In the first of three blog posts, fourth year MEng Civil & Structural Engineering student Amy reflects on her experience on the Global Engineering module that sees students complete a real life engineering project in a developing country.

The Global Engineering module provided the opportunity to tackle an international design and build challenge in rural Borneo, utilising the engineering skills and knowledge developed from university learning. Providing basic amenities such as access to water and sanitation facilities in the developing world is a vital challenge to be tackled by engineers, particularly in Sabah where 41% of the population lack access to safe drinking water supplies or sanitation services.

My team was placed in Bombong Empat, a remote community located in the jungle region of Northern Sabah. The project involved the construction of a toilet block and the installation of a new gravity-fed water system. An existing government installed system failed to adequately supply water to all of the community and was extremely unreliable in the dry season. This clearly highlighted the importance of the task at hand – to provide each home with a reliable water supply.

Life on expedition involved 12 hour working days with early 05:00am starts in a constant 32^oC heat. The project required copious amounts of manual labour including digging, transporting heavy materials and concreting. Works for the installation of the gravity-fed water system consisted of the construction of a new dam and header tank site, laying over 1.5 kilometres of the pipe network and the installation of 15 tap stands across the village. With only 11 days to complete all tasks, as well as a limited supply of materials, careful planning and close communication were vital for project success.

Laying and connecting the pipe network

On the ninth day of the project we released water down the pipe network and waited eagerly at the lowest tap. After 17 minutes of listening to lots of air gush through the system, we had water! It was an amazing feeling to see that all of our hard work had paid off and we were all extremely proud of our achievement. It was fantastic to see the difference between the fast flowing taps from the new system with that from the existing supply, clearly demonstrating the true difference we had made to the lives of the community.

Flowing water at the lowest home – success!

Useful links:

• A video by Amy’s team about their time in Borneo
• MEng Civil and Structural Engineering
• Raleigh International

Lucy, a fourth year MEng Civil Engineering student, writes about this week’s expedition to Borneo and the work that the students have had to do before they depart.

On March 10^th, a group of 20 final year students will be travelling to two small villages in the Sabah region of Malaysian Borneo to build and install gravity-fed water systems and sanitation blocks for up to 300 people. The project gives us the opportunity to put into practice the engineering skills we have learnt over the last 4 years in a real-life design and build project. It also gives us the opportunity to develop our teamwork and leadership skills in a completely new and challenging environment.

Laying pipe during the Borneo Expedition 2014

In the run up to the trip, we have produced basic plans and taken part in training to make sure that we are as prepared as we can be for the expedition. Over the last four months, in teams of 5, we have conducted a feasibility study and produced concept designs for a gravity-fed water supply system. We have also considered the social and environmental impacts of our work, by undertaking comprehensive risk assessments and discussing as a group, the ways in which we can limit any negative impacts on the community. Whilst in the community, our aim is to immerse ourselves in the Malaysian culture and embrace life in the community. To help with this, we have learnt some basic Malay phrases and cultural traditions, as well as the rules of Sepak takraw, a popular Malaysian volleyball-type game.

Over the last 8-10 months, we have been completing fundraising activities to raise the £2300 needed for the trip. Efforts have included sponsored walks, runs, triathlons, bake sales, 3 peaks and much more. Our group fundraising activities have not only helped to raise much needed cash, but have also helped us to bond as a team before having to live together for 3 whole weeks!

Raleigh International play a major role in the organisation of the expedition, including holding a preparation day in advance of the trip. On the Raleigh day we learnt some key information about the villages we would be helping and had a run through of all the kit that we would need before we travel. We also learnt more about the conditions that we would be living in, including constructing our own toilets and showers and the all-important Raleigh rations!

So, here we go!  We have had our jabs, bought our kit and prepared our designs. I am nervous and excited all at the same time, but most importantly I can’t wait to be able to put the skills I have learnt during our course into practice into a real-life environment, to improve the lives of people in the communities and leave a lasting legacy.

Useful links:

• Video about the Civil Engineering expedition
• MEng Civil Engineering at Newcastle University

Second year MEng Civil Engineering student Lorena reviews the recent ACCESS event that brought students and industrial partners together.

