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Programme Specification for Civil Engineering Surveying and Mapping Sciences BSc (Hons)

Final award

BSc (Hons)

Intermediate awards available

 Cert HE, Dip HE

UCAS code

H206

Details of professional body accreditation

  Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors

Relevant QAA Benchmark statements

Construction, Property and Surveying Engineering Geography

Date specification last up-dated

 March 2013

BANNER BOX:

A unique programme in the UK - combining Civil Engineering Surveying with Surveying and Mapping Sciences.

Entry Requirements

240 UCAS Tariff Points or Equivalent

GCSE Mathematics and English Grade C or above

Students who have passed the FdSc Civil Engineering and Construction Management (Surveying Pathway) can enter level 3 of the programme.

Students may be admitted through Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes.

In the case of applicants whose first language is not English, then IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent) is required.  International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education undergraduate programmes.

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

What is Civil Engineering Surveying & Mapping Sciences?

The science of Surveying, also known as Land Surveying or Geomatics, is a specialisation that brings together the collection, processing, analysis, presentation and management of spatial information. This includes the subjects of land surveying, geodesy, photogrammetry, laser scanning, remote sensing, hydrographic surveying, mapping and cadastral surveying alongside the use of geographic information systems (GIS) and software.

Civil Engineering Surveying is an important discipline in the Civil Engineering and Construction sectors where core surveying knowledge is applied in the particular circumstances of the construction environment and is used at all stages of the development process – from initial concept through construction to completion and monitoring.

The Civil Engineering Surveying & Mapping Sciences programme integrates the different threads of the science and application of Geomatics in the professional environment as one programme of study. 

Civil Engineering Surveying & Mapping Sciences at UEL

  • At UEL we have over 60 year’s experience in offering surveying programmes of study.
  • Our programmes are highly regarded by industry and our students usually readily find employment within the surveying or civil engineering sectors.
  • No other UK institution offers a programme in Civil Engineering Surveying & Mapping Sciences.
  • Students have access to a full range of professional surveying equipment and software and use this throughout their studies.
  • At UEL surveying programmes score very highly in the National Student Survey (NSS) and in internal satisfaction surveys. In the 2011 NSS Surveying students recorded 93% overall satisfaction.
  • In the 2010 NSS, in terms of Higher Education satisfaction, Surveying programmes were rated 11% higher than the average at UEL and 4% higher than the National average.

Programme structure

3 year full time or day-release part-time (up-to 2 modules per semester). The programme is modular, and can also be studied as a combined honours programme.

Learning environment

The programme benefits from access to a full range of modern surveying equipment and software and designated laboratory space. Teaching is delivered through formal lectures, tutorials, workshops, problem based learning and laboratory sessions. In more than half of the modules studied at least 50% of the study time is completed in field practical or laboratory classes. Group work is also encouraged in many modules. There is a field scheme in the first year. Site visits to current construction and surveying projects are regularly available throughout the academic year and are often used in the teaching programme.

Assessment

Assessment varies from module to module but will include examinations, coursework, project work, laboratory reports, presentations, and tests of competence in practical sessions.

Work experience/placement opportunities

The School has strong links with industry and employers often approach us when looking for placement / internship students.

Project work

 Throughout your studies you will undertake a number of small projects, usually based on practical work, as part of the module assessment. During the final year of the programme you will be required to complete a final project in the form of independent research and study of a technical subject. This project will be supervised by a member of staff with an interest in the field and will normally include some laboratory work or the analysis of a specific survey problem. The project constitutes one third of the final year of the programme. One module in the final year is based on problem based learning within which students, working in groups, tackle a number of practical projects coming up with solutions based on their own learning and experience.

Added value

All of the modules of study have been designed to match the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES) membership competencies. 

IS THIS THE PROGRAMME FOR ME?

If you are interested in .......

  • Maps
  • Geography
  • Mathematics
  • Computing
  • Working outside

If you enjoy....

  • The challenges of practical work
  • Working in groups
  • Field work
  • Using computers
  • Applying mathematics
  • Solving Problems
  • Construction

If you want....

Variety, working both indoors and outdoors, applying science and technology and a degree with a real practical emphasis geared to meet the needs of employers.

