Using Nanotechnology in Civil Engineering

Using Nanotechnology in Civil Engineering

by | August 9, 2019 | Nanotechnology in civil engineering

Nanotechnology is the engineering of functional systems at the molecular scale.

Nanotechnology is the science, engineering, and technology conducted at the nanoscale, which is about 1 to 100 nanometers.

1 nm = 1 x 10-9 m

Nanotechnology has many uses in civil engineering. Let’s get into the details.

Application in concrete

Adding nanoscale materials into cement could help improve its performance. In detail, the use of nano-SiO2 increases the surface area and reduces the pores, giving a stronger mix of concrete. Therefore, the dispersion/slurry of amorphous nanosilica helps to improve segregation resistance for self-compacting concrete. Reports show that adding a small amount of carbon nanotubes (1%) by weight could increase both compressive and flexural strength.

Application in steel

Steel is both the most widely used and the most recycled metal material on earth. Consequently, the majority of it goes to the construction industry. Its properties, such as strength, corrosion resistance, and weldability, are very important when it comes to construction. Moreover, it’s possible to develop new, low carbon, high performance steel (HPS). Specifically, by incorporating copper nanoparticles the new steel will have higher corrosion resistance and improved weldability.

Coating

Nanoparticles or nanolayers are added in the coating process. This is one of the major applications of nanotechnology in construction. For example, engineers use TiO2 to coat stainless steel because of its strelising and anti-fouling properties. In addition to, the TiO2 will break down and disintegrate organic dirt through powerful catalytic reaction. Furthermore, it’s hydrophilic, which allows the water to spread evenly over the surface and wash away dirt that has been previously broken down. Other special coatings also exist, such as energy sawing, thermal control, anti-reflecting and anti-graffiti coating.

Nanosensors

Sensors monitor and control the environment condition and the performance of the materials and structure. One advantage of these sensors is their dimensions, which is 10 -9 m to 10-5 m. The sensors go into the structure during the construction process. Smart aggregate, a low cost piezocermanic-based multi-functional device, monitors early age concrete properties. These include moisture, temperature, relative humidity and strength development. The sensors are also capable of monitoring concrete corrosion and cracking. Another benefit to the smart aggregate is that it can monitor stresses, cracks, and other physical forces on the structure during its life. It’s capable of providing an early indication of the structure’s health before a failure of the structure can occur.

Thanks for taking the time to read our blog post about using nanotechnology in civil engineering. Do you want to study abroad in Spain? Take a look at our Civil engineering study programme and feel free to talk to our counsellor for more information.

5 Reasons to Pursue an MBA in Spain

5 Reasons to Pursue an MBA in Spain

by | July 21, 2019 | MBA in Spain

Spain is a popular study abroad destination for many. And one of the most popular fields of study for international students is business. Business schools in Spain have a worldwide reputation that precedes them. There’s a reason why Spain has more business schools in the European top then than any other country.

Are you considering studying a Master’s degree in Business Administration in Spain? Here are 5 reasons to pursue an MBA in Spain.

High quality business education

When it comes to quality, the MBA programmes offered in Spain deliver more than expected. They check a range of points that are of value to the student. These include reputation, student satisfaction levels, internship opportunities, job employment after graduation, and many others. Should you choose to study at the UPCT, you will be getting high quality business education as the UPCT is part of the International Excellence Campus (IEC).

Entry requirements you can meet

Depending on the school, the path to admissions may be easier in Spain than in other western countries due to less stringent entry requirements. But this isn’t to say that anyone can be enrolled in an MBA programme. Business is, after all, a competitive field so top grades, internships, work experience, and other selling points can help you stand out from the crowd of applicants.

Unique internship opportunities

MBA programmes from Spain follow an excellent academic standard and offer unique internship opportunities. For example, our MBA degree is available with an “optional” industry placement. In this case, the UPCT will provide students the necessary institutional coverage for developing placement, being responsible of finding and selecting the company. Completing an internship is an optional extension of the MBA degree, but not necessary for getting the academic MBA title.

Study in English, but also learn Spanish

Many MBA programmes in Spain allow students to study in English, with Spanish courses available. Spanish is the second most widely spoken language. So whatever your level of Spanish language proficiency is at the beginning of your study abroad adventure, leaving with stronger skills will enrich your overall experience and broaden your prospects on the job market.

