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Applying Digital Infrastructure (GEOM20013)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Stephan Winter
email: winter@unimelb.edu.au
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
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.
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: 11 April 2024
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: 11 April 2024
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
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.
| 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.
| During the teaching period | 25% |
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.
| Week 8 | 15% |
Individual assessment: A video presentation of 1 minute length, providing an elevator pitch for the project.
| Week 8 | 10% |
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.
| Week 12 | 25% |
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.
| During the examination period | 25% |
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinator Stephan Winter Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 60 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 commitment 170 hours Pre teaching requirements Students 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 period 26 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 ends 21 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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- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
The students have free access to ESRI ArcGIS via a campus license. Lectures are recorded (voice and slides).
Recommended texts and other resources
Geographic Information Science and Systems (latest edition), by Paul A. Longley, Michael F. Goodchild, David J. Maguire, David W. Rhind, ISBN: 978-1-119-03130-7
- Subject notes
LEARNING AND TEACHING METHODS
The subject consists of (a) pre-recorded material on theory and by guest speakers presenting industry practice, (b) weekly interactive classes for active learning of the presented material, (c) labs for the first encounter with GIS - up to doing your first GIS project, and (d) practical teaching of teamwork in the context of the major project.
INDICATIVE KEY LEARNING RESOURCES
The students have free access to ESRI ArcGIS via a campus licence.
CAREERS / INDUSTRY LINKS
A larger number of industry representatives present applications of and career paths in digital infrastructure.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Bachelor of Science Course Master of Digital Infrastructure Engineering Course Master of Spatial Engineering Course Bachelor of Design Major Engineering Systems Informal specialisation Environments Discipline subjects Major Landscape Ecosystem Management Major Spatial Systems Specialisation (formal) Spatial Informal specialisation Science Discipline subjects - new generation B-SCI Major Digital Infrastructure Engineering Systems - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- 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
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 11 April 2024