Skip to main content
Unit outline_

CIVL3511: Basics of Integrated Building Engineering

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Remote

Students will gain insight into the framework that underpins integrated engineering principles applied for the design of structures and buildings. The Unit of Study is articulated in the following three components. In the initial part of this Unit of Study, students will be exposed to selected case studies that highlight the engineering design requirements, including serviceability and limit state design criteria, that buildings of different structural typologies and construction materials need to satisfy. Case studies considered are representative of current trends in the construction sector. In the second part of the Unit of Study, students will be introduced to typical engineering design methodologies and how these vary depending on the level of sophistication required in the analysis and design, and on the expected design and construction phases of a project. Particular attention will be devoted to concrete, steel and modular construction. Optimisation techniques will be introduced and applied in the third part of the Unit of Study to simple geometries to explore the effects of different design parameters and to identify suitable integrated engineering designs among available solutions.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Civil Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

CIVL1900 Introduction to Civil Engineering and CIVL2110 Materials and CIVL2201 Structural Mechanics and MATH2061 Linear Mathematics and Vector Calculus

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Gianluca Ranzi, gianluca.ranzi@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Gianluca Ranzi, gianluca.ranzi@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Supervised exam
? 
Final exam
Questions and answers (see Assessment Summary).
30% Formal exam period 1.5 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO8 LO9 LO10
Assignment Assignment 1
Questions and answers (see Assessment Summary).
20% Week 06
Due date: 31 Mar 2023 at 11:59
8-16 pages / 14 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO4 LO7 LO9 LO10
Supervised test
? 
Mid-semester exam
Questions and answers (see Assessment Summary).
25% Week 08
Due date: 18 Apr 2023 at 10:10

Closing date: 18 Apr 2023
1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Assignment group assignment Assignment 2
Questions and answers. Recorded presentation (see Assessment Summary).
25% Week 12
Due date: 19 May 2023 at 11:59
10-20 pages / 18 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

- Submission of assignment 1 in Canvas.

- Submission of assignment 2 in Canvas.

- In-person mid-semester exam for CC students. Live+ ProctorU Canvas quiz for RE students.

- In-person final exam managed by the Exam Office for CC students. Live+ ProctorU Canvas quiz for RE students.

Assessment criteria

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85-100

Have a thorough understanding of the concepts in this Unit of Study and are able to apply these concepts to new problems

Distinction

75-84

Increasing understanding and abstractions

Credit

65-74

Increasing understanding and abstractions

Pass

50-64

Are able to apply the analysis and design approaches covered in this Unit of Study to basic problems

Fail

0-49

Have no understanding of the concepts covered in this Unit of Study and are not able to solve basic problems

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Late penalties: (i) 10% per day of full mark of assignment; (ii) late penalties for mid-semester exam to be managed in accordance with University policies and (iii) late penalties for final exam to be managed in accordance with University policies.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to integrated engineering design approach and oultine of selected case study. Review of analysis material useful for this UoS. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO4 LO5 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 02 Requirements for an integrated engineering design of buildings. Structural building typologies. Overview of different stakeholders usually involved in the definition of these requirements. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO4 LO5 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 03 Overview of different stakeholders usually involved in the definition of these requirements (continued). Considerations on construction materials and their influence on the structural and thermal response of building components. Serviceability and ultimate limit state design criteria. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO4 LO5 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 04 Design procedures for serviceability and ultimate limit state design in the context of floor design and how these influence an integrated design approach. Introduction to the analysis and design methodologies and the need for different levels of refinement. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO4 LO5 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 05 Introduction to thermal comfort. Influence of the thermal response of building components on indoor conditions. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO4 LO5 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 06 Influence of the thermal response of building components on indoor conditions (continued). Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 07 Analysis and design considerations to enhance indoor conditions. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO4 LO5 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 08 Mid-semester exam. Review of material covered. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO4 LO5 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 09 Review of material for assignment 2. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 10 Introduction to optimisation techniques. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 11 Sensitivity studies and optimisation techniques applied to the integrated engineering design of buildings. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 12 Evaluation of how different design parameters influence the engineering design. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Week 13 Revision for final exam. Lecture and tutorial (4 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Demonstrate written, oral and graphical communication skills at professional engineering standard including capacity to justify an engineering position.
  • LO2. Develop team skills through the completion of a project-based assignment
  • LO3. Evaluate & synthesise a wide range of resources demonstrating research skills & ability to work across disciplines
  • LO4. Design of building components based on integrated design approach
  • LO5. Carry out analysis of building components to determine their performance from a structural and thermal viewpoint as well as to evaluate their functionalities
  • LO6. Perform optimisation analysis to identify better performing designs among available options
  • LO7. Evaluate and compare the results of computer analyses with those obtained by hand calculations
  • LO8. Address complex problems requiring interdisciplinary approaches amd solutions
  • LO9. Apply the fundamental methods of analysis
  • LO10. Derive analytical solutions for simple scenarios related to building components

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

UoS content material has been updated. Tutorial room has been changed to encourage more interactions during tutorial sessions.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.