Multicultural community

Spain is home to a multicultural population. Whichever MBA you choose, you will have colleagues from all over the world. Getting your MBA in an international environment is a major advantage. It provides you with the chance for a wide networking. And for successful business, networking is one of the key elements.

Considering the benefits Spain offers to international business students, it’s no wonder that business is one of the most popular study fields in the country. Still thinking about which MBA programme is best for you? Take a look at our International MBA!

Why Spain Should Be Your Study Abroad Destination

Why Spain Should Be Your Study Abroad Destination

by | June 20, 2019 | Study in Spain

Are you thinking about studying in Spain? There’s no shortage of reasons why Spain should be your study abroad destination. The warm weather, great education, and low living costs, are just a few.

Photo by Pixabay from Pexels

As more people become aware of the benefits of having an international mindset, the need for study abroad programmes grows. Aside from the opportunity to learn a new language and expand your knowledge, students abroad are able to enjoy a wonderful quality of life, too. Spain is famous for its many sunny days, delicious Mediterranean cuisine, gorgeous beaches, and vibrant nightlife. All of that, plus the friendly Spanish people, make Spain a great environment for students of all ages.

Here are some of the reasons why Spain should be your study abroad destination.

Great educational system

No matter what your major is or which university you have applied to in Spain, there’s a great opportunity for learning. The Spanish educational system provides students of all levels with the utmost of learning opportunities. Spain is the number one most popular country for international students, with most students coming from the USA. Should you choose to study in Spain, you can be sure that you’ll be getting a high quality education.

Learn a new language

Even if learning Spanish isn’t your intended reasons for coming to Spain, there’s no question that you’ll learn a great deal while studying. Spanish is the second most widely spoken language. During your studies, you will be in the presence of native speakers and before you know it, you’ll be speaking Spanish fluently. Most universities offer Spanish classes so make sure to give it a try. Being multilingual is a great benefit for your future career.

Affordable costs of living

The living costs in Spain are very affordable when compared to other countries in Europe. No matter which city you choose to study in, you can make an affordable venture, especially is your being careful with your selections. For Madrid and Barcelona, Spain’s two most expensive cities, you’d need 800-1,000 EUR per month for all of your monthly spending. In cities like Seville or Cartagena, you can enjoy cheaper costs of living at 600-900 EUR per month.

Wonderful weather and climate

Located in southern Europe, Spain is a country with an endless summer, even though there are four seasons. With an average of 300 sunny days a year, it’s an ideal place to escape the grey skies and to soak up some vitamin D. Even though the south has great weather and climate, the north can be very surprising, so make sure to pack accordingly!

Delicious Mediterranean cuisine

Spanish cuisine is the secret to many people’s hearts, and Spain knows how to take advantage of that. It’s heavily influenced by historical processes, as well as Spain’s geography and climate. From tasty tapas to fresh seafood and traditional roasts, Spanish food is full of flavour and character.

Lots of events and a vibrant nightlife

From seeing the bulls run in Pamplona, to the Cartagena Carnaval, to La Tomatina in Buñol, Spain has a lot to offer. Throughout the year, you’ll come across all sorts of parades, festivals and bonfires. There’s also a wide choice of cool clubs where you can dance all night long. All in all, Spain has a very vibrant nightlife.

Experience the country

When you think of Spain, your mind might immediately jump to Madrid and Barcelona. While these two cities offer beautiful landscapes and are certainly hot tourist spots, Spain has so much more to offer. During your study abroad experience in Spain, you’ll have plenty of time to travel and explore many amazing places.

Thanks for taking the time to read our blog post on why Spain should be your study abroad destination. If you want to study abroad in Spain, but still haven’t decided where, we offer four master’s degrees for international students.

How Will You Benefit From a Degree in Telematics Engineering

How Will You Benefit From a Degree in Telematics Engineering

by | March 14, 2019 | International Telematics engineering degree

A career in telematics engineering offers diversity, scope for creativity, a dynamic environment and much more. Telematics is an interdisciplinary field that encompasses telecommunications, vehicular technologies, electrical engineering and computer science. Hence our Master in Telematics Engineering offers advanced education about the last technological advances. In this blog post we’ll be focusing on the career benefits in Telematics engineering.

