由建造、环境及工程学系开辧的通识选修单元
GEE5105 Urban Greenery & Ecology
Students will complete an enormous amount of challenging assignment every week throughout the semester to acquire much knowledge of urban ecology. Regular, intensive quizzes will push students beyond their limits for them to experience a marked improvement in their ability to appreciate the complex and confusing issues behind the urban greenery we see every day. Students will be assigned to groups so that students from various disciplines can interact and devise their innovative solutions to difficult ecological situations in a long-form presentation.
This stressful but rewarding module introduces the complicated ecosystem functions and multiple benefits of urban greenery and ecology, discusses the challenges and limitations which it faces, and how to sustain ecological balance and diversity through a greenery network. Emerging trends in urban greenery and ecology, such as urban wildlife, invasive species, urban forestry as management strategies, will be investigated. With rigorous assessment, students can learn much knowledge from this module.
Although students will feel exhausted and tired after hours of non-stop walking during the field trip in a remote, rural location, everyone can explore and analyse the environmental, socio-cultural, technological issues intertwined with urban greenery. Students need to buy and bring a pair of 8 x 42 binoculars for the field trips. Without a pair of binoculars, nothing can be observed.
The following topics/areas will be covered:
- Definitions and structures of urban greenery
- Benefits provided and costs incurred by urban green spaces
- Local urban green spaces
- Ecology of Hong Kong
- Challenges of ecological conservation in Hong Kong
- Conservation of biodiversity in urban areas
- Emerging trends
Assessment Methods:
Component | Individual assignment | Group assignment |
No. of assessment | 9 | 1 |
Weighting as a % of module mark | 85% | 15% |
Possible field trips arrangement (Tentative):
| 日期 | No. of hours | Theme | Location (tentative) | Fees incurred |
1 | Near the end of the semester (A sunny weekend) | 6 | Urban wildlife and vegetation | Location to be confirmed | – Transportation and food costs
– A pair of 8×42 binoculars |
GEE5301 Environment, Development & Sustainability
This module aims to provide a broad range of topics on global contemporary environmental problems and sustainable development related issues. Essential principles required for the understanding of environmental problems in affecting our air, water, land and other natural resources will be addressed. The role of technological, economic and sustainable development in the protection of the natural and urban environment will also be discussed. On completion, students are expected to be able to identify the human role in the natural environment and the impacts of human activities and technology development on environmental quality; evaluate global environmental problems, identify pollution sources, and evaluate available technology in pollution controls and environmental protections; apply the concepts of environmental risk, conservative thinking and sustainability in the devise of practical solutions to enhance sustainable development for the society; and evaluate current environmental, development and sustainability issues and analyze problems based on scientific, social- economics, technological, and political factors in an open and objective manner.
Assessment Methods
| Component | Individual Assignment | Group Project Written Report | Oral Presentation |
| No. of assessment | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Weighting as a % of module mark | 30% | 40% | 30% |
GEE5312 Renewable Energy & Its Application in Buildings
This module aims to enhance students’ understanding of the different forms of renewable energy, including solar thermal, photovoltaic, biomass, wind, tidal, and geothermal energy. It will introduce the basic concepts of renewable energy sources, renewable energy conversion technologies, applications, and related polices. It will also provide an undergraduate level understanding of the conversion principles, the renewable energy applications in buildings, the current policies related to renewable energy in Hong Kong and other regions, as well as the present needs and future demands for renewable energy in Hong Kong. The module will be of great interest to students who want to learn more about renewable energy sources and their application in buildings.
The following types of topics/areas should be covered:
- Renewable energy sources – Solar structure and Solar energy
- Impact of renewable energy use on global climate and environment changes
- Renewable energy conversion technologies: Principles & Classifications
- Renewable energy applications in buildings: Solar thermal and solar PV
- Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV)
- Building attached photovoltaics (BAPV)
- Solar thermal and solar electric hybrid system in buildings
- FiT scheme of renewable energy application
Assessment Methods
Component Individual Assignment Group Practical Reports Group Project No. of assessment 2 1 1 Weighting as a % of module mark
50% 30% 20%
GEE5313 Buildings & Infrastructures Appreciation
This module aims to provide an overview of buildings and infrastructures. The module introduces general engineering concepts and aesthetics of various buildings and infrastructures, as well as their relevant uses and social status, to build up the students’ own perspective in building and infrastructures. Students will learn the infrastructure developments in Hong Kong since 1960’s started from the new town development, water reservoirs and Lion’s Rock Tunnel to the 10 major infrastructure projects in 2010’s. Furthermore, students will learn different forms of infrastructures, and how to appreciate the buildings and infrastructures in the aspects of functions and aesthetics. The module also intends to cultivate the students’ awareness of the social status of the infrastructures.
