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Coursework Specification
1 Module Information
1.1 Module Title: Building Information Modelling Management, Theory and Practice
1.2 Module Code Number: KB7034
1.3 Module Level and Credit Points: Level 7 – 20 credits
1.4 Module Leader: Reza Alavi
1.5 Assessment Component Number: 01
1.6 Assessment Weighting: 100%
1.7 Coursework Title: BIM-enabled solutions for construction planning and management of the Smith’s
Dock Project
1.8 Coursework Specification Author: Reza Alavi, Ray Elysee and Pablo Martinez
1.9 Academic Year and Semester(s): 2022-2023 Semester 1
2 Coursework Submission and Feedback
2.1 Release Date of Coursework Specification to Students: 26
th September 2022
2.2 Mechanism Used to Disseminate Coursework Specification to Students: eLP Module Site
2.3 Date and Time of Submission of Coursework by Students: 23:58 BST 15 December 2022
2.4 The mechanism for Submission of Coursework by Students: Turnitin submission link on eLP
Module Site
2.5 Return Date of Unconfirmed Internally Moderated Mark(s) and Feedback to Students: No later
than 23:58 BST 27 January 2023
2.6 The mechanism for Return of Unconfirmed Internally Moderated Mark(s) and Feedback to
Students: Individual mark from Grade Centre in eLP Module Site and feedback comments from
Feedback Studio in Turnitin in eLP Module Site.
3 Assessment Details
3.1 Module Learning Outcomes (MLOs) Assessed by Coursework
What will I be expected to achieve?
1. Deconstruct existing information management practices used by the Construction Industry actors
and
communicate their impact upon the industry business model.
2. Critically appraise the scope and role of Building Information Modelling within the context of the
Construction Industry.
3. Critique existing Construction Industry research efforts, and approaches to problem-solving on real
life BIM-enabled projects, to identify, and learn from areas to improve aspects of project delivery
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through the application of the management, theory or practice of BIM.
4. Produce and present original work for academic review.
3.2 Coursework Overview
Throughout the Module there are discussions on aspects of contemporary practice around Building
Information Modelling (BIM). In order to further equip you with topic specific knowledge and
understanding around this, and construction project management practice itself, and to help you
develop your intellectual skills and abilities in the subject, the following coursework task is set.
The coursework requires the submission of an individual, reporting an analysis around the theory
and practice of BIM in a given case study (i.e. Smith’s Dock Project). The ‘unit of analysis’ in this
case study describes the challenges throughout the project delivery phase, and how it could be
improved using BIM.
Project Analysis: The assessment requires you to analyse the Smith’s Dock Project as a case
study, which has been uniquely chosen for this academic year and will be presented and illustrated
to you in the first seminar session of the module.
Throughout this analysis, you need to identify key project challenges, evaluate BIM-enabled
solutions to address the challenges, and present the solutions with sufficient details for
implementation.
3.3 Coursework Tasks to be Completed by Students
You are required to write an individual report including the following:
A. For the Smith’s Dock site at North Shields in Newcastle, the project aims to develop a sustainable
housing scheme with consideration for inclusive living
B. Analyse the project and propose an appropriate Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and
offsite construction methodology for the project. Your proposed method needs to be justified by
providing the advantages of the method for the project.
C. Identify 3 major challenges in the planning, design and construction phases of your project that
can be addressed by Building Information Modeling (BIM). The challenges must be specific to
Smith’s Dock site and the project option, and the MMC method that you selected.
D. Describe the potential consequences of not properly addressing the three challenges to the
project time, cost, quality, safety, sustainability, and/or productivity (you need to clearly explain how
each challenge could negatively impact one or more of these items).
E. For each challenge, develop a BIM-enabled solution and describe how BIM can address the
challenge, and improve project time, cost, quality, safety, sustainability, and/or productivity. The
solutions must be tailored to the Smith’s Dock project, and your selected project option. You can
exemplify the solution with some illustrations from the BIM model you develop for the Smith’s Dock
project.
The report shall include the following sections:
– Section 1. Executive Summary
o This section provides a brief introduction about the project, the proposed MMC method,
the type of the challenges you identified, and a brief description of your solutions.
o The maximum word count for this section is 500.
– Section 2. Proposed MMC Method
o This section describes what MMC and off-site construction methodology you propose for
the Smith’s Dock project, and the reasons for proposing this method along with its
advantages for this project (item B above)
o The maximum word count for this section is 750.
– Section 3. Identified Challenges
o Challenge 1: Description of the challenge and its consequences (item C and D above)
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o Challenge 2: Description of the challenge and its consequences (item C and D above)
o Challenge 3: Description of the challenge and its consequences (item C and D above)
o There is no word count limit for this section.