High-demand job

Telematics engineering is aggressively growing. Therefore, in today’s times opportunities are galore for a telematics professional. Moreover, this trend will only rise with the ever growing demands of the consumers. A telematics engineer can work for some of the following companies:

  • Telecom equipment manufacturers like Samsung, Nokia, etc.
  • Telecom network providers like Vodafone, Airtel, etc.
  • Banks and Financial institutions
  • Research laboratories across the globe
  • System integrator companies such as Accenture, IBM, Wipro, etc.

Problem-solving abilities

A telematics engineer usually has complete responsibility of constructing a telecommunication system or device. Eventually, spending some time in this field, you’ll learn how to draft plans, design and configure such devices. You’ll also compile engineering project proposals to define goals, identify scope, background and estimated costs. Another thing to mentions is that analytical and problem solving skills are an added advantage. So as you grow in this profession, identifying and analyzing problems will become one of your most significant traits.

Interpersonal and communication skills

Many engineering positions include the ability to serve as liaison between different business segments or even with customers. In addition, many telematics engineer positions include being a point of contact. Specifically, tthis occurs at level 3/tier 3 escalating for troubleshooting in customer care. Therefore, you will boost your interpersonal and communication skills.

Higher salary

As mentioned earlier, being a telematics engineer is a high-demand job. Having a Master’s degree in Telematics Engineering comes with a higher average salary.

Effective documentation skills

As networks are designed and deployed, employers want engineers who can clearly and accurately document everything. In particular, architectures, functionality, and other details of telematics infrastructure and software. All in order to maintain good information for maintenance, troubleshooting, and future upgrades. In detail, this requires ISO standardized documentation. As a result, many employers seek people who are proficient-to-excellent in their ability to use Microsoft Office applications.

Telematics helps increase productivity, reduce labor costs, control fuel costs. It also helps increase fleet safety and security, reduce operating expenses, and reduce unauthorized vehicle use. Because of these reasons, telematics engineering is important in the world today. Do you want to know more about our Telematics engineering study programme and career benefits? Talk to our counsellor to get more information.

Get more information about the Master in Telematics Engineering

Why You Should Pursue a Degree in Water Engineering

Why You Should Pursue a Degree in Water Engineering

by | February 28, 2019 | International Water engineering degree

A career as a water engineer may appeal to you if you’re keen to solving problems. Problems such as global warming, ageing infrastructure, population growth and quality of living standards. Water engineers specialise in water-based projects. In this blog post we’ll be focusing on the career benefits of pursuing a degree in Water engineering.

 

 

 

 

High-demand job

 

 

One of the biggest career benefits to water engineering is the high demand. Specifically, the number of open positions for Water Engineers will grow 20% in the next 10 years. That’s faster than average. In fact, infrastructures are constantly aging, requiring repair and rebuilding. In addition, a growing population and continual strain placed on our water resources will demand more water engineers to create new and more efficient systems.

 

 

 

 

Project planning knowledge

 

 

Planning and management issues are rarely simple in the field of water engineering. Therefore, projects focused on addressing and finding solutions to these issues are also rarely simple. In particular, these projects need planning and execution in ways that will maximise their likelihood of success. They need to lead to useful results. When decision-makers and other stakeholders disagree over what they want, and what they consider useful and helpful, you can be the one to say the final word. With enough experience, of course.

 

 

 

 

Problem-solving abilities

 

 

Problem solving in a practical setting requires more than analytical skills alone. Being for some time in this field, you’ll be able to understand what is necessary to define the problem. Furthermore, creativity and innovation are both required in generating alternative solutions. Analytical techniques must be applied to study feasibility and to obtain the optimum or ‘best’ solution. You will advance your engineering skills and become a capable, confident problem solver. You’ll do so by learning the wide array of tools, processes, and tactics employed in the field.

 

 

 

 

Higher salary

 

 

As mentioned earlier, being a water engineering is a high-demand job and it comes with a higher average salary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Field work

 

 

Last but not least, one of the career benefits to water engineering is the field work. Water engineers spend part of the work day at construction sites, thus overseeing the construction of their designs. As a result, the nature of the work keeps water engineers active and on the move. The job is dynamic, which means each project has its on distinct design challenges and operational issues. Some water engineers choose to travel abroad to participate in large engineering projects.

 

 

 

Problems associated with water resources, access, distribution and quality are amongst the most important global issues in this century. Water quality and scarcity issues are worsened by rising populations, economic growth and climate change. Do you want to know more about our Water engineering study programme? Talk to our counsellor to get more information.

 

 

Get more information about the Master in Water Engineering