CE3DCT: Digital Technology use in Construction

Module code: CE3DCT

Module provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Dragana Nikolic, email: d.nikolic@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Digital technologies rapidly change the way we build, manage, and interact with facilities and the built environment. Life cycle information modelling of built facilities offers exciting new opportunities for their integrated delivery and management. However, technological advances also bring numerous challenges and social resistance to change. This module will explore how digital technologies and collaborative information modelling and management initiatives, such as those promoted by the UK BIM agenda and international standards shape construction; what difficulties project teams are facing; and in this process expose students to some common technology- and process-related implementation challenges they will face in the industry.

Students will learn about the concept of building information modelling (BIM) as a collaborative information management process supported and shaped by a range of digital tools, and the common considerations of interoperability, information exchanges and life cycle management. Please note that while this module will expose students to some digital tools and technologies, the emphasis is on the issues related to information management and planning the process for BIM-supported project delivery.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Identify and use different types of digital technologies appropriate to professional work within a collaborative project team using BIM; and understand the main principles, methods and procedures of collaborative production and information management outlined by the UK and international (ISO) BIM standards;
2. Apply structured processes to create, share and manage project information informed by BIM standards and protocols, such as ISO19650 series;
3. Explain drivers and steps for BIM implementation procedures outlined by the standards and guideline documents both in the UK and internationally;
4. Explain interoperability and the rationale for using open standards such as IFC and COBie; and make recommendations about the implementation of BIM and digital technologies, and how they are changing and challenging the delivery of projects.

Module content

• Types of digital technologies for design, construction, and operations and their key features;
• Concepts of interoperability and open BIM formats (IFC, COBie);
• BIM as a structured collaborative project information delivery process;
• Standards and guidelines used for planning a BIM-compliant project delivery (e.g. BS1192, ISO19650, BIM Execution Planning Guides, etc.);
• Advanced collaborative and interactive technologies for stakeholder engagement;
• The potential practical, socio-technical, economical, and organisational issues related to the implementation of digital technologies on construction projects.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This course will combine lectures, guest speakers, demonstrations, in-class discussion, hands-on projects, and presentations. Hands-on practical work will introduce students to the range of applications used on construction projects covered in lectures. This work will take place in the Visualization Laboratory featuring three screens and an array of visualization technologies such as VR headsets.

Study hours

At least 18 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Feedback on the group work will be provided during scheduled class consultation sessions and individual team appointments. 

Reassessment

Additional costs