CIVIL 738 : Construction 4.0: The Future of Construction

Engineering

2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Advanced knowledge in Construction 4.0 and the deployment of related technologies (Internet of Things (IoT) smart construction sites, reality capture tools such as drones, 3D scanning, robotics, visualisation) in engineering and construction projects. Applications of technologies in addressing health and safety, productivity, efficiency and sustainability. Best practices of technology implementation in built environments. Independent research is undertaken in Construction 4.0.

Course Overview

COURSE AIMS:
The Construction Technology and Innovation – the Future of Construction course is designed for postgraduate students with an interest in understanding the emerging technologies and construction methods that revolutionise/transform the way we build our built environment. The purpose of this course is to introduce the modern innovative building and construction techniques, processes and products that have disruptive benefits in the construction and engineering-related disciplines to address construction productivity and sustainability issues. It provides a well-structured, holistic knowledge base for students wanting to learn how these new technologies are used in the construction industry.

PHILOSOPHY:
This short course is designed to provide a high level of introduction to what future construction would look like and what businesses can do to move towards Construction 4.0 for improved productivity and achieving sustainability goals. Course contents are blended with theory, case studies and guest lectures to focus on pragmatic applications of digital technologies, construction method or building system and build students’ implementation and innovative skills in these applications.
Many organisations in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) sector in New Zealand are in the midst of rapid innovation to compensate for many years of falling behind technology revolution. The sector is experiencing a workforce skills crisis that has long been in the making and exacerbated by COVID. As we shift our response to adapt to post-COVID era, organisations must re-position themselves to tackle the skills crisis and sustainability issues head-on.
Construction companies are generating more data than ever before, but only a very small portion is usable. This seems to be challenged by the whole process, from knowing what data to collect, to understand how to effectively manage project data. Construction professionals are looking for tools that streamline every process, from pre-construction, to closeout, by making smart, data-driven decisions.
It's time to instigate innovative interventions beyond the conventional construction strategies and methods to improve efficiency. Looking through the global trends, a large chunk of our building and construction work will be fully automated from technologies that include building information modeling (BIM), prefabrication, wireless sensors, automated and robotic equipment and 3D-printing. Construction will couple itself with the latest technologies in the market on one side and on the other side industry will be more environment responsible for the change it brings across the built environment.

KEY TOPICS
This course aims to share future-focused knowledge to inspire new ways of thinking towards Construction 4.0 – a new paradigm of building and construction. The course is underpinned by research at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Auckland and practice that enable industry leaders and organisations to create impact and success to embark on a transformational journey.

Theme 1 Construction 4.0 – the Future of Construction: To introduce the concept of Construction 4.0 and the eco-system required to support its success. This session provides interactive learning that combines the latest insights with practical frameworks and tools organisations can apply.

Theme 2 Transformation from being labour intensive to data-driven: To introduce several methodologies that construction companies need to embrace on its transformational journey from being labour intensive to data driven and how the data flows can be analysed to improve their workflows. Case studies of academic thought and industry best practice will be used to demonstrate how the intricate data that flows across construction projects and operations promises can be collected and analysed to unlock efficiencies.

Theme 3 Construction robotics and automation: Case studies will show how information from Construction 4.0 supporting technologies can be integrated and monitored for improved downtime reduction, real-time inventory management and improved quality control so that construction (especially those on the supply chain) businesses will gain the knowledge and wisdom that could help transform their businesses.

Theme 4: Construction sustainability and low carbon – the course addresses the innovation challenges faced by the industry in terms of sustainability and compliance. In particular, it will introduce life cycle analysis (LCA) of energy use and carbon calculation and discuss how the construction sector can help with government’s low carbon emission and building for climate change agenda.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the process and components of construction (Capability 3.1, 5.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
  2. Create possible pathways for technology implementation (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 6.1)
  3. Apply the knowledge learned in real construction projects (Capability 3.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
  4. Apply new and emerging technologies to improve construction productivity and sustainability (Capability 4.1, 6.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
  5. Critically evaluate the benefits and challenges associated with building materials and new technologies at an organisational level (Capability 3.2, 4.2, 6.1, 8.1 and 8.2)
  6. Create a prototype for construction automation for offsite construction (Capability 3.1, 4.2, 5.1, 8.1 and 8.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 40% Individual Coursework
Project 40% Group Coursework
Presentation 20% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Assignments
Project
Presentation

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 2 hours of lectures, 1 hour of tutorials, 3 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 4 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation, on average per week.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.

Lectures will be available as recordings.

The course will include live online lectures and live online tutorials.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.


Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

[1] Fleming, E. (2005). Construction Technology: An Illustrated Introduction. Wiley
[2] Allen, E. & Iano, J. (2007). Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and Methods 6th Edition. Wiley
[3] Greeno, R., Chudley R., Hurst M. & Simon, T. (2016). Advanced Construction Technology 5th edition, Pearson Education Limited
[4] Sawhney, A., Riley, R. & Irizarry, J. (Eds) (2020). Construction 4.0: An Innovation Platform for the Built Environment, Routledge
[5] Bock, T. & Linner, T. (2016). Construction Robots: Elementary Technologies and Single-Task Construction Robots. Cambridge University Press
[6] Smith, R. & Timberlake, J. (2010). Prefab Architecture: A Guide to Modular Design and Construction, Wiley
[7] Kibert, C. J. (2012). Sustainable Construction: Green Building Design and Delivery 3rd Edition. Wiley

Health & Safety

Health and safety induction will be given by the lab manager before any potential entry of the labs. Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

No changes

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

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Published on 05/11/2023 07:44 a.m.