive advantage
• Diversification
• Strategic decision making
• Strategy practice and implementation
• Strategy and organisation
• Strategic leadership

We hope that the module will enable you to make sense of some of the different perspectives that exist and understand their strengths and limitations when applied in the modern business environment. We will try to address various questions in this environment:

• Can all risks be identified?
• Can all risks be managed?
• Should all risks be managed?
• If not, how do we decide which should be ignored and which managed?
• How can risk, in particular financial risk, be measured?
• What techniques of risk management are available and what are their strengths and weaknesses?
• How can the risk management process be structured and planned?

The intricacies of managing the human resources within the business context are developed in this module. It examines processes, practices, and procedures associated with HRM management and administration that an employer/manager needs to be familiar with, and analyses the current best practice in the HR function.