Principles of Construction

Course Content:

This course introduces the basic constructional principles and an understanding of integrating the aesthetic aspects and technical requirements in a design project. This course contains the construction and installation process of substructure and superstructure of a building, sustainability of construction, etc. This course content includes construction of structural frame (steel and concrete); in-situ and precast concrete; walls, insulation concepts and opening; roofs, floors and foundations; Stair, lifts and ramps; internal wall finishes; cladding systems; moisture and condensation; soil investigation techniques; pavement construction. Students will be encouraged to investigate the choice of alternative constructional systems relevant to their architectural design. The course comprises of 2 hrs theory lectures per week including site visits.

Course Objectives:

1. To familiarize the student with basic principles of all forms of building construction.

2. To explore application of these principles.

3. To provide the means by which to address these principles both in studio work and throughout a lifetime in architectural practice.

Intended Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the course students are expected to

1. Detect the need to critically review precedents from a constructional point of view.

2. Demonstrate the basic construction methods of structural components of abuilding.

3. Identify the common errors in construction of a building and investigate the remedial measures.

4. Analyze and identify the construction process going on around them.

5. Rate and adapt from alternative constructional strategies relevant to design.

Building Services Technology

Course Content:

Introduction to technicalities of electro-mechanical and plumbing systems in buildings. Study of electrical equipment and electrical installations for buildings. Calculations to assess electricity requirements in simple buildings. Mechanical equipment for heating, cooling, ventilation, vertical transportation in buildings. Calculations to assess the mechanical needs of a simple building. Basic understanding on electro-mechanical requirements and related problems and precautions for multi-storied buildings. Understanding water supply and sanitation system in buildings. Study of drainage and sewage disposal systems and fire safety in high-rise building. Preliminary study of rain water harvesting and ground water recharging.

Course Objectives:

1. Equip students with basic technicalities of electro-mechanical and plumbing system of a building.

2. Understand the importance and means of optimization of electro-mechanical, fire safety and plumbing service systems in buildings.

3. Acquire basic knowledge about mechanisms of service systems in high-rise building.

4. Familiarize students with the prospect and possibilities of rain water harvesting and ground water recharging.

Learning Outcomes:

Students will be able to

1. Make rooms to accommodate appropriate electro-mechanical equipment into architectural design.

2. Calculate electro-mechanical and plumbing requirements in simple buildings.

3. Calculate needs and capacity and recommend necessary vertical transportation system for simple high-rise building.

4. Choose sizes, shapes and slopes for surface water and waste water drainage.

5. Incorporate rain water harvesting and ground water recharging system into architectural design. 

Contemporary Architectural Design

Course Content:

First term remains interested in the detail analysis of building systems. The term focuses on three key components of the building system: structure, plumbing and fire-fighting. Various structural systems are studied and used in the design projects to introduce the students with the complexity of making and giving a functional outcome. Three structural systems are explored based on varying span supporting capacity.

Course Objectives:

1. Develop relevant professional knowledge (building codes and laws, green building principles, ethics of professional practice etc.) among the students.

2. Acquaint students with various aspects of building systems, and explore those in close engagement with relevant professionals, involving site visit and firsthand experience of making small and large scale structural models.

3. Direct students to a more coherent understanding of complex layers of building systems ranging from structure, electro-mechanical and plumbing issues to philosophical grounding. It is strongly held that architectural philosophy is not be disintegrated from its system components.

4. Equip students to grasp/distinguish when an architectural idea is original, or at least good or, what it takes to be creative.

Intended Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the course students will 

1. Acquire sound and comprehensive understanding of building systems (structure, electro-mechanical system and fire fighting).

2. Distinguish/compare between different structural systems including brick, concrete and steel.

3. Analyze comparative benefits between different span types: short and compression dominated structural system to tension dominated structural systems.

4. Accomplish effective negotiating/leadership capacity as a result of a high level competence in key areas in a multi-expert team. 

Basic Structural Design

Course Content:

This course gives students the opportunity to explore widely in the world of structural design and analysis. They will learn structural analysis from both graphical and numerical standpoint, and through the case studies of built examples. Topics covered in this course include static equilibrium, tension and compression, axial stresses, buckling, bending moment and bending stresses. Teaching will be given not only through lectures but also through classroom sessions and in conjunction with the design studio which includes a structural investigation of a studio design project. Preliminary design of short spanned and compression dominated structures will be incorporated in this course which can be conducted by hands-on calculation and/or using computer aided tools.

