Learning outcomes:
LO1: Develop the ability to monitor, interpret and apply an integrated or systems approach to infrastructure engineering problems through know-how of the relevant technologies, their applications and modelling in order to bring about continuous improvement.
LO2: Demonstrate to work with information that may be incomplete or uncertain and be aware that this may affect the design and apply problem-solving skills, technical knowledge and understanding to create or adapt design solutions that are fit for purpose including operation, maintenance, reliability etc.
LO3: Exhibit knowledge and understanding of the commercial, economic and social context of engineering processes and awareness of risk issues, including health & safety, environmental and commercial risk.
LO4: Demonstrate knowledge of quality issues and their application to continuous improvement of infrastructure engineering system (eg. operations and management, application and development of technology, etc) and ability to use relevant materials, equipment, tools, processes, or products.
Q1: Geotechnical asset management (20%)
Highways England operates, maintains and improves England’s Strategic Road Network (SRN), which has a diverse asset base. Well-maintained geotechnical assets are key to a safe and smooth-running SRN, and failure of these assets can lead to delays, resulting in significant economic impacts. Discuss the Highways England’s current approach to geotechnical asset management.
Q2: Structures Asset Management (35%)
Calculate the following costs:
Q3. Exploring impacts of climate change on UK’s ICT infrastructure Assets (10%)
Information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure is critically important to the society. An ICT system comprises integrated networks, systems and components that enable the transmission, receipt, capture, storage and manipulation of information by users on and across electronic devices. ICT is a relatively new but rapidly developing infrastructure sector. As reported by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU, 2014), the UK is one of the world’s largest ICT markets. The UK’s ICT industry is worth £58 billion annually (UK Trade & Investment, 2014), and is ranked as the fifth in 2014 globally in terms of development (ITU, 2014). There is a continued growth in the uptake and spread of ICTs (Ofcom, 2014). While ICTs contribute to climate-related responses and adaptive practices, much less is known about the impacts that climate change may have on ICT itself. Drawing on knowledge in the literature and findings elicited from industrial workshop conversations and case studies, explore the available evidence of climate impacts on the UK’s ICT infrastructure assets. (10%)