Course detail

Applied Digitalization of Buildings

FAST-BUA024-AAcad. year: 2026/2027

The course focuses on the issues of foundation engineering in building construction, design of waterproofing for substructures, timber structures, and roof structures. Students will learn about engineering geological and hydrogeological survey methods, types of shallow and deep foundations, and protection of buildings against moisture, groundwater, and radon. The course also covers types of wooden structures, materials for wooden structures, the design of flat roofs and roof trusses, including drainage solutions, roof ventilation, and the design of chimneys and ventilation systems. The aim is to prepare students to design and assess foundation and roof structures with regard to functionality, safety, and technical standards. As part of the topics covered, students are continuously familiarized with the logical composition of the substructure and roof cladding. 

Language of instruction

English

Number of ECTS credits

3

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

Ing. Josef Remeš, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Computer Aided Engineering and Computer Science (AIU)

Offered to foreign students

Of all faculties

Entry knowledge

Not applicable.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Not applicable.

Aims

Professional knowledge
  • Knows the procedures of engineering geological and hydrogeological surveys and their importance for the foundation of buildings.
  • Has knowledge of types of foundation soils, earthworks, and methods of ensuring the stability of excavations.
  • Understands the principles of designing shallow and deep foundations, including the specifics of foundation work in complicated conditions (property boundaries, vacant lots).
  • Has a command of the principles of designing waterproofing systems for underground structures and protecting buildings against radon penetration.
  • Knows the basic types of wooden structures, the materials used, and their properties.
  • Has an overview of the structural principles of building roofing, the design of single-layer and double-layer flat roofs, including methods of drainage and ventilation of roof structures.
  • Understands the construction of roof trusses, truss systems, and the design of chimneys and ventilation/air vents.
Professional skills
  • Can analyse geological conditions for building foundations and propose appropriate foundation methods.
  • Ability to design shallow and deep foundations, including structural modifications.
  • Can design and specify waterproofing measures for substructures with regard to the type of hazard (water, radon).
  • Can select the appropriate type of timber construction and design its main structural components.
  • Can design the composition of flat and pitched roofs with regard to drainage, insulation, and ventilation.
  • Ability to design roof trusses, truss systems, and solutions for vents and chimneys in buildings.
General competence
  • Graduates are able to independently design and assess foundation and roof structures in accordance with standards and technical requirements.
  • They can evaluate site conditions and select appropriate foundation technology and protective measures for the structure.
  • They are prepared to collaborate with other experts in the design of structures.
  • Ability to interpret technical specifications, develop technical designs, and communicate them to both professional and lay audiences.
  • They are prepared to continue their education in the field of modern foundation, insulation, and roof and timber construction technologies.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

EASTMAN, Charles M. BIM handbook: A guide to building information modeling for owners, managers, designers, engineers and contractors. 2nd ed. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2011. ISBN 978-0-470-54137-1. (EN)

Recommended reading

DOMER, Bernd a Rachele BERNARDELLO. Interoperability. EPFL Press, 2023. ISBN 9782889154869. (EN)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BPA-SIS Bachelor's 3 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

13 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Josef Remeš, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  1. Engineering geological and hydrogeological survey. Foundation soil. Earthworks and excavation works. Ensuring the stability of excavations.
  2. Flat foundations – Types of flat foundations. Specific types of foundations. Foundations for non-load-bearing walls. Structural modifications in flat foundations (penetrations, changes in height). Foundations at property boundaries and in vacant lots.
  3. Deep foundations – Types of deep foundations. Underground walls.
  4. Substructure. Waterproofing of substructures – design of waterproofing systems.
  5. Waterproofing of substructures – specific requirements.
  6. Protection of buildings against radon penetration.
  7. Wooden structures – basic classification. Types of wooden structures. Materials for wooden structures (KVH, BSF, CLT).
  8. Roofing of buildings – classification of roofs, main structural components, methods of drainage. Material options for individual layers, structural types of single-layer roofs.
  9. Single-layer flat roofs – design principles, specific drainage features, roof cladding layers.
  10. Double-layer flat roofs – design principles, specific drainage features, roof cladding layers, roof ventilation design.
  11. Roof structures. Modern rafter systems. Roof cladding structures above habitable attics.
  12. Truss roof systems.
  13. Chimneys and ventilation/air vents.

Exercise

26 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Josef Remeš, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  1. Introduction to exercises. Design of the ground floor plan for an individual assignment using modular coordination, design of a monolithic slab and wooden staircase.
  2. Horizontal load-bearing structures – design of the ceiling above the ground floor for an individual assignment. Details of the ceiling mounting on vertical load-bearing structures (internal and external).
  3. Flat foundations – Design of a foundation strip under internal and external vertical load-bearing structures according to design principles for individual assignments.
  4. Flat foundations – Design of the foundation footing of a skeleton structure.
  5. Flat foundations – Foundation drawing – Foundation strips / foundation footings.
  6. Excavations – Excavation drawing.
  7. Substructure and waterproofing of the substructure of a building with and without a basement. Design of waterproofing systems. Protection of the building against radon penetration.
  8. Individual assignment as a wooden structure.
  9. Drainage of flat roofs. Flat single-layer roof for individual assignment.
  10. Flat double-skin roof for individual assignment.
  11. Roof structure for individual assignment (insulation between rafters and above rafters).
  12. Truss roof system for individual assignment.
  13. Completion, credit.

Self-study

39 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Josef Remeš, Ph.D.