The students approached Nanpantan Scouts to see if they could help them as part of the Students’ Union Community Action Programme.
Nanpantan Scouts are looking at replacing their ageing Headquarters on Nanpantan Road. The building, which is over 65 years old, is suffering from subsidence and is reaching the end of its life, and the Scouts are currently raising funds for a new building.
As part of the new build process, the Scouts need a topographical survey to identify and map the site for the architect to use in drawing up new plans. The students from the School used the surveying skills they have learned as part of their degree courses to produce the survey.
Ten students from across the School and at different stages in their studies, with the help from academic staff, visited the Scout headquarters to complete the survey over a number of weeks.
George Taylor-Ingle, a third year Civil Engineering Student and lead for the project said: “We volunteered as it was a good opportunity to use some of the skills we have learned at University to help members of the community.
"It was a really good opportunity for us to practice and learn skills in a real life situation in preparation for placements and graduate jobs.”
Dr Matthew Frost, Programme Director for Civil Engineering said: “A number of colleagues in the School and across the wider University have children who are members of the Nanpantan Scout group, from Beavers and Cubs, right through to Explorer Scouts.
"There is also an active Student Scout and Guide group in the University who help in a number of Scout groups across the º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ, so this was a chance for University staff to use their technical skills to help the group.”
Simon Parr, Group Manager at Nanpantan Scouts added: “From when the students approached us, I was keen for them to do something different. With help from staff at the School of Civil and Building Engineering, we came up the idea of doing a topographical survey.
"I think it’s great that the students are able to use the skills they have learnt in theory in a real life project. I would like to thank the students and staff for doing a grand job.”
Professor Tony Thorpe, Dean of the School of Civil and Building Engineering at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ, said: “Our students from the School have worked with their lecturers to deliver this survey project as part of the º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Students’ Union Community Action Programme.
"We teach site surveying across all our construction degree programmes and it’s good that our students are able to put the practical knowledge they have gained while at the University to good use within the local community.”