71053 CIVIL DESIGN PRACTICE

Year	No.	Offer	Mode	Description			Cred. Pts
98	71053 	S12 	D 	CIVIL DESIGN PRACTICE     	    

Contents

• Staffing
• Pre-requisite(s)
• Rationale
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Recommended References
• Student Workload
• Assessment Details
• Other Requirements

STAFFING:

PRE-REQUISITE(S)

70676+70971+71052

RATIONALE:

The  Preamble  to the Code of Ethics of the Institution of  Engineers,
Australia,   describes   engineering  as  `a   creative   process   of
synthesising and implementing the knowledge and experience of humanity
to  enhance  the welfare, health and safety of all members of  society
with  due  regard  to  the  environment in which  they  live  and  the
sustainability  of  the  resources  employed.'  Thus  engineering   is
dependent on

. knowledge, understanding and skills as developed throughout the
  course of human history

. the current needs of society with respect to welfare, health and
  safety of its members.

. the future needs of society as embodied in the concept of
  sustainability

To  a large extent engineering education focuses on the first of these
in presenting knowledge and developing the student's understanding and
skills  in  using a variety of logical and mathematical  processes  to
analyse  a problem and formulate solutions to it. For example  if  the
problem  is  to  design a bridge spanning 500 metres a student  should
have  at  least  the  basis of the knowledge and skills  necessary  to
analyse the various technical aspects of this problem and devise  some
solution to it. While an engineer can have pride in being able  to  do
this,  it  represents  only  a  narrow interpretation  of  engineering
design. Engineering is not just about `solving a problem' but is  also
concerned  with correctly assessing the nature of the problem  in  the
context of society's needs and of assessing the validity of a proposed
solution  not just on a technical basis but also on the basis  of  the
solution's  impact  on individuals and society both  now  and  in  the
future.

This unit looks at engineering design in a broad sense. It focuses  on
human,  societal and environmental issues which may prompt a different
understanding  of  the nature of the engineering problem  and  on  new
approaches  to  solving that problem with the emphasis on  people  and
society being at least equal to that on technology.

SYNOPSIS:

In  this  unit, students will work as part of a design team comprising
of 3 to 5 students. A number of design topics will be suggested in the
form  of  specified  client requirements.  Each  team  will  choose  a
particular design topic and will work towards a group presentation  to
the  other  teams. This oral and written presentation will be  in  the
form  of  a preliminary design report to the client that will  address
the issues discussed in the above rationale.

OBJECTIVES:

On successful completion of this unit students will be able
to:

1. work effectively as part of a team;
   
2. develop a hierarchy of questions that will need to be asked
   and answered both in order to fully define the nature of the
   design problem and in order to devise solutions to that
   problem;
   
3. break up a design project into a number of relatively
   independent activities and develop an appropriate schedule for
   undertaking those activities with due regard to delegation
   within the team and time restraints;
   
4. develop in broad terms, alternative solutions to the design
   topic and analyse them with due regard to technical and
   economic feasibility, statutory restraints, the environment
   and the sustainability of the resources employed by the
   various solutions;
   
5. contribute effectively to a group presentation to the entire
   class in the form of a preliminary design report from the
   design team to the client.
   

TOPICS:

 Description                                                    Weighting(%)

Teamwork                                                              15.00

Hierarchy of questions                                                15.00

Scheduling and delegation                                             10.00

Design development and analysis                                       40.00

Presentation                                                          20.00

RECOMMENDED REFERENCE MATERIALS:

Students should have access to the texts and Study Books supporting
the pre-requisite units.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

	ACTIVITY				HOURS
Tutorials/Workshops                           	25
Seminars                                      	8
Directed Study                                	17

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

No  *F/S Marks     Due        Description                              Wtg(%)    LBL WWW
1   S    750.00    02/10/98  GROUP PRESENTATION                        75.00     N
2   S    250.00    PASSIM    INDIVIDUAL WRITTEN REPORT                 25.00     N

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

1    This unit may require attendance at a residential school.
2    Attendance  at  a minimum of 80% of practical and/or  residential
     school  sessions is compulsory for a passing grade to be  awarded
     in this unit.
3    The  only final grades awarded in this unit are Pass (P) or  Fail
     (F) grades.
4    If  students submit assignments after the due date without  prior
     approval  then  a  penalty of up to 20% of the  assignment  total
     marks will apply for each working day late.
5    The   Faculty  of  Engineering  and  Surveying  will  NOT  accept
     submission  of  hand written or typed assignments  by  facsimile,
     email or computer diskette.  Students in remote locations who  do
     not  have regular access to postal services may be given  special
     consideration.
6    A  minimum  standard of communication skills must be demonstrated
     in order for a passing grade to be achieved.