Advanced Project Management in Construction MSc

This module aims to discuss Lean Construction theory and practice, including its application in Building Information Modelling (BIM) enabled projects. The module discusses traditional approaches to project management and presents Lean as an innovative waste and value based approach to managing construction projects.

Delivering construction projects in time, within budget and to the required quality standards is not only the key measure of global construction project success, but also the ultimate responsibility of all the construction project managers. Managing construction contracts and procurement arrangements appropriately is key to achieve such success in construction projects. This module aims to impart clear knowledge and the skills necessary to understand and apply approaches to achieving this goal.

This module is aimed at preparing you to manage projects within the built environment through the use of advanced planning and control techniques. It will enable you to learn and apply a range of skills in project planning, scheduling, monitoring and control that includes cash flow and capital expenditure analysis, value management, risk and opportunity management and the use of software-based decision support tools as used in industry.

The research methods module introduces students to a variety of methods, approaches and practical issues involved in conducting academic research. It will give you the chance to become familiar with the key elements involved in designing, carrying out and assessing research relevant to a range of built environment disciplines. The objectives of this module are: to define a topic which is both researchable and manageable within the bounds of a Master’s dissertation/project; to conduct a preliminary literature search and synthesis, providing a background and justification to the research project; to establish clear aims and objectives for the research to specify the detailed plan to be carried out; and to produce a structure for the research which indicates the sources and methods to be employed and a feasible working programme.

This module gives you the opportunity to undertake a major, in-depth piece of work along with other This includes a largely self-directed study, of what you have gained from the course and, often, to integrate it with elements from previous studies or professional experiences. It gives the opportunity for you to develop your research skills and abilities, allowing exploration of a particular and complex area covered in the taught elements of your course of study. The major project represents a study of a specified topic based on the gathering and analysis of primary and secondary data, contextualised within existing knowledge in the field and drawing conclusions to a defined research question.

This module aims to address several key needs for the production and analysis of buildings designed to be efficient in construction and in operation. Reference will be made to the latest exemplars and how the lessons learned from these can be applied to future practice. Advanced construction techniques will be discussed alongside alternative forms of design. The module will consider both non-domestic and domestic examples of sustainable buildings. It will review them with a view to giving you the opportunity for critical questioning and analysis of their claimed performance. A key element of this module is the use of analytical methods including computer simulation to assess performance and how such information is integrated into other aspects of construction.

This module aims to address BIM at the project level. The aim is to provide understanding and support the critical evaluation of the key issues in collaborative, integrated BIM based projects. It includes a broad understanding of process change needed to enable the achievement of BIM benefits in practice.