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ENGINEERING TRIPOS PART IIA - 2012/2013

Project GD1 - Constructionarium

Must be taken in conjunction with GD2. Structural Modelling or a European Language (French, German or Spanish)

Leader: Dr M Elshafie email: me254

Project Type: Group
Project Category: Design
Prerequisites: 3D3 and 3D4; Part IIA Surveying Engineering Area Activity useful
Timing: First two weeks of project period

SUMMARY

This project involves the construction of 2-3 scaled down versions of real-world structures, each student will be in a team of about 15-20 students, working with a contractor (Laing O'Rourke) and a consultant (Ramboll). This project is limited to 40 students and will run in combination with Structural Modelling or a European language project.
The project is designed to introduce students to construction technology and Project Management issues. Because of the requirement to stay away from Cambridge, the project timetable for Constructionarium has been adjusted to fit with the residential week. Students may therefore only take Constructionarium with GD2 Structural Modelling or a European Language.

AIMS

To introduce the principles of project planning and project management.
To familiarise students with the importance of teamwork
To emphasise the importance of safety
To highlight the important link between practical aspects on site and structural analysis (in the associated Structural Modelling project)
To introduce concepts of embodied energy audits in construction

FORMAT

Each team of students will build one structure. These are quite elaborate and take the form of, for example, a floating oil rig, a bridge that has to be launched across a gap, a jetty or a transmission tower.

Students will choose, or be allocated, a role within the team. The team then has to work together to decide how the structure is to be built and to fabricate the necessary elements. Some of these have been prefabricated but many will have to be built on site. Some equipment will be available on site. Engineers from the Contractor and the Consultant will assist but it will be the responsibility of the students to produce a safe, workable and economic scheme, and then to put it into action. The marking will be on an individual basis, primarily for a final report, but students will be awarded (or lose) marks depending on how well they contribute to the team effort; these marks will be awarded by CUED staff but will take account of information from the Consultant and the Contractor.

Accommodation will be provided at the CITB site in segregated male/female rooms from Sunday 20 May to Friday 25 May. Attendance will be compulsory and students will not be allowed to leave the site in that period. A coach will take students to/from Norfolk.

A residential charge of £250 per student is made by the CITB, and a further £150 is charged by Constructionarium Ltd; we expect to get sponsorship for approximately 75% of these costs, but it is hoped that students will be able to raise some funds from other sources, including colleges.

There is a dedicated CUED Constructionarium web page that provides more information including details on projects completed by previous cohorts.

More general information is available on the webpage maintained by Constructionarium Ltd

ACTIVITIES

Week 1: Monday and Tuesday. Introduction to Constructionarium. Lectures from Consultant and Contractors about planning and safety issues. Planning of work to be done and assignment of roles. Brief preliminary report handed in by Friday. Two days on Structural Modelling Project

Week 2: On Constructionarium site.

Week 3: Two days to write individual final report. Three days on Structural Modelling Project

Week 4: Structural Modelling Project

ASSESSMENT

Format: Submission Date - Marks

Preliminary individual report: Tuesday 14 May 2013 - 15 marks

Contribution to group work project (awarded for activities on site): - 40 marks

Final individual report: 4pm Tuesday 28 May 2013 - 25 marks

Last updated: November 2012

teaching-office@eng.cam.ac.uk