Your future career

Might be in Land or Sea Surveying, Civil Engineering, Construction, Cadastral Surveying, Environmental Assessment, Archaeology or Forensic site investigation. You might work on large or small-scale projects, in project management or in land development activities. Some graduates have moved to careers in business, management and finance.

Students regularly continue their studies on post-graduate programmes at UEL and at other institutions in subjects such as Environmental Management, Geographic Information Science and specialised areas of surveying.

Long- term career potential is good and surveying continues to be a professional skill in demand.

How we support you

Each student is assigned a personal tutor and we meet with you to discuss any issues you may have at regular intervals. We operate a policy where students are encouraged to consult with their Module Leaders and Personal Tutors, Year Tutors and Programme Leader whenever required.

The School facilities include dedicated laboratories and equipment which you are free to use, as long as they are not required for a class! Technical support is readily available.

Employer links are maintained through our Industrial Advisory Board and employers are invited to attend the University to talk to students about careers in Surveying. The professional bodies also visit the University regularly and provide details on their qualification process and the advantages available to members.

Bonus factors

Student Membership of Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors.

A unique programme in the UK based at a London University.

Programme aims and learning outcomes

What is this programme designed to achieve?

This programme is designed to give you the opportunity to:

  • Develop subject knowledge and understanding, subject specific skills and cognitive skills within the spectrum of geomatics. That is in terms of spatial measurement, spatial data - their collection, management and application - particularly with regard to issues of data quality - in a range of disciplines.
  • Appreciate the scientific principles underlying the discipline and an ability to assess the significance of developments in both theory and practice;
  • Develop an appreciation and practical working knowledge of an appropriate range of technologies for the effective, viable and innovative solution of a wide range of spatial problems;
  • Practise the analytical, managerial and professional skills required for entry into professional careers.

What will you learn?

By the end of this programme you will be able to:

Knowledge

  • Demonstrate a clear appreciation of the application and limitations of survey and mapping techniques and new developments in surveying practise for large scale surveys, topographic surveys, engineering surveys, hydrographic surveys, Cadastral Surveys and in specialised areas.
  • Discuss and understand the legislative frameworks of safety, health and the environment along with contract and planning, land ownership, land registration and planning issues;
  • Explain and illustrate the role requirements and responsibilities of the professional surveyor in terms of data collection, analysis and presentation.

Thinking skills

  • Demonstrate ability in mathematical, graphical and computer based processing, analysis and presentation of spatial data.
  •   Recommend appropriate survey and mapping techniques and procedures to be applied in different applications;
  • Research problems and critically reflect on data produced based on the application of current knowledge and innovative solutions.

Subject-Based Practical skills

  • Demonstrate practical competency in the execution, planning and completion of field survey tasks and in the use of field survey equipment, total stations, levels and GNSS.
  • Demonstrate practical competency in the use of other data collection and processing techniques, including laser scanning, photogrammetric and remote sensing sources and their use in two and three dimensional data collection
  • Solve problems and demonstrate and apply understanding of the limitations of data collection, processing, analysis and presentation techniques.
  • Recommend appropriate surveying techniques, error checking and control procedures which can be used in surveying projects;

Skills for life and work (general skills)

  • Demonstrate a scientific approach to research problems and design procedures for the collection and analysis of data;
  • Apply transferable skills and show an appreciation of lifelong learning and continuing professional development
  • Have the ability to communicate effectively and work within project teams.

The programme structure

Introduction

All programmes are credit-rated to help you to understand the amount and level of study that is needed.

One credit is equal to 10 hours of directed study time (this includes everything you do e.g. lecture, seminar and private study).

Credits are assigned to one of 5 levels:

0          equivalent in standard to GCE 'A' level and is intended to prepare students for year one of an undergraduate degree programme
1          equivalent in standard to the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
2          equivalent in standard to the second year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
3          equivalent in standard to the third year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
M         equivalent in standard to a Masters degree

Credit rating

The overall credit-rating of this programme is 360 credits.

Typical duration

The expected duration of this programme is 3 years when attended in full-time mode or 4.5 years in part-time mode.  It is possible to move from a full-time mode of study to a part-time mode of study and vice-versa, to accommodate any external factors such as financial constraints or domestic commitments.  Many of our students make use of this flexibility and this may impact on the overall duration of their study period.

