CS5053 - Cloud Computing and the Internet of Things (2025/26)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2025/26 | |||||||||||||||
| Module title | Cloud Computing and the Internet of Things | |||||||||||||||
| Module level | Intermediate (05) | |||||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 15 | |||||||||||||||
| School | School of Computing and Digital Media | |||||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 150 | |||||||||||||||
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| Running in 2025/26(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
This module will enable students to understand the Internet of Things (IoT) and Cloud Computing concepts, building blocks, ecosystems, infrastructure, and applications. This will enrich their knowledge and understanding of the core technologies and platforms for IoT and Clouds, that allows digitally enabled devices or objects to collect, gather, and transfer data over a network without involving human-to-human or human-to-machine interaction.
The module will place emphasis on IoT components and delivery models, IoT system architecture, key wireless/mobile/sensor technologies, IoT communication protocols, issues of privacy and trust, cloud platform, and virtualisation technologies in the development of IoT cloud infrastructure and applications.
Students will be supported with a series of exercises performed using a powerful network simulation tool, that will cover the range of basic principles to more advanced IoT system design. This will allow students to get real world experience in building IoT system by integrating sensor devices and cloud for creating interconnected solutions to smart cities, homes, and enterprises. Some basic knowledge of Python will be used throughout. By the end of the module, you will get experience in solving real-world problems (IoT and Cloud system implementation) efficiently using simulation modelling.
Syllabus
1. Introduction to IoT - Theory, Evolution, Elements of an IoT Ecosystem, Applications, and Implications. [LO1]
2. Sensors & Actuators for IoT Systems. [LO1]
3. Communication Protocols and Networks - Wireless Technologies, Protocol Stacks for the Edge Devices, Wireless Sensor Networks. [LO1]
4. IoT Networking and Messaging Protocols - CoAP, MQTT, REST, AMQP, WebSocket. [LO1]
5. Cloud Computing - Architecture: Infrastructure, Virtualisation, Platforms and Software. [LO1, LO2]
6. Cloud Platform and Management for IoT - Application Development and Integration, Hardware Development Boards and Software Platforms for IoT, Issues and Challenges, Security, trust and Privacy Issues. [LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5]
7. Design a simple IoT system by integrating sensor devices, data processing units, wireless networks, and cloud-based analytics for creating interconnected solutions. [LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4]
8. IoT Case Studies - Industrial IoT, Business Impact of the IoT/Cloud Computing. [LO3, LO5]
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
Topics will be introduced through appropriate mediums.
Theoretical content will usually be supported by multimedia technologies (e.g., slides, videos, podcasts, and screencasts) or asynchronous materials (e.g., videos, reading tasks, and small formative or summative tests). Tutorials will typically involve in-class discussions to encourage reflective learning. Workshops will typically involve hands-on experience. Students are strongly encouraged to engage in independent study prior to attending any scheduled sessions.
Students will be encouraged to provide reflective commentaries concerning their action plan for personal development on the learning activities and for the tasks that they have carried out to complete the project report e.g., in the form of a reflective discussion/critical analysis section of their coursework report. Students will be encouraged to keep logbook for reflective learning and regular feedback.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, the student will be able to:
- LO1: Understand the core IoT concepts, system components, infrastructure, and applications. Understand the key components that make up an IoT system, including (passive and active) sensors, actuators, physical communications layer, and message protocols. Know the key wireless technologies used in IoT systems, such as Wi-Fi, 6LoWPAN, Bluetooth and ZigBee.
- LO2: Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different types of cloud-based architectures. Analyse and critically assess the link between IoT, cloud computing, and data analytics.
- LO3: Express a critical understanding of how IoT concept fits within the industry (Industry 4.0) and future trends. Appraise the potential of IoT in an industrial context (also known as Industrial IoT or IIoT) for automating specific tasks, through drawing case studies from the industrial applications of IoT and Cloud Computing.
- LO4: Gain real world experience in designing and building a simple IoT system by integrating sensor devices, data processing units, wireless networks and cloud-based analytics for creating interconnected solutions.
- LO5: Apply broad skill in writing a report as a tool to communicate the results or findings of the case studies. Gain exposure to the practice of formulating and structuring problems.