Description
The coursework for this module will assess your understanding of construction technology and environmental impact in the application of sustainability criteria to the house or workplace. It has been designed to provide you with an opportunity to develop your ability to critically evaluate an office/space within an existing building or a residence.
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Assessment Brief
Programme:
MSC Surveying
Module Code:
PE7004
Module Title:
Construction and Sustainable Technologies
Distributed on:
w.c. 15th January 2024
Submission Time
and Date:
7th April 2024 23:59 BST
Word Limit:
3000 words including “Building Analysis Table” and “Environmental Strategy Table”
Weighting
This coursework accounts for 100% of the total mark for this module
Submission of
Assessment
Report 1: Turnitin
Please note that assignments are subject to anonymous marking. Your name should
only appear in the name box on the assignment submission cover sheet.
Electronic Management of Assessment (EMA): Please note if your assignment is
submitted electronically, it will be submitted online via Turnitin by the given deadline.
You will find a Turnitin link on the module’s eLP site.
It is your responsibility to ensure that your assignment arrives before the submission
deadline stated above. See the University policy on late submission of work.
Instructions on Assessment:
Introduction
This assessment is designed to give students an appreciation of the physical built environment, along with
the ability to establish environmentally responsive solutions to sustainability issues. The necessary
theoretical background will be provided in lectures and developed through directed reading.
Assignment Brief:
The coursework for this module will assess your understanding of construction technology and
environmental impact in the application of sustainability criteria to the house or workplace. It has been
designed to provide you with an opportunity to develop your ability to critically evaluate an office/space
within an existing building or a residence.
There are three parts to the assignment (refer to the indicative word count table on page 4):
1. Ascertain and evaluate the construction of the workspace or residence and the building services
therein. This can be completed using the enclosed table.
2. In table form ‘Environment Strategy Table’ identify up to six factors to be considered in relation to
the building and its operation. (you do not need six, make a judgment call in terms of word count,
this is to demonstrate the consideration of other strategies/ technologies).
3. Finally, provide an in-depth appraisal of one proposed strategy/ technology to enhance the
environmental sustainability of the building.
Page 1 of 6
Assessment Brief
Part A Physical Appraisal
Prepare a physical and environmental appraisal of your workplace or residence:
Using a tabular format: identify, describe and appraise the building design, construction, materials and the
mechanical and electrical services in a commercial workplace or residence you are familiar with (normally
your workplace or residence).
Consider how the environmental performance of the building and the occupiers could be enhanced. You
should think about the property/building in the context of its site and its location within a wider
environment/locale having regard to accessibility and environmental impacts from transport/commuting.
1. Building Analysis Table
To provide a clear structure and ensure completeness you must provide your description and analysis
following the Building Analysis Table below
Building
Age / Structure
Wall construction
Roof construction
Floor construction
Windows
Lighting
Heating/cooling
Sanitary fittings
Power distribution
Construction
Evaluation
Description
Evaluation
Site issues
Location
Building plot
Ecology
Public transport links
Parking facilities
As an illustration here is the format applied to an office at Northumbria
Wall construction
450mm thick solid red brick wall, built
Attractive appearance for a building in
in English garden wall bond, original
a conservation area, very poor
lime mortar in need of repointing,
insulation value, relatively low
(assumed) three coat horsehair lime
maintenance.
plaster to the interior.
Building plot
Front elevation faces South onto
Egress from front door slightly
pavement, rear garden grassed with
hazardous as the door opens on to the
picnic tables and some trees on the
pavement and there is a risk on
perimeter.
bumping into passers-by.
Rear garden is good for picnic lunch
and informal meetings when the
weather permits but seats do not have
backs so uncomfortable to use. The
building is three stories so much of the
garden is in shade.
Page 2 of 6
Assessment Brief
2. Environmental Strategy Table
Provide an Environmental Strategy Table (example below) of the features of the building, services and
operation which would merit further investigation with a view to enhancing the environmental performance
of the building. For example, in the case of the office building at Northumbria, this may include consideration
of dry lining the walls with an insulating plasterboard or replacing the elderly gas boiler and enhancing system
controls.
Building Feature
Walls
Existing
450mm thick solid red brick wall, built in
English garden wall bond, original lime
mortar in need of repointing, (assumed)
three coat horsehair lime plaster to the
interior
Possible
To increase thermal
performance, internal insulation
(possible manufacturer/ product)
affixed to final finish (Chudley
2019, Riley 2017).