Earlier this month, the University organized ACCESS – Awareness of Careers in Civil Engineering for Second Year Students. The event took two hours and gave us the chance to meet and chat with people from industry who had come to see us.

No one in my family works in engineering and so having the opportunity to talk face-to-face with practising engineers made me clear my mind about the path I want to follow. Asking people about their day at work made me realise that consultancy (design work)  fits me better than the contracting (on-site construction) side of the profession.

ACCESS is an annual event for second year civil engineering students to meet and chat with the industrial partners that help to deliver the civil engineering degrees.

Moreover, prior to the event, when I thought about jobs big companies like Arup, Atkins, Jacobs would come into my mind. Now, I’m thinking about medium/smaller companies like BT Bell and local authority engineering teams like the one at Northumberland County Council.  The projects might be smaller but I discovered that they have great opportunities to grow as an engineer.

The part that I enjoyed the most was that everyone from industry was really friendly and helpful, answering all our questions. Some of them were graduates from Newcastle University, so I took the chance to ask them about the differences between uni and their job and what role did uni play in what they are doing now. Their answers made me quite excited about what my future career might be.

My favorite question to ask was, “what’s the most challenging aspect of your job?”  I was surprised by the fact that no one named any technical issue. However, answers like “politics” and “public consultation” made me realise working with people will be one of the hardest parts of my career.  I’ve come to see it like this: a maths problem will always have the same answer, no matter what method we use to find it. When it comes to people … they can change what they want and believe in a matter of seconds.

Overall, I was really happy with the way the event was organized. I believe it is a great opportunity and it made me look forward towards a job in engineering. But, for now, it’s back to coursework!

Useful links:

• MEng Civil Engineering at Newcastle University
• Video about the 2015 ACCESS event

Phoebe, a second year BEng Civil Engineering student, describes the differences between first and second year studies.

In second year we are building on a lot of the basics we learnt in first year in really interesting ways. Instead of learning equations and content, we are now applying this and starting to design things such as roads and water treatment plants. This year’s modules follow on really well from last year’s, solidifying and adding to the knowledge we have and using it in a more practical, problem solving way. We are starting to get a real insight into the way engineers approach these massive infrastructure problems.

Laboratory and practical sessions are also getting a lot more hands on. In first year structures modules, we did some strength testing of various materials and used some demonstration rigs to learn about basic mechanics.  In second year, this has moved on a lot and recently we constructed our own 4m long, steel-reinforced concrete beams that will be tested-to-destruction once cured. Making the beams involved making measurements, tying reinforcement bars in place and pouring and vibrating the fresh concrete on to some formwork.

In another module, we are learning the process of cleaning water and wastewater, and actually going into a lab and trying to put our knowledge to the test.

Our major group design project this year is the theoretical redevelopment of Newcastle International Airport so that it can take a daily flight of an Airbus A380. It is a major task and requires us to draw on all the knowledge we have gained so far. The first phase of the project allowed for a lot of design work and sketching, which was a great chance to get creative. The second phase asks us to go into a lot more detail, where we will have to use what we have learned in other modules and apply it to this real world task. For example, if we plan to move a road, we now have to use what we learned in our transport modules to design the new road layout. We also have to draw on our mechanics and materials knowledge to ensure our terminals are built to a safe and environmentally sustainable standard.

In our latest student blog, Daisy (second year MEng Civil Engineering) writes about the Women in Engineering netball team that was set up this year.

The ‘WinE’ netball team was created as a part of the Women in Engineering group that’s being set up at Newcastle University. It was suggest that sport is one way for all Engineering students to meet, have fun and get to know each other as well as including a social aspect where students can talk to other like-minded students.

This has proved to be true with the netball team consisting of women from all year groups and most engineering subjects (civil / mechanical / electrical / chemical / marine). We have had the chance to give advice and discuss our courses in a less formal and more relaxed setting.

One thing I have enjoyed most about the netball group is being able to spend time with other girls who have similar interests to me. With the engineering sector currently consisting mainly of men, the opportunity to talk to other females interested in the industry is rare and so it’s nice to be able to do this in the early stages of my career.

We are currently third in our league, with the top four teams progressing to the next stages of the competition. For a new team with little training we are doing well and improving with every match. Hopefully next year we can hold trials and possibly have more than one team.

