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Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering (CVEN90043)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Prof Anne Steinemann
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
This subject provides an overview of a wide range of issues relating to infrastructure, with a particular focus on the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of historical and current projects. Students will gain an understanding of the complexities of decision-making in this sector, including the role of government and regulation, considerations of equity, and assessment of economic and environmental impacts. Students will discuss the influential role that infrastructure plays in shaping a society, and the effects both short-term and long-term. Students will also learn to apply various analytical models to frame their thinking and evaluate infrastructure projects from a sustainability perspective.
The lectures and tutorials will be structured around case studies of various infrastructure projects. Tutorials will cover six case studies and will provide students with opportunities to enhance skills such as oral and written communication and project management. Students are expected to actively contribute to case study discussions in tutorials.
This subject is part of a trio of subjects that consider different aspects of infrastructure projects. Engineering Site Characterisation studies how to determine the character of a site for an infrastructure project. Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering examines how a project relates to the broader social, economic, and environmental context. Engineering Project Implementation concentrates on the operational aspects of implementing a project.
Intended learning outcomes
Having completed this subject the student is expected to:
- Demonstrate mastery of advanced knowledge and skills to evaluate an infrastructure project with regard to its environmental, economic, and societal sustainability
- Apply and critically interpret a range of analytic tools to assess different dimensions of the sustainability of infrastructure
- Synthesise complex information and concepts to explain the relationships between infrastructure and its broader societal context, including public policy, governance, ethics, equity, and stakeholder interests
- Perform written and oral presentations at a high quality level expected of a professional
Generic skills
- Understanding of environmental, societal, and economic dimensions of engineering and infrastructure projects
- Understanding of the scope, principles, and accountabilities of sustainable engineering
- Application of engineering methods and analytic techniques to complex engineering problems
- Critical thinking and analytic skills
- Effective oral and written communication skills
- Effective team membership and independent learning skills
- Understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities, and commitment to them
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Staff recommend that all students access the Academic Skills Unit (ASU) courses. In particular, a critical thinking, reading, and writing seminar will assist the student with the assessment of this subject.
Sessions with the ASU can be booked at the following site: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- 5 Case Study Analyses (approximately 30 hours of work per student), conducted at home, assisted by discussion in workshops, due throughout semester (25%);
- Participation in weekly workshops throughout semester, including oral presentation with group assignment in week 8, approximately 15 hours of work per student, (10%);
- One major group assignment report (requiring approximately 20 hours of work per student), due end of semester (15%);
- One 2 hour examination, at end of semester (50%, hurdle requirement).
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Anne Steinemann Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 48 hours (Lectures: 2 hours per week; Workshops: 2 hours per week) Total time commitment 200 hours Teaching period 27 February 2017 to 28 May 2017 Last self-enrol date 10 March 2017 Census date 31 March 2017 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 May 2017 Assessment period ends 23 June 2017 Semester 1 contact information
Prof Anne Steinemann
Time commitment details
200 hours
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Recommended texts and other resources
ADC Forum (2010) ADC Cities Report; Enhancing Liveability, Editors Roux A, and Stanley J., ADC Forum, PO Box 18058, Collins Street East, Victoria, Australia.
Ashford, N.a., and Hall, R.P. (2011) Technology, Globalisation, and Sustainable Development: Transforming the Industrial State, New Haven and London: Yale University Press.
Benyus, J. (20002). Biomimicry. New York: Harper Perennial.
Brundtland, G. (1987). Our Common Future Call for Action. Environ. Conserv. 14(04), p. 291.
Checkland, P. (2002). Systems thinking, systems practice. Chichester: Wiley.
Daly, H.E., Cobb, J.B., and Cobb, C.W. (1994) For the commond good: Redirecting the economy toward community, the environment, and a sustainable future. Boston:Beacon Press.
Hawken, P. (2010). The Ecology of Commerce: A Declaration of Sustainability. New York: Harper Business.
Hawken, P., Lovins, A. and Lovins, L. (1999). Natural Capitalism. Boston: Little, Brown and Co.
Learn about Sustainability through animations, (2015). Learn about Sustainability through animations. (Online) Available at: http://www.thesecretlifeofthings.com/ (Accessed 18 Aug. 2015).
Meadows, D., Randers, J. and Meadows, D. (2004). The limits to growth. White River Junction, Vt: Chelsea Green Pub. Co.
Moore, M. (1995). Creating public value. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press.
Porritt, J. (2005). Capitalism as if the world matters. London: Earthscan.
US HoR Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, (2015). Public Private Partnerships. Washington, DC.
Wallis, J. and Dollery, B. (1999). Market failure, government failure, leadership and public policy. New York: St. Martin's Press.
Williamson, I. (2010). Land administration for sustainable development. Redlands, Calif.: ESRI Press Academic. - Subject notes
LEARNING AND TEACHING METHODS
The case study method of learning is used for this subject. Students work in classes of about 40 students to discuss a case study that they have previously researched in their groups.
INDICATIVE KEY LEARNING RESOURCES
Contemporary cases are given at the beginning of the semester
CAREERS / INDUSTRY LINKS
This subject uses contemporary engineering cases from around the world to explore the contextual issues that interrelate to engineering design. - Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Engineering Structures Course Doctor of Philosophy - Engineering Course Master of Architectural Engineering Course Master of Environmental Engineering Course Master of Philosophy - Engineering Course Master of Engineering Management Course Master of Information Technology Course Ph.D.- Engineering Course Master of Engineering Project Management Specialisation (formal) Civil with Business Informal specialisation Master of Engineering (Civil) Informal specialisation Master of Engineering (Structural) Specialisation (formal) Spatial Specialisation (formal) Spatial Informal specialisation Master of Engineering (Civil with Business) Informal specialisation Master of Engineering (Environmental) Major Master of Engineering (Spatial) Major MIT Spatial Specialisation Specialisation (formal) Structural Specialisation (formal) Civil Specialisation (formal) Environmental - Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
Last updated: 3 November 2022