How the teaching year is divided

The teaching year begins in September and ends in June and this programme also allows students to join at the start of Semester B, in February.

A typical student, in full-time attendance mode of study, will register for 120 credits in an academic year. A student in a part-time mode of study may register for up to 80 credits in any academic year.

What you will study when

This programme is part of a modular degree scheme. A student registered in a full-time attendance mode will take six 20 credit modules (or fewer, if any are 40 credit modules)  per year .  An honours degree student will complete modules totalling 120 credits at level one, modules totalling 120 credits  at level 2 and modules totalling 120 credits at level 3.

It is possible to bring together modules from one field with modules from another to produce a combined programme. Subjects are offered in a variety of combinations:

Single            120 credits at levels one, two and three
Major              80 credits at levels one, two and three
Joint               60 credits at levels one, two and three
Minor              40 credits at levels one, two and three.

Level

UEL
Module
Code

Title

Skills
Modules

Credits

Status
Single

Status
Major

Status
Joint

Status
Minor

1

SV1031

Plane Surveying

 

20

C

C

C

C

1

SV1032

Quantitative Methods

 

20

C

C

C

 

1

SV1040

Skills for Surveying

Y

20

C

C

C

 

1

SV1034

Mapping

 

20

C

C

O

C

1

SV1035

Introduction to GIS

 

20

C

 

 

 

1

CE1211

Geomatics and Construction

 

20

C

 

 

 

2

SV2031

Applied IT

 

20

C

 

 

 

2

SV2033

Legal and Regulatory Framework

 

20

O

 

 

 

2

CE2208

Construction Management and Organisation

 

20

O

 

 

 

2

SV2036

Survey Mathematics

 

20

C

C

C

 

2

SV2032

Data Acquisition & 3D Modelling

 

20

C

C

C

C

2

SV2038

Geodetic Surveying

 

20

C

C

 

 

2

SV2040

Engineering Measurement

 

20

C

C

C

C

3

CE3216

Final Project

Y

40

C

C

C

 

3

SV3034

Sea Surveying

 

20

C

 

O

C

3

SV3050

Surveying Project Design & Implementation

 

20

C

C

O

C

3

SV3052

Management & Professional Studies for Geomatics

Y

20

C

C

C

 

3

SV3041

Cadastre and Land Management

 

20

O

 

O

 

3

CE3209

Ethical and Environmental Studies

 

20

O

 

 

 

Modules are defined as:

Core                                       Must be taken
Option                                                Select from a range of identified modules within the field
University Wide Option       Select from a wide range of university wide options

The following are the core and optional requirements for the single, major, joint and minor routes for this programme

The Skills Modules listed in the Joint Route are Core, unless the equivalent Skills Modules are taken in your other combined subject.

Requirements for gaining an award

In order to gain anhonoursdegree you will need to obtain 360 credits including:

  • A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher
  • A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher
  • A minimum of 120 credits at level three or higher

In order to gain anordinary degree  you will need to obtain a minimum of 300 credits including:

  • A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher
  • A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher
  • A minimum of  60 credits at level three or higher

In order to gain aDiploma of Higher Educationyou will need to obtain at least 240 credits including a  minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher and 120 credits at level two or higher

In order to gain aCertificate of Higher Educationyou will need to obtain 120 credits at level one or higher

In order to gain an Associate Certificate you will need to obtain a minimum if 20 credits at level one or higher

Degree Classification

Where a student is eligible for an Honours degree, and has gained a minimum of 240 UEL credits at level 2 or level 3 on the programme, including a minimum of 120 UEL credits at level 3, the award classification is determined by calculating:

The arithmetic mean of the best 100 credits at level 3

x

2/3

+

The arithmetic mean of the next best 100 credits at levels 2 and/or 3

x

1/3

 

and applying the mark obtained as a percentage, with all decimals points rounded up to the nearest whole number, to the following classification

70% - 100%

First Class Honours

60% - 69%

Second Class Honours, First Division

50% - 59%

Second Class Honours, Second Division

40% - 49%

Third Class Honours

0% - 39%

Not passed

Teaching, learning and assessment

Teaching and learning

Knowledge is developed through

  • Lectures where the main subjects are introduced.
  • Directed practical laboratory/field sessions where students are guided in how to use the technology
  • Seminars, where discussions are used to further the ideas introduced in the main lectures
  • Problem Based Learning – especially in SV3050

