Civil Engineering Design Challenge
Module code: CEU33A12 · Semester: Full year · ECTS: 10
Resources
How it's assessed
No end-of-semester exam. It's assessed through project work.
A year-long group design project that mirrors the stages of a real civil engineering project: teams respond to a series of design briefs and refine their solution, reporting at the end of each of three phases.
| Assessment | Weight |
|---|---|
| Phase 1 report | 27.75% |
| Phase 2 report | 27.75% |
| Phase 3 report | 15% |
| Two group presentations | 4.5% |
| Site visit reports | 9% |
| Class test | 8% |
| Tutorial submissions | 8% |
Summarised from the TCD module descriptor, checked 2026-11-09. Details can change from year to year, so check this year's descriptor and Blackboard.
From students who've done it
Questions by Year
Topics
- Site selection, planning and outline design LO4
- Contracts: roles and obligations of the parties LO5
- Bills of quantities and specifications for concrete or steel structures LO4
- Reinforced concrete detailing and bar bending schedules LO2, LO4
- Concrete mix design and formwork design LO2
- Building construction, regulations, defects and remedies LO2, LO5
- Environmental services and renewable energy for buildings LO2, LO4
- Timber floor design LO2
- Construction planning and Gantt charts LO1, LO4
Learning outcomes
- Work in a design team: share work, plan, present together
- Apply knowledge from other modules to multidisciplinary design problems
- Communicate design solutions verbally and in writing
- Interpret a design brief and appraise solutions: requirements, transport, environmental impact, site selection, drawings, construction sequence, specification, bill of quantities and cost
- Reflect on the wider responsibilities of the engineering profession