Sustainable and Intelligent Building Design
This unit introduces students to the concept of sustainable buildings and enables them to demonstrate understanding of how the form, fabric, and equipment of a building affect its environmental impact. An understanding of the passive and active design principles of sustainable building will be developed through a live project design.
Computer Aided Simulation- Thermal
This unit introduces a dynamic thermal modelling application to students and covers various logics and concepts including occupants comfort, carbon emissions, HVAC systems, etc. Student will learn various techniques in modelling and simulating by the end of the module.
Research Methods
This unit develops the skills required to carry out research primarily for dissertation or design project. It aims to provide students with comprehensive knowledge and understanding of methodological approaches of research and examines a range of tools used to collect and analyse data.
Sustainable Building Assessment
This unit covers the environmental assessment methods of buildings in the UK and internationally. Students will develop and demonstrate understanding of the sustainable building assessment methods like BREEAM and LEED. Post occupancy evaluation methods will also be explained to highlight the importance of the end user.
Computer Aided Simulation - Acoustic
The use of computer simulation packages to model and predict acoustic behaviour in complex situations is now widespread. This module addresses the two core areas for computer aided simulation – building acoustic modelling and environmental acoustic modelling, examining the standards and algorithms applied by packages, and utilising industry standard modelling packages in the solution of acoustic problems.
Climate Change and Performance Prediction
Our climate is changing and buildings that are built today are expected to have decades of lifespan. It is now necessary to simulate their future behaviour to address increasing future temperature and rectify design errors. The module will deliver a methodology of how to address future challenges in a refurbishment project. The module aims to set a higher design standard for our current buildings and introduce eco-refurbishment principles to students.
Research Dissertation
In this unit students undertake a master's stage research project, present the body of work in a conventional dissertation and communicate the outcomes verbally through formal viva. Students explore in-depth a topic relevant to the discipline to develop a significant level of expertise in the area under investigation.
BIM Frameworks
This unit provides an introduction to Building Information Modelling (BIM) from a holistic perspective. BIM has emerged as the dominant paradigm for information and communication technology in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC). This unit covers BIM approaches, as well as the impact these have on the various AEC disciplines.
Acoustics in Built Environment
Historically, some of the earlier developments in acoustics were related to sound behaviour in built spaces. Today, the field of building acoustics is an integral part of daily life that reaches living spaces, teaching environments, leisure developments etc. In this module the student will be presented with topics such as sound behaviour in rooms, acoustic design principles, sound and vibration transmission in buildings, insulation and vibration control and sound reinforcement. In addition, national and international measurement standards and building codes will be examined, together with design methodologies and case studies.
Research Themes in high performance buildings
With constantly growing technologies and advances in building construction, students are given an opportunity to be supervised on a research-based project to explore most advanced energy-related topics and methods.
Please note: Not all optional units are guaranteed to run each year.