ENGINEERING SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION - 2020/1

Module Overview

The module provides insight into the key challenges faced by transportation engineers in seeking to design, deliver and maintain sustainable transportation systems. Transport is placed in the context of sustainability and urban living. Thus addressing the positive and negative impacts of transport with respect to the economy, society and the environment. The module addresses passenger and freight transportation covering the main modes of road, rail, water, air and pipeline and does this in the context of sustainability and ways of prioritising active modes of transport. Trends in society, and associated developments in transport technology will be examined in the context of future infrastructure needs and associated disruption management.

Module provider

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Module Leader

BRISTOW Abigail (Civl Env Eng)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): 100

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

Completion of normal progression requirements from FHEQ Level 5 on a degree course in Civil Engineering.

Module content

Indicative content includes:
• Definitions of sustainability and its application in the context of transportation systems.
• Charactieristics (function and capacity) and roles of the different modes of passenger and freight transportation and their interactions at nodal interchanges within networks.
• Positive and negative impacts of transportation systems (environmental, social and economic) and methods for mitigating negative impacts when developing urban transport systems.
• Assessment methodologies for transport schemes and policy interventions.
• Future challenges and opportunities, issues might include, disruptive technologies (e.g. Hyperloop), HS2, sustainable aviation, autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, etc.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

No group work and so no alternate assessment tool required. Retaking students will repeat assessment pattern but set new tasks.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to:
• Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of sustainability and apply them in the context of transportation system and their development within, and between, urban centres. K/P EL4
• Critically assess the roles and performance of different modes of transportation and the interconnections and interdependencies that exist within transport networks. C/K/P EL2 EL4
• Consider particular transport challenges within an urban environment and develop potential solutions demonstrating an understanding of the context and constraints. K/C D1/D2
• Evaluate the costs and benefits of transport schemes taking due account of the three pillars of sustainability. C/K EL2

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:
• Coursework (LO 1 and 2) 20% (1500 words)
• Coursework 20% (LO1 to 4) 20% (1500 words
• Exam (LO1 to 4) 60% 2 hours

Formative assessment
This will be provided through:
Discussions within tutorial and seminar sessions
Verbal feedback on students answers to a range of exercises and worked examples
Written feedback on coursework

Feedback
As for formative assessment.

Module aims

• Outline the context in which transportation systems develop and operate with particular regard to sustainability, urban living and the (global) development of population centres.
• Provide an understanding of the different modes of transport, their advantages and disadvantages, how they interact and the challenges engineers face in their delivery.
• Consider future challenges in delivering a sustainable transport network as technology, society and the economy evolve.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to enable students to gain an understanding of sustainable transportation systems and an ability to critically assess different options in terms of infrastructure development and policy interventions.

The learning and teaching methods include:
• A series of lectures to provide students with an overview of the main issues relating to transportation.
• Directed reading to support the lecture notes provided to enable a broader and deeper understanding of the issues that underpin the sustainable development of integrated, urban transport networks.
• A number of discussion-led tutorial and seminar sessions based on directed reading and structured questions.
• Coursework requiring students to consider aspects of transportation engineering in relation to both technical issues within the context of long-term sustainability and their potential to impact on society and the wider economy..

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ENG3208

Other information

This module has a capped number and may not be available to ERASMUS and other international exchange students. Please check with the International Engagement Office email: ieo.incoming@surrey.ac.uk

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.