The latest assignment involves estimating things like the volume of the Zoology building, the volume of Banks Peninsula, the mass of air above Christchurch on a typical winter day.
The key word here is “estimating”. The lecturers are wanting to make sure students understand things like orders of magnitude and units and so forth. So they don’t need to break out the tape measure or hunt down building plans, just eg start with how many floors the building has and apply common sense from there. A topographic/contour map (whether Topomap or just a road map that gives the height) would be useful for Banks Peninsula, and similarly for Christchurch. The main thing is for them to pick a reasonable approximate number, justify this with a citation, and work from there to get an estimated answer.
Conversion factors and other info they need are on Blackboard and in the textbook Foundations of Engineering TA 145 .F771 2008
There’s also a major design project coming up; I should be talking with the senior tutor about that soon and will pass on more info when I know it.
Of cause, we might well have plans and measurement for various buildings on campus (and across canterbury) in our architectural drawings collection so if students want accessible and accurate data that might be a viable option. Something to keep in mind anyway.
thanks deborah. great to know this stuff for asklive…
Students hve been coming to PSL looking for topographical maps but our atlases aren’t sufficiently detailed to give Banks Peninsula heights. They can’t access Topomap from off campus (incl. the halls of residence) but can access on campus and print or copy (i.e. email or save) the image they’re viewing on screen. Topomap is easy to use & is linked under the Library databases. Alternatively, they can photocopy from a map in the Geography Dept map library (3rd floor? Open M-F 9am-5pm). Cathy Hogarth is keeping a suitable map for them at the desk. Advise the use of Topomap for preference though.
Thanks for extra information everyone!