Construction Industry and Environment (ABPL90310)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2025
About this subject
Overview
| Fees | Look up fees |
|---|
This subject aims to develop an understanding and awareness of the life cycle environmental effects of building design and construction, including the approaches that can be used to assess and minimise them, with a particular emphasise on life cycle assessment.
Through an introduction to environmental assessment, including ‘input-output analysis’, this subject articulates the many linkages connecting construction to the rest of the national economy, the production underlying it, and the resources consumed in the process.
Organised as an advanced seminar, the subject will expose students to the latest developments in environmental assessment techniques and their application within the built environment.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should be able:
- To develop an awareness of the current techniques for quantifying and assessing environmental effects.
- To teach students how to use environmental assessment techniques to improve the environmental performance of the construction industry.
- To provide a theoretical framework for macro-scale examinations of the construction industry.
- To build an appreciation for the position of construction within natural and economic environments.
- To supply analytical and critical tools for the evaluation of construction strategies at industry and project level.
Generic skills
At the completion of the subject students should have developed the following skills and capabilities:
- Ability to capture and analyse data to make informed decisions;
- Ability to map or imagine construction-related connections within the economy;
- Ability to present environmental performance information in a range of formats;
- Ability to appreciate the indirect consequences of construction activity;
- Ability to critically evaluate the work of others and provide constructive feedback.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into one of the following:
- MC-ARCH Master of Architecture
- MC-LARCH Master of Landscape Architecture
- MC-CM Master of Construction Management
- MC-PROP Master of Property
- MC-ARCHCM Master of Architecture/Master of Construction Management
- MC-CMPROP Master of Construction Management/Master of Property
OR
Approval from the subject coordinator.
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
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: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Four in-class quizzes (week 3, 5, 7 and 9) to demonstrate an understanding of environmental issues and the use of life cycle assessment in construction | Throughout the semester | 10% |
Environmental Assessment Report, analysing the environmental performance of a construction project
| Week 7 | 20% |
Peer review, critically analysing the work of others, providing constructive feedback and demonstrating an understanding of life cycle assessment
| Week 9 | 10% |
Environmental Improvement Report (combining the Environmental Assessment Report), identifying solutions and making recommendations for the improvement to the environmental performance of a construction project
| Week 11 | 40% |
Class presentation, communicating the major findings of the Environmental Improvement Report and highlighting improvements to the environmental performance of a construction project
| Week 12 | 20% |
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Dates & times
Not available in 2025
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
- 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.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 4 March 2025