UCL Institute for Digital Innovation in the Built Environment

MSc Digital Innovation in Built Asset Management

We are the innovators

The Masters in Digital Innovation in Built Asset Management offers a unique educational programme for professionals looking to use state-of-the-art techniques in the management of built assets.

Our focus is wide, but targeted, and touches on many aspects of building better places and spaces, from design and construction through to operation and maintenance.

The course is deeply engrained in the industry in which it operates, but is also research-led – which means our students gain a robust understanding not only of the best ways to work now, but also of how we can work in the future.

About the programme

• The MSc examines the role of various built environment professions through the lens of digital innovation.

• The course can be studied full-time, lasting one year, part-time, over two years, or via a modular approach, taking up to five years.

• The course has been specifically designed to cater for professionals seeking to study part-time.

• The course is forward-thinking, meaning the techniques learned will be relevant not just today, or tomorrow, but for our digital future.

The digital realm offers solutions to some of society’s biggest problems – but there is often a knowledge gap that prevents its power from being harnessed. By working together, drawing on digital advances such as building information modelling (BIM), smart cities, big data and the internet of things, we can close that gap – and help shape a better world.

A better world

Digital solutions

• Our Institute was established as part of The Bartlett, UCL’s Faculty of the Built Environment, to develop groundbreaking digital responses to pressing world issues.

• The Master of Science Digital Innovation in Built Asset Management forms part of this response – helping industry professionals and organisations to understand and implement cutting-edge ideas and techniques.

• Our MSc offers a unique blend of research-focused study and industry insights, meaning the digital solutions you discover will be relevant to all manner of built environment professions.

• The MSc links the skills you learn to the industry and professionals that use them.

Enabling leaders for the digital future

Our course was developed in collaboration with high-profile organisations and individuals from across the built environment sector. The process of creating the MSc was industry-led from the start – our connections will ensure it remains at the cutting edge

The question we posed to our industry partners was this: what skills are required now – and in the future – to provide better, digital solutions to the day-to-day problems faced by built environment professionals?

The result is the MSc Digital Innovation in Built Asset Management, a course that would create leaders of our digital future.

Who we’re looking for

Students on the MSc Digital Innovation in Built Asset Management will come from a diverse range of professional backgrounds, including:

• architects• designers• civil engineers• construction managers

Academic background will vary, with some students – looking for a career change, perhaps – holding a degree in another discipline, while others may have taken professional qualifications (of degree equivalent) enabling them to enter their first formal higher education course.

While we will consider all applications, it is expected that the majority of MSc students will enter the course already having completed a degree in a built environment discipline.

The course has been developed to encourage the use of digital solutions on problems across the globe – as such we anticipate that many of our students will come from overseas.

What we offer

• The chance to develop the skill sets required to be a leader in the field of digital innovation across a wide range of built environment disciplines.

• A deep understanding of the opportunities – and limitations – of the world of technologically-focused solutions.

• Connections with industry thinkers and leaders to ensure relevance to real-world challenges.

• A flexible learning package offering you the chance to fullfil your career potential.

• asset managers• facilities managers• project managers

Course structure

MSc Digital Innovation in Built Asset Management

The MSc Digital Innovation in Built Asset Management can be taken full-time over one year, part-time over two years, or on a modular basis over a maximum of five years. To complete the degree students must take eight modules (six core and two optional) and deliver a research dissertation.

(Timings and block structure for optional modules

may change based on demand)

Our students can tailor their experience by choosing optional modules from the breadth available at The Bartlett and UCL, subject to availability.

Term 1 Modules

Term 2 Modules

Term 3 Module

Principles of Building Information Modelling BENVGDB3

Space and Workplace Management BENVGFEE

Service Operations Management BENVGFED

Principles of Facility and Asset Management BENVGFE1

Digital Innovation: Collaborative PracticeBENVGDB2

Spatial Databases and Data Management CEGEM129

Recommended Optional Modules

Management Concepts for Facilities BENVGFEB

Strategic Quality and Project Management BENVGDB1

MSc Dissertation BENVGDB9

Principles of Facility and Asset Management This introductory core module looks at the themes and skills required within the disciplines of asset management, facilities management and project management. The module takes a digital focus, introducing concepts such as organisational behaviour through contemporary concepts in management, finance, strategy, techniques and approaches for managing quality and risk.

Space and Workplace ManagementThis core module is led by Dr Claire McAndrew. The module examines the relationship between digital innovation and space, including workplaces, public space and the emerging notion of digital public space. Exploring digital solutions that are and will be available to practitioners in the future, the module is closely linked to Collaborative Practice, with many common threads of thought and knowledge flowing through these two modules.

Digital Innovation: Collaborative Practice This core module is led by Dr Claire McAndrew and has been developed to provide students with an understanding of the changing way in which architects, engineers, project and facilities managers operate and collaborate.

