Course Details
Course Information Package
| Course Unit Title | CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY | ||||||
| Course Unit Code | ACEC200 | ||||||
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| Number of ECTS credits allocated | 5 | ||||||
| Learning Outcomes of the course unit | By the end of the course, the students should be able to:
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| Mode of Delivery | Face-to-face | ||||||
| Prerequisites | NONE | Co-requisites | NONE | ||||
| Recommended optional program components | NONE | ||||||
| Course Contents | Introduction: Describe the building team members and their roles on a construction project and explain that buildings are constructed dependant on certain factors such as cost, time, quality and the clients’ requirements. Emphasize the need to look at the various construction methods and techniques available for selection and explain that the correct use of construction technology leads to efficient and effective management of projects. Foundations: Describe the reasons and the importance of ascertaining the load-bearing capacity and pressure soils and sub-soils have on a site and the relevance and necessity of undertaking soil investigations. Describe the different types of soils found such as rock, gravel, silt, clay, etc. Explain the various forms of simple shallow foundations, such as traditional strip, trench fill and raft foundations, describe their respective advantages and disadvantages and explain where best each system is used. Explain the various forms of simple but deep foundations, such as bored and driven piles, describe their respective advantages and disadvantages and explain where best each system is used. Floors: Explain the various forms of timber and concrete ground floor construction. Explain the reasons for having raised floors in certain instances and describe the advantages and disadvantages of each type of ground floor systems used. Explain the various forms of timber and concrete upper floor construction and describe the advantages and disadvantages of each type of upper floor systems used. External Envelope: Describe the various forms of finishes used in external facades such as curtain walling, glazing, marble and stone. Explain the various forms of external solid brick walls describing the methods of construction in terms of bonds used (English bond, Flemish bond, etc.). Describe the problems with such walls and the introduction of the cavity wall whereby a cavity separates two skins of wall, the outer and inner skin. Explain how the cavity wall system works and what are its advantages and disadvantages. Describe the various forms of thermal and sound insulation that can be used in external facade wall systems and external brick/block walls. Roofs: Explain the various forms of pitched roofs and the methods of their construction. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of trussed rafters versus traditional roof construction, the materials that can be used and where best each system is best used. Describe the methods of fixing finishes to pitched roofs and the types of tiles that are available such as slates, clay, concrete, etc. Explain the various forms of flat roofs and the methods of their construction. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of timber versus concrete roof construction and where best each system is best used. Describe the methods of fixing finishes to flat roofs and the types of finishes that are available such as asphalt, bitumen felt, etc. Components and Finishes: Describe the various types of doors and windows available for internal and external use and the materials used in their construction. Describe the various types of internal partitioning systems (traditional and manufactured systems) available and the materials commonly used in their construction/composition. Describe the many different shapes and types of staircases available, their components such as treads, risers, handrails, balusters, newel posts, etc. and the materials that are most commonly used in their construction. Describe the different types of in-situ internal and external finishes, explain their respective advantages and disadvantages and where such finishes are best used. Construction Plant and Methods: Describe the different types of plant and equipment commonly found on construction sites and the reasons for their use. Examine how such plant and equipment are selected, in particular tower cranes and scaffolding. | ||||||
| Recommended and/or required reading: | |||||||
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| References |
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| Planned learning activities and teaching methods | The course will be presented through formal theoretical lectures and tutorial sessions in class. Assignments will be given to students to further enhance their knowledge on the subject and for the instructor to ascertain progress made in learning by the students. The lectures will present to the student the course content and also allow time for examples, questions and discussion. Notes shall be taken by the students in class during lectures. In addition, all of the course material will be made available through the class website and also through the university’s own e-learning platform. Finally, the instructor will be available to students during office hours or by appointment in order to provide any necessary tutoring. | ||||||
| Assessment methods and criteria |
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| Language of instruction | English | ||||||
| Work placement(s) | NO | ||||||
