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ENGI48315: Transportation Infrastructure Engineering

It is possible that changes to modules or programmes might need to be made during the academic year, in response to the impact of Covid-19 and/or any further changes in public health advice.

Type Tied
Level 4
Credits 15
Availability Available in 2024/2025
Module Cap
Location Durham
Department Engineering

Prerequisites

Corequisites

  • As specified in programme regulations.

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • As specified in programme regulations.

Aims

  • This module is designed solely for students studying Department of Engineering degree programmes.
  • To provide an overview and describe the methods used in the design and construction of transportation infrastructure.
  • To explain the principles of highway design and maintenance.
  • To explain the principles of railway design and maintenance.
  • To explain the principles of airport runway design and maintenance.
  • To explain the principles of ground improvement and the use of this technique in transport infrastructure engineering.

Content

  • Pavement and road layout design.
  • Design of infrastructure earthworks.
  • Tunneling.
  • Design of runways.
  • Ground improvement techniques.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • A knowledge of benefits and limitations of technologies currently used or being developed for ground improvement for transportation infrastructure engineering.
  • An appreciation of the factors that impact the design of transportation infrastructure.
  • An understanding of tunnelling design and construction methods and their relevance to transportation infrastructure engineering.
  • An understanding of rail track design and construction methods and their relevance to transportation infrastructure engineering.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • An awareness of current technology, analysis methods and industrial practices along with the ability to apply those methods in transportation infrastructure engineering.
  • An in-depth knowledge and understanding of specialised and advanced technical and professional skills, an ability to perform critical assessment and review and an ability to communicate the results of their own work effectively.

Key Skills:

  • Capacity for independent self-learning within the bounds of professional practice.
  • Mathematics relevant to the application of advanced engineering concepts.
  • Engineering problem solving skills.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • The module content is delivered in lectures and is reinforced by self-learning sessions and formative problem sheets, equipping students with the required problem-solving capability.
  • Students can make use of staff "office hours" to discuss any aspect of the module with teaching staff on a one-to-one basis. These are sign-up sessions available for one hour per week per lecture course.
  • Students will be required to submit formative problem sheets throughout the academic year into the virtual learning environment to check their understanding as the course progresses.
  • Students will be formed into study groups and will attend timetabled self-learning sessions (up to a maximum of two) during the Michalemas and Epiphany terms.
  • A benchmark test will take place at the start of the academic year. This will be used to guage students understanding and direct them to further study as appropriate.
  • A mock exam will take place in the Epiphany term. This will be used to provide students with an exam type experience in a formative setting and allow them to discuss their performance with a member of academic staff.
  • Written timed examinations are appropriate because of the wide range of analytical, in-depth material covered in this module and allow students to demonstrate the ability to solve advanced problems independently.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Benchmark Test1Completed during Induction Week30 mins0.5 
Lectures20Typically 1 per week1 hour20 
Revision Leacture11 hour1 
Tutorial HoursAs requiredWeekly sign-up sessionsUp to 1 hour12 
Self learning session 2Throughout first two terms 3 hours (includes 1 hour preparation to be completed before attending the session) 6 
Practice Exam1Epiphany Term 30 mins0.5 
Preparation & reading 110 
Total 150 

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination Component Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Written on-campus examination 2 hours100Yes

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment is provided by means of formative problem sheets, benchmark test and mock examinations.

More information

If you have a question about Durham's modular degree programmes, please visit our Help page. If you have a question about modular programmes that is not covered by the Help page, or a query about the on-line Postgraduate Module Handbook, please contact us.

Prospective Students: If you have a query about a specific module or degree programme, please Ask Us.

Current Students: Please contact your department.