Assessment Methods
| Component | Individual Reflective Journals | Group Report | Group Presentation |
| No. of assessment | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Weighting as a % of module mark | 55% | 30% | 15% |
# The percentage contributions of the different assessment items to the overall module assessments.
GEE5321 Basics of Building Information Modelling
This module aims to introduce the basic concepts and essential background of building information modelling (BIM) to students of construction-related engineering, and other related professional disciplines. It extends the knowledge in engineering drawing and computer-aided design (CAD) in construction projects, and develop skills necessary for understanding virtual design and construction (VDC).
In this module, students will learn the conceptual background of BIM and apply the principles for the various aspects of BIM.
The following types of topics/areas should be covered:
- Introduction to BIM
- Computer modelling and visualisation
- External and internal collaborations
- Construction coordination and calculations
- Sustainable design and energy analysis
- Documentation and latest BIM trends
Assessment Methods
| Component | Individual Reflective Journals | Project/td> |
| No. of assessment | 2 | 1 |
Weighting as a % of module mark | 25%+25% | 50% (BIM Modelling) |
GEE5322 Introduction to Aircraft Technology
This module aims to introduce the history of aircraft development and aircraft technology. Fundamental engineering concepts on the generation of forces from aircraft wing, major aircraft systems, technology of jet engine, and environmental issues on cabin air quality and engine noise will be discussed in this module. This module is suitable for students from various disciplines who are interested in the integrated technology in aircraft.
The following types of topics/areas should be covered:
- History of aircraft development
- Aircraft flight controls
- Physical properties of forces generated from aircraft wing
- Major airframe systems in civil transport aircraft
- Jet engine propulsion
- Environmental impacts of engine noise and mitigations
Assessment methods
| Component | Assignments | Tests | Group Project |
| Weighting as a % of module mark | 25% | 50% | 25% |
GEE5323 Indoor Environmental Engineering
The module aims to develop students’ understanding of the philosophy of building design, and the strategies to improve the sustainability of buildings in relation to environmental performance from global to local issues.
The following types of topics/areas should be covered:
- Sustainability
- Green building assessment methods
- Global issues
- Local issues
- Indoor issues
- Pollutants in building
- Indoor environmental quality
- Health and safety audit
- Immunized building
Assessment methods
| Component | Assignment | Presentation | Examination |
| No. of assessment | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Weighting as a % of module mark | 30% | 10% | 60% |
GEE5324 Environmental Engineering
The module aims to familiarize students with the engineering considerations of air, water and solid waste pollution associated with human activities, the engineering methods for characterizing pollution in the environmental media, and the engineering solutions in pollution control systems. It will also provide a brief overview of environmental legislation, environmental management systems, impact assessment, and contemporary issues such as climate change, carbon audit, the water-energy nexus and green certification.
The following types of topics/areas should be covered:
1. Environmental Issues and Monitoring:
- Human environmental disturbances
- Environmental impacts of energy development
- Environmental management
- Environmental impact assessments
- Carbon audits
- LEED and BEAM Plus certification
2. Water Resources:
- Key pollutants
- Sources and standards
- Surface water and groundwater quality
- Basics of water and wastewater treatment
- Overview of activated sludge process
3. Air Quality and Pollution:
- Key pollutants
- Sources and standards
- Greenhouse effects
- Gaussian model
- Indoor air pollution
- Air pollution control
4. Solid Waste Management:
- Reuse, recycle and recover
- Disposal schemes
- Pollution preventive measures
A half-day field visit will be included for the following topic:
- Green buildings in Hong Kong
Assessment Methods
Component | Individual Assignment | Group Field Visit Report | Group Project Report | Mid-term Test | Final Examination |
No. of assessment | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Weighting as a % of module mark | 10% | 10% | 10% | 20% | 50% |