Applying Digital Infrastructure (GEOM20013)

Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

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Semester 1
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Digital infrastructure is critical for human development, for social, economic and political inclusion, resilience, and for a sustainable management of resources. At the core of digital infrastructure is the concept of location.  Climate change can only be observed in relation to locations. Climate action in agriculture, environmental protection or urban planning relies on location, and the protection of life, infrastructure and properties in disaster response requires location. Renewable energy production and energy distribution is a spatial problem. The tracking of containers, parcels, and vehicles allows for efficiency to reduce resource consumption or emissions. The sharing mobility in the city is based on location information, and contact tracing is a matter of co-location. Digital infrastructure drives changes to the ways how information is formed or sourced, how resources are managed, and how complex systems can be successfully controlled or predicted. Practically each sustainable development goal of the United Nations requires digital infrastructure. 

This subject introduces students to digital infrastructure: How information is linked to location (or how location is information). The subject will transform the way how you understand and visualize our geographic environments in digital systems. In detail, this subject will cover underlying and cross-disciplinary concepts of geographically referenced information and geographic information systems (GIS), including the modelling and management of land-based and infrastructure data, and the visual representation of geographic information. It will relate these concepts to applications through case studies presented by industry experts from various professions. In parallel, students will design and realize a project on data integration, analysis, and cartographic representation to support multi-criteria decision making relating to climate adaptation, urban sustainability, or similar.  

 

Students who are not familiar with the software used in this subject are encouraged to make themselves familiar before the semester starts. Familiarity is a condition (a hurdle requirement) for this subject. LMS will provide pointers and material for learning on your own initiative in the pre-teaching period. Next to learning expert software, and learning how to use the software in a major project, the subject provides a systematic introduction to professional skills, and an active learning experience requiring attendance in person.   

Please view this video for further information: Applying Digital Infrastructure

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • Explain the basic principles of geographic information systems (GIS) to the solution of digital infrastructure and environmental problems;
  • Describe how digital infrastructure such as GIS can be applied for sustainable urban planning and environmental management, site selection, facilities and network management, and health;
  • Demonstrate practical skills in the use of georeferenced data, basic spatial analysis, and decision making using a GIS software;
  • Engage in teamwork, independent critical thought, and self-directed learning;
  • Show a profound respect for truth, ethics, and intellectual integrity.

Generic skills

On the completion of this subject students will have:

 

  • The ability to apply knowledge of basic science fundamentals
  • The ability to communicate effectively, not only with other scientists but also with the community at large
  • The ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution
  • The ability to function effectively as an individual and in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams, with the capacity to be a leader or manager as well as an effective team member
  • An expectation of the need to undertake lifelong learning and the capacity to do so
  • The capacity for independent critical thought, rational inquiry and self-directed learning
  • The ability to explore new ideas and to provide critique of received wisdom

Last updated: 9 April 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites


Corequisites


Non-allowed subjects


Recommended background knowledge

GIS software experience, as for example acquired in ENGR10006 Engineering Modelling and Design.

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: 9 April 2025

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

A non-assessed hurdle requirement: passing of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) For Engineers: ArcGIS Module (COM_CPD_000025), demonstrating entry-level skills of using the software. Intended Learning Outcome (ILO) 3 is addressed in this requirement.

  • 20 hours (of work required)
Hurdle requirement: Students must pass the digital module on GIS software training in order to pass the subject.		Pre-teaching period; submission up to Week 4 to cater for late enrolments.0%

In-class Quizzes- Individual assessment: Four 15-minute quizzes reflecting on the contents of the lecture. Due in Weeks 3, 6, 9 and 12. 5 hours of work each. ILOs 1 and 2 are addressed in this assessment.

  • 20 hours (of work required)
During the teaching period25%

Group Assessment / Project- Group assessment: A group report on designing an application of digital infrastructure in a project of about 600 words per team member, in groups of about 4 students. ILOs 2-5 are addressed in this assessment.

  • 12 hours (of work required)
Week 815%

Individual assessment: A video presentation of 1 minute length, providing an elevator pitch for the project.

  • 8 hours (of work required)
Week 810%

Group Assessment / Project- Group assessment: A group report on realizing the application of digital infrastructure in a project of about 800 words per team member, in groups of about 4 students. ILO's 3,4,5.

  • 20 hours (of work required)
Week 1225%

Group Assessment / Project- Individual assessment: A video presentation of 5 minutes length, reviewing the group project and the individual contribution. ILOs 3 and 5 are addressed in this assessment.

  • 20 hours
During the examination period25%

Last updated: 9 April 2025

Dates & times

  • Semester 1
    CoordinatorStephan Winter
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours60 hours: Flipped classroom: 1 hour on video-recorded material per week 1 hour on interactive practice session per week 1 hour contact time in a lecture theatre Labs – for the project: 2 contact hours with a demonstrator per week, variably in lab class or split into group bookings Self-guided research/lab hours Self-guided, unsupervised research/lab hours Unsupervised pre-teaching period requirement
    Total time commitment170 hours
    Pre teaching requirementsStudents are strongly encouraged to complete Assignment 1 (self-directed learning) before the semester starts. The assignment is purely on software training: Skills with this particular software will be required to master the other assignments in this subject, and will be expected at that stage. The submission deadline of Assignment 1 is four weeks into the semester, though, to accommodate for late-enrolling students.
    Teaching period26 February 2024 to 26 May 2024
    Last self-enrol date 8 March 2024
    Census date 3 April 2024
    Last date to withdraw without fail 3 May 2024
    Assessment period ends21 June 2024

    Semester 1 contact information

    Stephan Winter

    email: winter@unimelb.edu.au

Time commitment details

170 hours

What do these dates mean

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Additional delivery details

 

 

Last updated: 9 April 2025

Further information

Last updated: 9 April 2025