Year No. Offer Mode Description Cred. Pts 98 E0001 S2 X COMPUTERS IN ENGINEERING 1.00
Computers and related technology have become an integral part of engineering, both as a tool for analysis and design and as a system for embedding in an application. They enable problems to be approached in many different ways, for example a simple computer simulation can often give more insight than a complex algebraic solution. Students must of course be made aware of the fundamental technology and terminology and be able to make good use of wordprocessing and spreadsheets. More demanding is the ability to formulate engineering problems in a way which can be readily programmed on desktop machines in well structured understandable code. Students will be given a fundamental understanding and aptitude in a simple structured programming language and will learn to express engineering problems in software terms. They will learn the use of iteration to simulate the solution of differential equations and to display the results with graphics. In the process, they will learn the fundamental "grammar" of computing from arithmetic assignment through looping and conditional control to structures including subroutines and functions. They will be introduced to background topics including the history of computing from and engineer's perspective and the relationships between various programming languages, such as C, Fortran, Algol, Pascal and Visual Basic and between operating systems such as MSDOS and UNIX as they are employed in current engineering practice.
On successful completion of this unit students will be able
to:
Description Weighting(%)
- Use of a desktop computer, Windows fundamentals 5.00
- Simple computer operations relevant to engineering and 35.00 surveying problems (in the Qbasic environment)
- Formulation of an engineering problem in computer terms and 30.00 its solution including the use of graphics
- Use of wordprocessing and spreadsheet packages 10.00
- Computer terminology and background, memory, addressing and 10.00 other hardware topics, supercomputers, benchmarks, number systems and logical operations, computer communications methods and standards
- Comparison of languages and operating systems commonly used 10.00 in engineering and surveying
Graver R T and Barber M, "Exploring Microsoft EXCEL for Windows 95",
Version 7.0, Prentice Hall, 1996.
Note this is an optional book for students who will be using EXCEL as
their spreadsheet package and feel they need a text reference.
You MUST have access to: (1) either QBasic (included as part of DOS 5
or 6, to QuickBasic 4.5. These packages all have HELP facilities: (2)
a word processing and spread sheet package eg Microsoft Works or
Microsoft Office.
Either
Shelley G B, Cashman T J, Waggoner G A and W C, "Using Computers : A
Link to the Future", Boyd and Fraser, 1997 (recommended for degree
students or students with prior knowledge of computers).
or
Meyer M & Baber R, "Computers in Your Future", QUE College (Prentice
Hall), 1995 (recommended for Associate Diploma and Bachelor of
Technology students or students with no prior knowledge of computers).
Tuesday's Australian Computer Section, or equivalent daily newspaper
coverage. Magazines such as BYTE, PC World, PC Magazine, Australian
Personal Computer.
Perry G, "Qbasic by Example", 1993 Edition (Special), QUE,
Indianapolis.
ACTIVITY HOURS Directed Study 80 Private Study 32 Examinations 3 Assessments 40
No *F/S Marks Due Description Wtg(%) LBL WWW 1 S 150.00 21/08/98 ASSIGNMENT 1 15.00 Y N 2 S 100.00 11/09/98 ASSIGNMENT 2 10.00 Y N 3 F 11/09/98 CML 1 Y N 4 S 150.00 23/10/98 ASSIGNMENT 3 15.00 Y N 5 F 23/10/98 CML 2 Y N 6 S 400.00 END S2 2 HOUR OPEN EXAMINATION 40.00 N N 7 S 200.00 END S2 1 HOUR CLOSED EXAMINATION 20.00 N N
1 In order to successfully complete the unit, students must
normally obtain 50 percent of the marks awarded for each section
the examination. In addition, the student must submit all of the
required assignments and must obtain 50% of the aggregate marks
awarded for the assignments.
2 An open examination indicates that the candidate may have access
to any material during the examination except the following :
electronic communication devices, bulky materials, devices
requiring mains power and material likely to disturb other
students.
3 A closed examination is an examination where the candidates are
allowed to bring only writing and drawing instruments into the
examination.
4 This is a COMMUNICATION BENCHMARK unit and a major component of
the assessment of this unit will be associated with the
demonstration of communication skills.
5 In order to complete the assignment work in this unit, students
will require access to a computer. All Study Centres have IBM
compatible computers and assignment work can be completed on
these machines. Students may also be able to gain access to a
suitable computer at their place of employment or at a local high
school. Students must complete the assignments by the due dates
specified in the assessment details section.
6 It is advised that all assignment work is individual. However you
may work in a team of no more than 3 students and submit ONE
group assignment but you must state clearly who has worked in
your team. No collaboration between teams and if significantly
similar assignments are found without a covering declaration NO
MARKS WILL BE AWARDED TO EITHER PARTIES. All programming
assignments must be accompanied by COMPLETE DOCUMENTATION (see
introductory book for details). Assignment number one is a FORMAL
REPORT, so presentation along with spelling, grammar and
technical content will count.
7 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.
8 In the event that a due date for an assignment falls on a local
public holiday in their area, such as a Show holiday, the due
date for the assignment will be the next day. Students are to
note on the assignment cover the date of the public holiday for
the Unit Leader's convenience.
9 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.
10 A minimum standard of communication skills must be demonstrated
in order for a passing grade to be achieved.