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Overview

Course Prescription

An advanced course on topics in earthquake engineering to be determined each year by the Head of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Course Overview

This course provides an understanding of the forensic engineering process that applies to the investigation and assessment of failures (collapse and serviceability) and existing structures. It aims to provide participants with the necessary practical knowledge and skills to organize, undertake, or participate in a systematic forensic investigation. It is also appropriate for professionals with design experience and has international applicability. Familiarity with basic structural engineering design and detailing regarding concrete, structural steel, timber, and masonry is expected. It will be assumed that all students enrolled will have these skills as they will be needed but not be taught within Civil 774. Business practices including the application of the standard of care, performing a self-assessment of capabilities, assembling a team, and identifying situations regarding professional ethics will also be discussed. As this is a Level 9 course, over 30% of the grade being assessed will be via independent work (e.g. individual projects, reports, investigations, etc.). This work must demonstrate an application of highly-specialised knowledge. 

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend on average 10 hours per week. For this course, you can expect 36 hours of lectures and tutorials, 40 hours of reading and lecture study, and 74 hours of work on assignments.

Assessments include analyses and reports. These will require individual and team effort.

Locations and Semesters Offered

Location
City

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including tutorials/clinics to receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including seminars/tutorials will be available as recordings.
The course will include live online events including group discussions/tutorials.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

Forensic Engineering, 2nd ed. Author: Kenneth L Carper Boca Raton, Fla. : CRC Press/Taylor & Francis c2001. ISBN: 9781420037029 (e-book : PDF)
Forensic Structural Engineering Handbook, 2nd ed. Author: Robert T Ratay New York; London : McGraw-Hill c2010.
Beyond Failure: Forensic Case Studies for Civil Engineers Author: Norbert J. Delatte American Society of Civil Engineers, 2008. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/auckland/detail.action?docID=3115318 (Links to an external site.).
To Engineer is Human (video) Author: Henry Petroski BBC Worldwide, 1987. Alexander Street, https://video-alexanderstreet-com.ezproxy.auckland.ac.nz/watch/to-engineer-is-human.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.


You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Health and Safety

As students will be required to visit public spaces as a portion of this course, it is expected that an appropriate assessment of risks (e.g. traffic) are completed prior to undertaking the activity.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Other Information

Students will be required to travel to various sites in Auckland. Assessments will be based upon both individual and group performance. Team leaders for assessments may receive added credit. There will be in-class weekly polls based upon the reading assignments and the previous week's notes. They will not be graded individually, but grades for class participation will be affected.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Additional Information on Academic integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms. For this course, it is encouraged that you form a study group to discuss course readings, videos, and issues and gain a deeper understanding of the topics. If you are required to submit an individual assignment it must be your own work. Group assignments must be reflective of the work of all team members. Submitted work may be required to be submitted electronically and uploaded to Turnitin. You can upload as many times as you like using the same title and personal id.

Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type12345678

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.