– Section 4. BIM-enabled Solutions:
o Solution 1 to Challenge 1: Description of the solution to challenge 1 (item E above)
o Solution 2 to Challenge 2: Description of the solution to challenge 2 (item E above)
o Solution 3 to Challenge 3: Description of the solution to challenge 3 (item E above)
o There is no word count limit for this section.
– Section 5. References:
oFollow the referencing style specifified below. The number of words in the reference section
does not count.
3.4 Expected Size of Submission
▪ The maximum word count for your submission is 4,000 words or equivalent (excluding the cover
page and list of references).
▪ This word count includes:
– The main body of the supporting text document.
– In-text citations [e.g. (Smith, 2011)].
– Direct quotations from primary or secondary source material.
– Words within any tables, figures, and illustrations in the document (see below).
– Footnotes (See below).
▪ This word count restriction does not include any words used for any typical front-, or back-end
matter that the student wishes to supply including, e.g.:
– Front Cover
– Title & Table of Contents page (see below).
– Glossary
– Reference list
– Bibliography (if provided).
▪ Figures (diagrams, illustrations, photographs etc.) and tables are welcome but must be fully
incorporated into the submission, integrated with the text, and thoroughly explained why they
are exhibited. 200 words are counted for each figure/table used.
▪ ‘Footnotes’/’Endnotes’ will be permitted, as they can offer sufficient value, providing, their use is
minimal, sufficiently concise, and appropriate – they offer only ‘clarifying’ information, or add
‘adjacent’ value to the sentences already written. In other words, they are not to be used to ‘hide’
words that would otherwise normally be expected to be contained within the main body of the
text, and their use will be considered in accordance with the University policy regarding word
limits.
▪ Note that no appendices are permitted in this submission.
▪ The work must form a structured and coherent whole.
▪ On the cover page, identify the total number of words used (excluding the cover page and
references section) and the number of figures/tables used.
▪ The Northumbria University policy on word limits is available a
https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/university-services/academic-registry/quality-andteaching-excellence/assessment/guidance-for-students/
You will see the policy explains the point at which examiners will stop reading your work if you
exceed the maximum word limit.
▪ Students’ reports must be submitted as a single digital file in either pdf or Microsoft Word format
using the TurnitinUK portal on the Blackboard course. The University has published guides to
help you submit your work using Turnitin Assignment submission portals, which you can find
under Assessment Submission, Grades & Feedback at https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/aboutus/university-services/it-services/it-support-365/student-it-guides/
3.5 Referencing Style
You need to prepare the references of your report based on the Harvard referencing style using the
Cite Them Right webpage. An online guide to Cite Them Right is available to Northumbria University
students is available at https://www.citethemrightonline.com/
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3.6 Distribution of Assessment Weighting
Quality of presentation and communication— This includes coherence of the work,
clarity of expression, writing style, visualisation, formatting, readability, citation, etc.
10%
Executive Summary— How well the entire work is summarised with the requested
information in the executive summary section.
10%
Proposed MMC and Off-site Construction Method — How well the work provides
analysis of the proposed MMC and off-site construction method with sufficient reasonings
about the selected method as well as its advantages.
20%
Challenges — How well the work provides analysis of the challenges, and their
consequences to the case study project as well as their relevance to the project
30%
Solutions — How relevant are the proposed BIM-based solutions to the identified
challenges and how well they are tailored to the case study project.
30%
4 Referral
If the Progression and Awards Board (PAB) decides to give you a referral attempt of the module, the
module leader may ask you to retake the examination at another time. The referral attempt
opportunity will typically occur after the end-of-level Progression and Awards Board (PAB). If you
pass the module following a referral attempt, you will be awarded the module pass mark for level 7
modules, i.e., 50%. If you become eligible to complete a referral attempt but are subsequently
unable to undertake the opportunity when required, you will be permitted to re-sit the module at the
next scheduled sitting; this will generally entail the suspension of your progression on your
programme of study until such time that you have completed the level and become eligible to
proceed. The date and time of the examination for your referral attempt will usually be confirmed to
you by Academic Registry via the University’s website and not by the module leader.
5 Guidance for Students on Policies for Assessment
The University has several policies for assessment. The following information, which is available to
you from the link below, provides guidance on these policies, including relevant procedures and
forms.
(1) Assessment Regulations and Policies
(a) Assessment Regulations for Taught Awards
(b) Group Work Assessments Policy
(c) Moderation Policy
(d) Retention of Assessed Work Policy
(e) Word Limits Policy
(2) Assessment Feedback
(a) Anonymous Marking Policy
(3) Late Submission of Work and Extension Requests
(4) Personal Extenuating Circumstances
(5) Technical Extenuating Circumstances
(6) Student Complaints and Appeals
(7) Academic Misconduct
(8) Student Disability and Unforeseen Medical Circumstances
https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/university-services/academic-registry/quality-and-teachingexcellence/assessment/guidance-for-students/
