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CVEN40690

Academic Year 2024/2025

Civil Engineering Systems (CVEN40690)

Subject:
Civil Engineering
College:
Engineering & Architecture
School:
Civil Engineering
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr David AYALA CABRERA
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

A selection of topics under the following headings...

1. Introduction to Systems Analysis.

2. Decision makers and their objectives

3. Assessment criteria,

4. Generation of alternative solutions

5. Computer Modelling and Simulation.

6. Optimisation

7. Multi-criterion decision analysis (MCDA)

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of the course a student will be able to;

1. Understand how broad engineering design decisions should be made
2. Appreciate the wide range of factors and of possible decision makers and stakeholders whose opinions influence a decision
3. Construct robust and appropriate criteria for assessing design alternatives
4. Construct extensive lists of possible alternative solutions for a given design problem
5. Construct and implement simple models of dynamical systems representing design alternatives from verbal descriptions to quantitative predictions of performance
6. Calculate optimal solutions to design optimisation problems using both linear and nonlinear methods as applicable
7. Choose and apply the appropriate multi-criteria decision method to select the best solutions in multi-criteria cases
8. Understand when the tools of systems analysis are appropriate and have the confidence to apply them.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

110

Lectures

30

Tutorial

4

Total

144


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
active/task-based learning;
peer and group work;
lectures;
critical writing;

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Assignment Week 12 Graded No
30
No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: MCQ type test Week 8 Graded No
10
No
Exam (In-person): Exam End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
Graded No
60
No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

de Neufville, Richard (1990) Applied Systems Analysis: Engineering Planning and Technology Management. McGraw-Hill, Inc; New York, New York, USA. 470 pp.
(see, https://web.mit.edu/ardent/www/ASA_Text/asa_Text_index.html)

Forrester, Jay W. (1968) Principles of Systems. (2nd ed.).
Waltham, MA: Pegasus Communications. 391 pp.

Benjamin, J.R. & Cornell, A.(1970). Probability, Statistics, and Decision for Civil Engineers. McGraw-Hill, New York, 704 pp.

Stark, R. M.; Nichols, R. L. (1972) Mathematical Foundations for Design: Civil Engineering Systems. McGraw-Hill, Burr Ridge, IL, U.S.A., 256 pp.

Rogers, M.G., Bruen, M. & Maystre, L-Y (1999), ELECTRE and Decision Support : Methods and Applications in Engineering and Infrastructure Investment.
Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, 208 pp.

Name Role
Dr David AYALA CABRERA Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Michael Bruen Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Fri 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Mon 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Tues 13:00 - 13:50