Additional Instructions to students:
To provide an environmental assessment of the workplace/residence, you will need to review the relevant
literature on construction, materials and services as well as environmental assessments by referring to good
construction and environmental practices in standard texts, published literature as well as current issues in
professional reports. It is understood that access to workplaces is possibly limited due to Covid-19 and this
may impact on the assessment. In place of this you can look at your domestic property. In multiple occupancy
developments examine your immediate surroundings, but reference wider strategies and construction.
When considering factors to be considered when making an environmental appraisal there are a number of
certification schemes/environmental assessment tools available across the world that you might want to
consider to inform your report. These include, but are not limited to, Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED) and the Building Research Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM).
Page 3 of 6
Assessment Brief
Part B Environmental Proposal
In-depth proposal
Finally, drawing on the first two elements of the assignment, provide an in-depth proposal and rational for
the most effective modification to the building, or its operation. Examples may include the addition of,
improved fenestration (windows) and/or insulation, photovoltaic panels to the roof, replacement of an outof-date boiler, insulation or water strategy. The proposal may include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Justification of proposal
Product or strategy overview
Context
Installation and/or function
Analysis
Conclusion
Indicative Structure (whole assignment)
Part A
Building Analysis Table
1000
Environment Strategy Table 500
Part B
Proposal
Conclusion
1200
300
Total
3000
Mapping to Programme Goals and Objectives
Learning Outcomes assessed in this assessment for PE7004:
•
•
•
•
Critically examine recent and current construction technologies across domestic and commercial
applications.
Critically evaluate passive low carbon design techniques and their application in current construction
to meet the regulatory environment and the aspirations of the market.
Critically analyse information, make recommendations, demonstrate judgement and communicate
findings.
Understand the concepts of sustainability and apply them to the built environment.
Page 4 of 6
Assessment Brief
Module Specific Assessment Criteria
Both parts of this module are marked out of 100%, the overall mark is then aggregated from both
components (i.e., 50%*Part A + 50%*Part B):
Part A
Identification and comprehension of building elements
Depth of understanding in relation evaluation
Proposed environmental strategies (Environmental Strategy Table)
Communication (referencing, grammar, structure, presentation)
Total
Part B
Justification of technology/strategy
Research and understanding
Conclusion
Communication (referencing, grammar, structure, presentation)
Total
30
30
20
20
100
20
30
30
20
100
ASSESSMENT REGULATIONS
You are advised to read the guidance for students regarding assessment policies. They are available online.
University Student Policy Guidance
Late submission of work
Where coursework is submitted without approval, after the published hand-in deadline, the following
penalties will apply.
For coursework submitted up to 1 working day (24 hours) after the published hand-in deadline without
approval, 10% of the total marks available for the assessment shall be deducted from the assessment mark.
Coursework submitted more than 1 working day (24 hours) after the published hand-in deadline without
approval will be regarded as not having been completed. A mark of zero will be awarded for the assessment
and the module will be failed, irrespective of the overall module mark.
These provisions apply to all assessments, including those assessed on a Pass/Fail basis.
The full policy can be found here.
Word limits and penalties
If the assignment is within +10% of the stated word limit, no penalty will apply.
The word count is to be declared on the front page of your assignment and the assignment cover sheet.
The word count does not include appendices, glossary, footnotes, tables (other than Building Analysis Table
and Environmental Strategy Table) and figure and table captions.
Please note, in text citations [e.g. (Smith, 2011)] and direct secondary quotations [e.g. “dib-dab nonsense
analysis” (Smith, 2011 p.123)] are INCLUDED in the word count.
Page 5 of 6
Assessment Brief
Students must retain an electronic copy of this assignment (including ALL appendices) and it must be made
available within 24hours of them requesting it be submitted.
The full Word Limit Policy is available here.
Academic Misconduct
The Assessment Regulations for Taught Awards (ARTA) contain the Regulations and procedures applying to
cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct.
The full policy is available at University Student Policy Guidance.
You are reminded that plagiarism, collusion and other forms of academic misconduct as referred to in the
Academic Misconduct procedure of the assessment regulations are taken very seriously. Assignments in
which evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct is found may receive a mark of zero.
Page 6 of 6
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