Industry has radically changed its needs and this module is a response to this shift: introducing students to new processes and providing knowledge on the creation of project environments in which digital innovation can work effectively.

It will provide an understanding of the benefits of emerging and newly established digital practices to internal and external stakeholders – how, when and where they can contribute to project outcomes, and inform the skills and knowledge necessary to manage projects.

The module seeks to furnish students with an understanding of how big data, Internet of things and BIM are redefining the outcome and process requirements in collaborative practice.

Spatial Databases and Data Management This core module is delivered by Dr Claire Ellul from the Department of Civil Engineering at UCL. The module examines the technical and procedural aspects of managing ‘big’ spatial datasets and their application.

Specific topics include:• systems architecture – how to

centrally store, manage and share spatial data; database design• conceptual, logical and physical

design, both non-spatial and spatial SQL

• improving performance – techniques such as indexing, partitioning

• NoSQL databases and data management

• metadata and spatial data infrastructures

• interoperability and standards• handling 3D datasets

The module will introduce students to the creative ways in which digital tools can be merged with physical objects and systems for innovative and effective management of the built environment.

Principles of Building Information Modelling This core module is delivered by Professor Tim Broyd. The module examines how to capture 3D data both for new and retrofit via a range of data acquisition methods. It looks at the principles of surveying and building up integrated BIM geometry from multiple capture sources. Data processing and feature extraction are examined as key processes, as is the managing of BIM data, information theory, adding semantic information, storing and sharing.

Service Operations Management This module starts by defining innovation and moves on to explore the simultaneous coupling model and the use of Pentathlon Frameworks to understand and drive innovation. Examination of managing innovation is followed by defining, understanding the process of managing service and service levels. Service delivery models and performance measurement are then looked at both in terms of service and innovation. Supply Chain Management theory, application and its digital implications close the module.

Management Concepts for Facilities This module starts with delivering an understanding of facilities management strategy, then moves on to defining and developing these strategies. Compliance, risk management and risk registers are all examined as key parts of good facilities management operations. The module also looks at communications theory and application, Quality & Standards, finance management, lifecycle management and leadership theory and styles.

Strategic Project and Quality Management This module looks at evaluating project success through strategic alignment and developing knowledge to translate and implement business strategy. It accomplishes this through portfolio management, programme management and projects. It looks at understanding the principles, concepts, tools and techniques of quality management, quality engineering and continuous improvement, together with awareness of how, in practice, these could be integrated to design and deliver an integrated continuous improvement programme.

Modules

About The Bartlett

The Bartlett, UCL’s Faculty of the Built Environment, is the most comprehensive faculty of its kind in the UK, with sections spanning the entire area of study and research.

Bartlett research into transport corridors and land use has shaped government policy on the UK’s national high-speed rail network, as well as the Crossrail, Thameslink and Overground networks that are improving transport links for millions of people through and around London. It has brought about changes to the UK Building Regulations with findings about heat losses through cavity party walls – changes that will make new homes significantly more energy-efficient and knock millions of pounds off energy bills. Its research into space and planning helped to make Trafalgar Square a more pedestrian-friendly public space, and produced models that anticipated crowd behaviour at the Notting Hill Carnival, Tate Britain, Covent Garden, and at the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca. In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework assessment The Bartlett was confirmed as having the most world-leading research in its field in the UK. For further information visit: www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/@BartlettUCLyoutube.com/BartlettTV

About UCL

Founded in 1826, UCL was the first English university established after Oxford and Cambridge, the first to admit students regardless of race, class, religion or gender, and the first to provide systematic teaching of law, architecture and medicine. UCL is among the world’s top universities, as reflected by performance in a range of international rankings and tables. UCL currently has over 35,000 students from 150 countries and more than 11,000 staff. The annual income is more than £1 billion. For further information visit: www.ucl.ac.uk @uclnews youtube.com/UCLTV

“Modus Services Ltd continues to work with UCL on award-winning research projects. It has been a pleasure to be involved in the development of the MSc Digital Innovation in Built Asset Management, the first course of its kind in the world.”

Paul Francis Managing Director Modus Services Ltd

MSc Digital Innovation in Built Asset Management

www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/digital@UCL_MScDIBAM

For general enquiries and application information, please contact:

Professor Michael PittDirector of Teaching & LearningUCL Institute for Digital Innovation in the Built EnvironmentThe Bartlettmichael.pitt@ucl.ac.ukwww.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/digital

“Skanska FS has worked closely with UCL on ground-breaking research, centred on Condition-Based Monitoring. Some of this research is used as part of the MSc Digital Innovation in Built Asset Management, which is pushing new boundaries in post-occupancy facilities, project and asset management.”

Katy Dowding Managing Director Skanska Facilities Services