CEM236-Environmental Quality and Well-being
Module Provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded: CEM102 Business of Construction CEM103 Project Management: Principles and Practice CEM104 Construction Cost Management: Principles and Practice CEM105 Emerging Economies Integrating Studies
Module version for: 2016/7
Module Convenor: Dr Stefan Smith
Email: s.t.smith@reading.ac.uk
Summary module description:
The built environment is designed to regulate the immediate surroundings of people to aid the daily activities we undertake. This is relevant from city scale through to individual buildings and indoor space. In the context of the built environment, environmental quality is understood through known impacts of environmental conditions on human health, combined with subjective measures that relate to individual and group perception of quality. An understanding of environmental quality will be developed by introducing principles of environmental systems, measurement of environmental quality, health and well-being and the influence of urban development on the surrounding environment.
Aims:
To provide a broad view of environmental quality within an urban setting, so that students understand the impact of urban development on human health and well-being. The students will also develop an understanding of the different scales (from city to building) associated with environmental quality and control and be introduced to different measures used as indicators of environmental quality.
Assessable learning outcomes:
• Key components of environmental quality
• Indicators of environmental quality
• Environmental quality applied to an urban environment
• Environmental quality of indoor environments
• Monitoring and measurement procedures
• Analysis of data for assessing environmental quality
• Policy instruments for environmental quality
• Environmental quality and human health
• Connection between indoor and outdoor environment (holistic view of future design).
Additional outcomes:
• Environmental control legislation – global control, national control
• The role of environmental quality in sustainable urban development and building design
Outline content:
• Introduction to urban development, environmental quality and the indoor environment
• Key components of environmental quality such as thermal, acoustic, visual and air quality
• Different environmental systems and measures of environmental quality
• Influence of environment on human health and well-being
• Measurement and instrumentation for assessing environmental quality
• Holistic methods of assessing environmental quality
• Transportation of pollutants (cities and buildings)
• Environmental control legislation
• Indoor environmental control and health
• Smart Cities to manage environmental quality
• Climate Change and impacts on environmental quality and health
Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Lectures, tutorials, workshops
Summative Assessment Methods:
| Method |
Percentage |
| Written assignment including essay |
60 |
| Set exercise |
40 |
Other information on summative assessment:
Penalties for late submission:
Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. Please refer to page 5 of the Postgraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guidePG.aspx
Requirements for a pass:
A mark of 50% overall
Reassessment arrangements:
Students are required to contact the School to confirm reassessment arrangements.
Additional Costs (specified where applicable):
1) Required text books:
2) Specialist equipment or materials:
3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:
4) Printing and binding:
5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:
6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:
Last updated: 21 December 2016