Program Overview

Surveying and Field Studies (CEGE0014)

Key Information

• Faculty: Faculty of Engineering Sciences
• Teaching department: Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering
• Credit value: 15
• Restrictions: N/A

Alternative Credit Options

There are no alternative credit options available for this module.

Description

This module runs in June and comprises 1 week of mandatory preparatory lectures and surveying practicals at UCL, held during Term 3 - and a 2 week residential field course in Wales that takes place at the end of Term 3 and into the summer vacation. Over the three week period you will be taught the principles and practice of surveying, and undertake a series of engineering tasks in and around the campus of the University of Wales (Lampeter) and a local dam at Llyn Brianne. The field course is subsidised by the department but does require an additional fee, paid at the start of Term 2. Preparatory teaching is delivered in the form of lectures, practical classes working with surveying equipment, and supervised computation classes. During the field course there are morning and evening briefings with staff, and close group supervision as your work through the fieldwork tasks.

Learning Outcomes

• First-hand experience of a range of activities, equipment and software commonplace in surveying and civil engineering, including: levels, total stations, laser scanners, and GNSS kit;
• Developed understanding and practical experience of survey tasks in: control survey provision, detail mapping, setting out for construction, and deformation monitoring;
• Developed ability to solve mathematical problems in coordinate geometry. Improved knowledge and experience of survey calculations, and ability to consider error sources, propagation and impact;
• Improved proficiency in report writing, critical analysis, technical drawing (hand-drawings and AutoCAD) and cartography (GIS), through the production of various surveying deliverables;
• Experience of assessing and managing health, safety and wellness on project work, including the production of risk assessments, safe methods of work, and management of accident and near-miss records;
• Greater appreciation of issues associated with project management and team work; working within a limited timeframe;
• Experience in testing water quality and discharge measurement in a local river using standard stream gauging techniques;
• Improved knowledge of the structural, geotechnical and environmental engineering elements of dam construction.

Reading List

• Uren, J. and Price, W.F. (2010). Surveying for engineers (5th Edition). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan

Module Deliveries for 2026/27 Academic Year

Intended Teaching Term: Term 3

• Undergraduate (FHEQ Level 5)

Teaching and Assessment

• Mode of study: In person
• Methods of assessment:
  • 60% Group activity (4 assessments)
  • 25% Other form of assessment (2 assessments)
  • 15% In-class activity (3 assessments)
• Mark scheme: Numeric Marks

Other Information

• Number of students on module in previous year: 87
• Module leader: Dr Pippa Cowles