Thinking skills are developed through

  • Tutorials, where students are guided by self-directed study to allow for the further discussion of the ideas introduced in the main lectures
  • Practical laboratory and field work where students apply their knowledge learnt by completing practical tasks
  • Dissertation in the final year, where students take a chosen topic which has a scientific/practical base allowing the students to conceptualise their own ideas.
  • Problem Based Learning – especially in SV3050

Practical skills are developed through

  • Practical laboratory work, both self-directed and lecturer-directed.
  • Field work, both self-directed and lecturer-directed.
  • Problem Based Learning – especially in SV3050
  • The first year field scheme, where student work in groups to solve real word problems

Skills for life and work (general skills) are developed through

  • The inclusion of professional ethics and studies in both the second and final year.
  • The use of technology, and the changes in technology introduced in the majority of modules
  • Presentation skills.

Assessment

Knowledge is assessed by

  • Examinations
  • Practical work
  • Experiments

Thinking skills are assessed by

  • Essays
  • Reports
  • Presentations

Practical skills are assessed by

  • Laboratory work
  • Field work
  • Laboratory reports

Skills for life and work (general skills) are assessed by

  • Presentations
  • Within all the coursework
  • The practical work both in the laboratories and field work, that are based on real world problems

How we assure the quality of this programme

Before this programme started

Before this programme started, the following was checked:

  • there would be enough qualified staff to teach the programme;
  • adequate resources would be in place;
  • the overall aims and objectives were appropriate;
  • the content of the programme met national benchmark requirements;
  • the programme met any professional/statutory body requirements;
  • the proposal met other internal quality criteria covering a range of issues such as admissions policy, teaching, learning  and assessment strategy and student support mechanisms.

This is done through a process of programme approval which involves consulting academic experts including some subject specialists from other institutions.

How we monitor the quality of this programme

The quality of this programme is monitored each year through evaluating:

  • external examiner reports (considering quality and standards);
  • statistical information (considering issues such as the pass rate);
  • student feedback.

Drawing on this and other information, programme teams undertake the annual Review and Enhancement Process which is co-ordinated at School level and includes student participation.  The process is monitored by the Quality and Standards Committee.

Once every six years an in-depth review of the whole field is undertaken by a panel that includes at least two external subject specialists.  The panel considers documents, looks at student work, speaks to current and former students and speaks to staff before drawing its conclusions.  The result is a report highlighting good practice and identifying areas where action is needed.

The role of the programme committee

This programme has a programme committee comprising all relevant teaching staff, student representatives and others who make a contribution towards the effective operation of the programme (e.g. library/technician staff).  The committee has responsibilities for the quality of the programme. It provides input into the operation of the Review and Enhancement Process and proposes changes to improve quality.  The programme committee plays a critical role in the quality assurance procedures.

The role of external examiners

The standard of this programme is monitored by at least one external examiner.  External examiners have two primary responsibilities:

  • To ensure the standard of the programme;
  • To ensure that justice is done to individual students.

External examiners fulfil these responsibilities in a variety of ways including:

  • Approving exam papers/assignments;
  • Attending assessment boards;
  • Reviewing samples of student work and moderating marks;
  • Ensuring that regulations are followed;
  • Providing feedback  through an annual report that enables us to make improvements for the future.

Listening to the views of students

The following methods for gaining student feedback are used on this programme:

  • Module evaluations
  • Student representation on programme committees (meeting 2 times year)
  • Student/Staff consultative committee (meeting 3 times a year)

 

Students are notified of the action taken through:

  • Circulating the minutes of the programme committee via Programme Virtual Learning Environment.
  • Direct Feedback to students in classes
  • Providing details on the programme Virtual Learning Environment.

Listening to the views of others

The following methods are used for gaining the views of other interested parties:

  • Annual Internal Student Satisfaction Questionnaire
  • Analysis of National Student Survey Results
  • Professional Body Meetings
  • Contacts with former students
  • Industrial Advisory Board
  • Placements Officer

Further information

Where you can find further information

Further information about this programme is available from:

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