Rural Buildings and Mechanization

The aim of the "Construction and Mechanization" course is to provide the student with a systemic view of building design and basic knowledge of the main machines, plants and automated systems that can be used in traditional and modern livestock farming, in order to achieve design, plant and management skills that meet business, environmental, ethological and social requirements.

1. Knowledge and understanding: by the end of the course, the student should know the main characteristics of housing structures, machines, plants and automatic systems used in livestock farming, and be able to assess their efficiency and sustainability in economic, environmental and animal welfare terms.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding: the student will have to demonstrate that he/she possesses knowledge and skills useful for the dimensioning of: spaces and installations of a structure taking into account materials, environmental conditions, farm management and animal welfare; machines, installations and automatic systems that can be used in livestock farming.
3. Making judgments: the student must demonstrate the ability of critically presenting the information acquired. Specific exercises will be addressed to this end (e.g. exercises on insulation and materials that can potentially be used in zootechnical structures, dimensioning of milking systems in dairy cattle farms, summer and winter ventilation, dimensioning of trenches, etc.)
4. Communication: the student is expected to use scientifically appropriate language, in particular terminology referring to rural buildings and plants. The exercises are intended to stimulate the ability to use specific terminology and the ability to discuss scientifically with peers.
5. Lifelong learning skills: the student must gain the ability to use acquired knowledge to interpret new scenarios, for instance searching scientific databases and critically organising new information.