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What will I learn on this module?
Surveying refers to the determination, representation, and analysis of the positions of key features in both the natural and built environment. It is a fundamental skill, based on accuracy and precision, that underpins all engineering and construction projects. You will learn this through our introduction to the principles of surveying. In lectures, we will explain the theory and concepts of surveying, and help you to develop practical and mathematical surveying skills. We will help you to understand how engineering surveying can contribute to the successful design and completion of engineering projects through discussion in class. Your surveying skills will be developed through practical work. You will start by using automatic levels, learning about booking procedures, error check, and calculations. You will then progress by using total stations, collecting angular surveys for key engineering applications and checking, assessing, and correcting your work to optimise the survey quality. Finally, we will introduce you to a range of cutting edge, high precision surveying instrumentation such as terrestrial laser scanners, and differential GPS. We will take you from data collection, through processing and analysis to interpretation of results.
How will I learn on this module?
The module will include a range of learning materials such as presentations, notes, seminar questions for you to answer, and other resources such as video links, spreadsheets and specific software-related files. All these resources will be arranged in a convenient learning journey, giving you a clear expectation of the material to be studied and tasks to be completed on a week-by-week basis. You will be expected to complete the appropriate tasks in your weekly journey before programmed sessions. You will take part in lectures to develop your knowledge and understanding of the module material. During practical sessions, you will be able to gain practical experience in a range of surveying equipment. Through a series of structured and guided practical sessions based on real word scenarios you will develop skills and gain a working knowledge of automatic levels, total stations and more advanced surveying technologies. There may be occasions within the semester where normal teaching will be suspended to allow your learning to be supplemented by a range of activities such as design workshops, guest presentations, professional body events, site visits and field work.
How will I be supported academically on this module?
Support will include feedback from tutors during seminars, lectures, and practical sessions. In addition, tutors will use the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) to provide electronic versions of module material. The University’s VLE offers remote access to materials and aids for reinforcing your learning. All of these support mechanisms and learning and teaching approaches will help to you to prepare for the assessments and prepare you for further learning in the programme.
The module and the wider programme teams will provide a supportive approach, enabling you to quickly and easily access and speak to any member of the programme team, as required.The University Library and other student services also offer a variety of academic skills training both online and face to face, which you can access as needed.
What will I be expected to read on this module?
All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.
What will I be expected to achieve?
Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Determine positions and levels of points, to an acceptable degree of accuracy, using a range of surveying techniques.
2. Identify the contribution surveying makes to the design, quality, sustainability and successful completion of engineering projects.
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. Use surveying equipment effectively, efficiently and to professional standards of skill and safety considerations
4. Develop and apply teamwork, communication and leadership in order to complete group tasks and address problems solving issues.
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. To identify issues and potential causes of error and work effectively to reduce those contributors in future tasks engaging with critical reasoning and reflection.
How will I be assessed?
Formative Assessments
Formative and self-assessment will be carried out throughout the modules as students use error checks to identify areas of improvement and hone their surveying skills and discuss these with the tutor. Discussion with the module tutor and reflection on your performance will allow you to continuously monitor your ability to feed this forward for your improvement.
Summative Assessment
Summative assessment will take the form of a single piece of coursework of 4000 words equivalent length, covering MLOs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. It will allow students to demonstrate their competency in using a range of surveying equipment. It will also test their understanding of theoretical surveying principles and mathematics, as well as wider surveying concepts within engineering projects.
You will receive individual feedback with marks and comments for your summative assignment. Your feedback will give general consideration of your work, highlighting those areas that you completed successfully and those not so successfully. The intention will be to clarify points of learning that have not been fully assimilated.
Pre-requisite(s)
N/A
Co-requisite(s)
N/A
Module abstract
Land surveying includes gaining measurements of the built and the natural environment that are both precise and accurate. Professional surveying skills are required for all construction projects and form the fundamental process by which designs can become a reality. This module introduces the core skills required for all surveying applications, gaining hands on experience and a high level of competency with a range of surveying technologies. The practical and applied focus to this module will enable you to become proficient in automatic levels and total stations and will introduce you to the new technological advances that are leading current research and development in surveying. Working as a team you will undertake a progression of applied survey methods, building your surveying knowledge and expertise and using error checks to reflectively assess and improve your approaches and build your capabilities to support your engineering career. Assessment consists of a coursework task. Supportive individual feedback will be provided for the assessment which will identify areas of merit and offer guidance for future improvement.
Course info
UCAS Code H201
Credits 20
Level of Study Undergraduate
Mode of Study 4 years Full Time or 5 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad
Department Mechanical and Construction Engineering
Location City Campus, Northumbria University
City Newcastle
Start September 2025
All information is accurate at the time of sharing.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
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