Course Objectives:

1. To familiarize the students with the fundamentals of statics, a sense of how structures resist forces and be able to visualize the load path and direction of forces.

2. To explain how the principles of statics and strength of materials are applied to the elements of structural components.

3. To develop awareness and understanding of the fundamental principles of structural design sufficient to implement strategies in design projects.

Intended Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the course students will be able to

1. identify the behavior and characteristics of structural components and systems with reference to structural design principles.

2. Analyze and detect the role of structure in the architectural design of buildings with reference to particular case study buildings.

3. Explain the principles of structural design.

4. Detect the consequences of bad design.

5. Synthesize the knowledge of structural principles and construction techniques in a design exercise.

Building Construction Materials and Product Design Lab

Course Content:

The objective of this course is to develop a more precise, professional and sensitive approach to design while broadening the student's technical base. Precision machine tools such as metal lathes, millers and grinders will be introduced. Logical design and set-up approaches will be discussed. Outside design work will be required with emphasis on architectural drawing and sequence of operations. There will be a strong emphasis on experimenting with the material in order to promote innovative thinking and problem solving. Principles and analytic vocabulary are introduced through lectures, weekly reading, discussions, and exercise. Project-based work will challenge students to work individually, as well as collaboratively with external parties.

Course Objectives:

1. This course surveys processes commonly used by industrial designers at various scales of production and provides advanced methodologies for developing and constructing more sustainable and long-lasting products.

2. Students apply testing to create designed outcomes and explore advanced means to communicate ideas to multiple audiences through application of product semantics, distinguishing between self-perception and how others read design artifacts.

3. Students are challenged to choose appropriate manufacturing methods and deploy strategies for creating international by-products, co-products, and scenarios of Zero waste production.

Intended Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this course, students will be able to

1. Develop design skills through the interaction with industrial materials that have strictly defined properties. and evaluate how this information is both connected to and influenced by the design process.

2. Experiment with these materials Students will work directly and master skills needed to manipulate these materials and formed promotes innovative thinking, problem solving and idea development.

3. Apply more precise, professional and sensitive approach to design while broadening their technical skill base.

4. Develop projects that allow them to engage in the design and development process, promote creativity, problem solving, and the correct use of materials.

5. Choose appropriate facility procedures, safety and care facilities and use of tools and equipment for building construction. 

Forest Surveying

Rationale:

This course intends to give students a general introduction to land surveying, map preparation and map interpretation.

Course content:

Introduction: Scope, objective, and importance of surveying in forestry

Scales: Definitions; R. F., plain, diagonal and vernier scale

Maps and map reading: Classification of map orientation

Chain survey: Instruments; types of bearings; field procedure; plotting, closing errors and corrections; recording and plotting

Traverse survey: Angular instruments; types of bearings; field procedure; plotting, closing errors and adjustments, theodolites – measurement of horizontal and vertical angles, measurement of bearing azimuth

Plane table survey: General instrumentation and principle, method and procedure, setting up the table, radiation, intersection, traversing and resection

Levels and levelling: Instrumentation; principles of levelling; classification of levelling – direct and indirect levelling; profile levelling, common errors in levelling

Topographical survey: Contouring; contour and contour lines; characteristics of contours, methods of contouring and contour drawing

Area computation: Computation of area by planimeter and squares method

Enlargement, reduction and copying plans and maps: Copying by tracing, graphical methods and mechanical methods; enlargement and reduction by proportional compass, by photographic and photocopying methods

Course objectives:

1. To enable the students with a good understanding of the concepts, goals and principles of forest surveying.

2. To broaden the students' knowledge about specific terminology associated with the disciplines of forest land surveying and cartography.

3.  To acquaint the students with the techniques for distance and forest area measurement.

Intended learning outcomes:

At the end of the course, the students will be able to

1. Understand forest land surveying, map preparation and map interpretation.

2. Understand surveying terminology, distance and area measurement, surveying methods and equipment use, basic map drafting techniques, coordinate systems, and rectangular systems for land referencing.