Study information

Applied Computing for Energy Studies - 2024 entry

MODULE TITLEApplied Computing for Energy Studies CREDIT VALUE15
MODULE CODEENE1004 MODULE CONVENERDr Helen Smith (Coordinator)
DURATION: TERM 1 2 3
DURATION: WEEKS 12 0 0
Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated) 35
DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content
Computing skills, including both computer programming and the application of specialist software for design and analysis, are an increasingly important requirement for renewable energy professionals and engineers. This module has been designed to enable you to start developing these skills in the first year of your degree programme. You will be provided with a hands-on introduction to two industry-standard software packages for GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and CAD (Computer Aided Design). You will also be introduced to the fundamental principles of programming to enable tyou to adapt the software tools that you will acquire during your studies to solve specific problems. These skills can be applied and developed further in other modules throughout the course and during industry placements at the end of year 2.
 
AIMS - intentions of the module

The key aim of this module is to enable you to develop computing skills that will aid you throughout your programme and in your future careers in the renewable energy industry. It will provide you with a broad understanding of the application to renewable energy projects of two industry-standard technical software tools for spatial analysis and engineering design, thereby providing an understanding of spatial data collection, processing and visualisation, and building an awareness of the design process. By learning what it means to program a computer using easily accessible languages you start to see how to implement your designs by creating computer based systems. The module will draw the three elements together in an assessed group project that will develop your skills in collaborative working and innovative thinking.

This module will deliver and summatively assess the Engineering Council’s Accreditation of Higher Education Programme (AHEP-4) Learning Outcomes that are indicated in brackets in the ILO section below.

 

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)

On successful completion of this module you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge

1. Show competence in the use of industry-standard software packages with a specific focus on renewable energy technologies (B3);
2. Understand the basicprinciples of coding and be able to write simple programs.
 

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge

3. Understand spatial and geographic data;
4. Recognise the importance of engineering design principals and apply these to a specified design challenge, selecting appropriate sensors and design materials and processes (B5, B13);

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge

5. Verbally communicate the outcomes of your learning and reflect on skills acquired (B17);
6. Understand issues of EDI to enable you to work effectively in a team and reflect on your own and others’ performance (B11, B16).

 

SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module

Spatial data analysis lectures and practicals:

- Introduction to maps and spatial data;

- Co-ordinate systems and projections;

- GPS and other sources of spatial data;

- Introduction to GIS;

- MapInfo practical exercises.
 

Solidworks lectures and practicals:

- Overview of computer aided design and SolidWorks;

- Introduction to the SolidWorks software;

- Design process and output;

- Solidworks practical exercises.


Programming:

- Introduction to physical computing;

- Devices and Logic Control;

- Use of microcontrollers;

- Familiarisation with a visual programming environment;

- Fundamental concepts of program design;

- Program flow;

- Programming practical exercises.


Group project:

- Combining all three elements to address a practical engineering challenge.

LEARNING AND TEACHING
LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities 60 Guided Independent Study 90 Placement / Study Abroad 0
DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
Category Hours of study time Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 60 Programme of lectures and computer-based practical sessions on spatial and geographic data and the use of GIS software, engineering design and Solidworks, and programming; Supervised group work sessions applying the skills to an engineering challenge.
Guided independent study 90 Guided software tutorials, personal study, assessment preparation
     

 

ASSESSMENT
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade
Form of Assessment Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
GIS practical tutorials with extension material in later sessions 1-2 hours each 1, 3 Group and individual discussion in next session
SolidWorks practical tutorials with extension material 2 hours each 1, 4 Group and individual discussion in next session
Physical computing and programming practical tutorials 2 hours each 2, 5, 6 Group and individual discussion in next session
       
       

 

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)
Coursework 80 Written Exams 20 Practical Exams 0
DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Form of Assessment % of Credit Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Group practical project combining elements from all three components of the course 60 3600 word equivalent 1-4, 6 Group written feedback and peer assessment
Individual mini-viva 20 20 mins 5 Individual written feedback 
Worksheet exercises 20 1200 word equivalent 1-3 Individual verbal feedback
         

 

DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)
Original Form of Assessment Form of Re-assessment ILOs Re-assessed Time Scale for Re-assessment
Group practical project combining elements from all three components of the course and mini-viva
As for original assessment, but with an individual piece of work replacing the group project
 1-6 Referrral/deferral period
Worksheet exercises Worksheet exercises 1-3 Referrral/deferral period
       

 

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES
Individual project combining elements from all three components of the course, 60%; Mini-viva, 20%; Worksheet exercises, 20%
 
Deferral- if you have been deferred for any assessment, you will be expected to complete relevant deferred assessments as determined by the Mitigation Committee. The mark given for a reassessment taken because of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as if it were your first attempt at assessment.
 
Referral-if you have failed the module overall (I.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%), you will be required to undertake reassessments as described in the table above for any of the original assessments that you failed. The mark given for a reassessment taken because of referral will be capped at 40%.
 
RESOURCES
INDICATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES - The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener

Basic reading:

 

ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk

 

Web based and Electronic Resources:

Electronic copies of key texts provided on ELE

Other Resources:

Relevant academic papers and industry reports provided on ELE.

Relevant academic papers and industry reports provided on ELE.

 

Reading list for this module:

Type Author Title Edition Publisher Year ISBN
Set Longley, P., Goodchild, M.F., Maguire, D.J., Rhind, W. Geographical Information Systems: Principles, Techniques, Management and Applications 2nd Wiley 2005 978-0-471-73545-8
Set Heywood, I., Cornelius, S., & Carver, S. An Introduction to Geographical Information Systems Prentice 2011 0273722638
Set Longley, P.A., Maguire, D. J., Goodchild, M. F. and Rhind, D. W. Geographic Information Systems and Science 3rd Wiley 2011
Set Onwubolu, G. Computer-Aided Engineering Design with SolidWorks Imperial College Press, London 2013 9781848166653
Set Krebs, J. Basic CAD Birkhauser, Basel 9783764381
Set Hopkinson, N., Hague, R.J.M. & Dickens, P.M. (eds) Rapid Manufacturing: An Industrial Revolution for the Digital John Wiley, Chichester 2006 0470016132
Set Bryden, D. CAD and Rapid Prototyping for Product Design Laurence King Publishing, London 2014 1780673426
Set Arduino Projects Book Arduino Projects Book Arduino 2013
Set O’Sullivan, D. Physical Computing Boston, Mass. 2004
CREDIT VALUE 15 ECTS VALUE 7.5
PRE-REQUISITE MODULES None
CO-REQUISITE MODULES None
NQF LEVEL (FHEQ) 6 AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING No
ORIGIN DATE Saturday 9th March 2024 LAST REVISION DATE Friday 2nd August 2024
KEY WORDS SEARCH GIS; CAD; SolidWorks; Programming.

Please note that all modules are subject to change, please get in touch if you have any questions about this module.