CEM242-Advanced Visualisation and Interactive Technologies

Module Provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Dragana Nikolic
Email: d.nikolic@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
Practitioners in the architecture, engineering and construction (ACE) disciplines often find that no single drawing, graphic or tool best represents a given idea, concept or project. However, to evaluate a project at any stage, engineers, designers and stakeholders need to visualize project progress in a way that allows them to easily interact with, understand, critique and revise the work. One of these methods, virtual prototyping, tailors information representation for users and affords a level of interactivity that can assist the decision-making process at any point in the design and construction process (e.g. conceptual design diagrams for initial project phases or photo realistic representation at final phases). The purpose of this module is to introduce students to different interactive virtual, digital and physical prototyping tools and technologies used in the architecture, construction and engineering fields, particularly those related to building information modelling (BIM) and visualisation. Through a review of current research and applications of virtual reality and interactive technologies, the goal is to discern and evaluate the rationale for their use, and further explore methods to apply innovative approaches to support users in a given context of use.

Aims:
To introduce students to the range of advanced and innovative visualisation and interaction approaches for facility design and construction; to review and evaluate existing initiatives in research and practice; to identify potential uses in a given context, and propose a method, prototype, or a process to visualise and interact with relevant project information.

Assessable learning outcomes:
􀀕 To identify types of digital and interactive technologies used for design and construction;
􀀕 To review current research and applications of virtual prototypes and visualisation technologies in design and construction;
􀀕 To articulate the benefits that are claimed for their use and that are driving their development;
􀀕 To identify potentials areas and use scenarios for innovative use of virtual and advanced technologies for design, construction, operations or facility manage ment;
􀀕To learn and apply the process typical for designing visual-interactive experiences;

Additional outcomes:
Through practical tutorials, students will build practical skills with various digital tools and be able to further identify specific technological challenges associated with data and information exchange.

Outline content:

The taught element covers: • Overview of the current use of digital tools, advanced visualisation technologies and innovative design concepts in AEC; • Applications of augmented and virtual reality; • Digital fabrication; • Interactive workspaces, immersive environments, virtual prototypes; • Game engines as they apply to the built environment.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
This course will combine lectures, demonstrations, in-class discussion, hands-on projects, presentations, and guest lectures. Several class periods will be available for discussing project presentations and providing specific demonstrations that may be useful for completing the projects.

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
Group work on projects will be assessed at the end of the module week, while individual reports will be assessed following the submission date after the module.

Formative assessment methods:
Feedback will be given throughout the supervised project work with informal review, advice and input on the hands-on activities of each team. After team presentations on the final day, feedback will be provided to provide formative input into the development of group project output and individual report.

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy 􀀓Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes􀀔, which can be found here: