Applied informatics

Basic Mathematics. No previous programming or advanced spreadsheet experience is required.

Lessons are delivered in an integrated manner through face-to-face blocks, combining the presentation and discussion of fundamental concepts with practical application activities, progressive problem-solving and the analysis of case studies. Learning is geared towards applying knowledge to specific data, situations and problems relating to the planning, management and sustainability of urban areas, fostering critical thinking, analytical skills and informed decision-making.

Classes include short formative challenges solved in pairs, followed by presentation and discussion of solutions, as well as feedback on common errors and verification strategies. These collaborative activities are not graded. Additional exercises for independent practice are also provided, are not graded, and include elements that allow students to check their solutions independently.

Whenever appropriate, the course uses real, traceable data and emphasizes the construction of organized and auditable workbooks together with interpretation of results. In VBA, debugging and testing are introduced from the first examples and accompany the incremental development of small automations.

By the end of the curricular unit, students should be able to:

1. structure workbooks and tables clearly, distinguishing data, parameters, calculations and results;
2. build and verify formulas, using references and functions appropriate to the problem;
3. organize, import, clean, summarize and analyse quantitative data relevant to Civil Engineering;
4. select and produce technically sound charts and interpret results and their limitations;
5. apply scenario analysis, Goal Seek and simple optimization;
6. record and adapt macros and develop simple VBA functions and procedures using variables, decisions, loops and basic Excel objects;
7. produce auditable spreadsheets, identify data sources and communicate assumptions, units and limitations.

1. Microsoft Excel fundamentals: working environment, data types, editing, formatting, operators and references.
2. Mathematical, statistical, logical, conditional, lookup, text, date and time formulas and functions; error handling.
3. Information organization: tabular data, tables, data validation, sorting, filtering, duplicates, conditional formatting and data documentation.
4. Creation, customization and interpretation of charts.
5. Data management and analysis: PivotTables and PivotCharts, scenarios, Goal Seek and Solver.
6. Importing, cleaning, refreshing and exporting information, including a practical introduction to Power Query.
7. Excel automation: recording and editing macros; simple VBA functions and procedures; variables; conditional and repetition structures; basic Excel objects; debugging and testing.

Assessment Model M2 applies, with the following characteristics:

• periodic assessment takes place and is completed during the teaching period, before the examination period;
• assessment by examination is also available during the designated examination periods;
• the conditions established in this course unit description and the applicable regulations apply.

The assessments are individual and consist of solving practical problems on a PC using Microsoft Excel. A functional computer is provided for each student in the assessment rooms.

There are two alternative assessment routes:

1. Two tests: the first takes place halfway through the semester and the second during the last week of classes. Each test accounts for 50% of the final grade and covers approximately half of the syllabus. A minimum grade of 30% is required in each test. VBA accounts for 30% of Test 2, corresponding to 6 out of 20 marks, and requires a separate minimum of 30%, corresponding to 1.8 marks.
2. Final examination: it covers the entire syllabus and may be taken during the regular or resit examination period. VBA accounts for 20% of the examination, corresponding to 4 out of 20 marks, and requires a separate minimum of 30%, corresponding to 1.2 marks.

The following rules apply to access to examinations and grade improvement:

• students who choose the tests may not take the examination during the regular examination period; if they do not pass through the tests, they may take the examination during the resit period;
• students who choose the examination may take it during the regular or resit period; if unsuccessful in the regular period, they may retake it during the resit period;
• grade improvement is carried out by examination during the periods and under the conditions established in the applicable regulations.

The following additional rules apply:

• the separate VBA minimum applies together with all other minimum requirements; failure to meet it prevents approval through the respective assessment route or examination period, even if the arithmetic sum of the marks is 10 or higher;
• students pass when they meet all applicable minimum requirements and their final grade, rounded to the nearest integer, is at least 10 on a 0-20 scale;
• students attending the curricular unit for the first time must attend at least two thirds of the classes; failure to meet this requirement results in failure;
• the attendance requirement does not apply to working students; students with other special status are granted the exemptions or adjustments provided for by law and by their respective status.

During tests and examinations:

• students may not consult materials or communicate with each other;
• Internet access, artificial intelligence tools, mobile phones, or other materials and equipment are not permitted, except for the materials and PC provided or expressly authorized by the lecturer.

Academic fraud

Attempted or completed academic fraud is subject to the Academic Regulations for First-Cycle Programmes of the IPC, the ISEC Academic Regulations and the Student Disciplinary Regulations, in their respective versions in force.

Where there are reasonable grounds to suspect fraud or question authorship in an assessment item, the grade is withheld and the student may be called to an individual oral clarification examination before a panel constituted under the applicable regulations, focusing on the subject matter and procedures assessed. The oral examination is solely intended to clarify the facts and is not an opportunity to improve or replace the assessment. If the suspicion is not dispelled, the applicable regulatory procedures and consequences apply, including, where fraud is verified, annulment of the assessment and failure of the curricular unit with the designation Excluded for Fraud (EF), without prejudice to possible disciplinary or criminal liability.

NAO