As well as meeting up for netball training the team also meets outside of university to relax and get away from the pressures of our course. Currently we have been on a cocktail social and are planning more now that the exam season is over.

I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the ‘Women in Engineering’ netball team this year and hopefully we will progress to the final stages of the competition.

With the semester 1 exams ow out of the way, our students have started blogging for us again.

Hi, my name is Max. I’m a third year MEng Civil Engineering student and am currently the captain of FC Civille. Cleverly named after our counterparts in Spain (Seville FC), FC Civille is an 11-a-side Intramural football team that welcomes all students, from Undergrads to Postgrads and from Civil Engineers to Politicians. Newcastle University’s Intramural football scene consists of three divisions, normally with ten teams in each league. Teams play each other twice throughout the course of the academic year whilst also partaking in cup competitions. League games are always played on Saturdays, usually at the University’s 3G and grass pitches located in Longbenton with varied kick off times throughout the day from 10am to 4pm.

In my first year at University, I decided I wanted to play football on a regular basis but also wanted to have a laugh whilst doing so.  I then heard about the trials for FC Civille and haven’t looked back since. When I joined the team, we were sitting precariously at the foot of the second division, where we remained for the rest of the season, narrowly escaping relegation. Having reshuffled the squad the following year, we managed to win the league and are currently playing our football in the ‘top flight’ this season.

In addition to playing football, social nights are regularly held and we always work hard to make new players feel welcome and part of the squad.

I would urge anyone who is interested in playing enjoyable but competitive football to join FC Civille as it is a fantastic club that works alongside the School of Civil Engineering & Geosciences to provide a great sport and social outlet during your studies.

Just before Christmas, somebody got in touch through social media asking what it is like to study first year civil engineering.  Martin Jolley, a first year BEng Civil Engineering student wrote the following about his experiences so far.

Introduction

With civil engineering being such a broad subject you have to enter the first year with an open mind about the subject knowledge you will learn. Within the first semester of Newcastle civil engineering, you have on average 18-23 hours of contact time a week, learning the basic skills of engineering of which I’ll go into more detail below.

What Modules Do I Study in First Semester?

• Structural Mechanics Here you learn about the basic concepts of physics, with the module focusing very much on truss designs, and reaction forces from moments of applied force.
• Engineering Maths This year-long module is shared across all engineering schools and builds upon A-level maths, incorporating small parts of further maths also, such as Imaginary Numbers and Matrices
• Environmental Systems This module has you think about effects (e.g. pollution) that engineering may have on water systems such as river catchments or water supply systems.
• Surveying Although its not one of the most popular modules amongst the civil engineers, surveying is a very useful tool a civil engineer can have. With 3 practical tasks through the first semester, surveying can be one of the fun modules if you enjoy hands on work.
• GIS (Geographical Information Systems) This module focuses on maps and building IT skills around map building to help plan and design engineering projects. With a computer practical session each week, GIS is a coursework-heavy module, where independent study is vital, as there is only one hour of lecture time allocated a week.
• Human Systems Demands and Impacts This is a 100% coursework module which builds upon ideas around sustainability and the people and environment that civil engineers affect with any work done.
• Design of Sustainable Engineering Systems DSES is another coursework-based module but is mostly group work and lasts all year. This module is a fantastic way to get to know people on your course and involves the design and construction of a scaled engineering piece, in a very professional manner.
• Tutor Meeting Periods These timetabled pieces aren’t lectures as such, but more of an opportunity for you to broaden your skill set and knowledge with talks from various university staff and guest lectures from engineering companies. The sessions are also used to convey information about the course from your course leaders such as guidance about preparing for exams.
• In Semester 2, I will be studying: Structural Materials; Geotechnical Properties of Rocks and Soil; and Fluid Mechanics.

What Can I Expect from The Course?

Newcastle is a great university in a great city. The one thing you can expect from the course is an abundance of opportunity in not only learning and furthering yourself now, but also improving the possibility of employment in the future. Anyone who has taken a science at A Level knows that it isn’t easy and you get out of the subject what you put into it … well civil engineering at Newcastle is no different. Much of the work isn’t easy, but at the same time its not impossible, all the work is achievable and if you go into it with the right mindset from the start, is easy to keep on top of.