Units
Landscape Planning and Policy
Unit code: DLB810
Contact hours: 4 per week
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
Many landscape architects work in broad scale landscapes nationally and internationally. Catchments are recognised as a critical scale for regional environmental planning and this unit addresses a selected catchment as a case study to investigate the complex systems that comprise the social, economic and biophysical fabric of the landscape. Regional issues are challenged by interpreting, visualising and communicating their multi-dimensional character and complexity of overlapping jurisdictions and conflicting management responsibilities. The unit integrates higher level applications, including GIS and the like, to critical, creative and analytical thinking, problem identification and solving in environmental planning.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2012
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
This unit aims to help you conceptualise the complex social and environmental issues that inform land development. It promotes a deeper understanding of how social and ecological values influence decision-making. We ask questions about landscape policy, planning, design and management at street, neighbourhood and regional scales, including what makes land development successful and not so successful.
Aims
The main aim of this unit is to explore the application of landscape ecology, cultural heritage, social equity and sustainable development principles in land development proposals within an urban environment. A secondary aim is to examine the planning process and how it affects place change within the study area over time.
Objectives
On completion of this unit you should be able to:
- demonstrate at an advanced level, the ability to effectively communicate through written,scientific reporting;
- demonstrate at an intermediate level, knowledge and application of landscape planning theory in relation to a study site under development;
- demonstrate at an intermediate level, knowledge of relevant planning legislation and related policies at different scales of development;
- demonstrate at an advanced level, practical knowledge of landscape change processes in the field;
- demonstrate at an advanced level, critical thinking and analytical processes concerning land development;
- demonstrate at an advanced level, the appropriate, ethical conduct, collaboration and independent self-management and accountability in academic and professional work.
Content
The four main themes covered in this unit are:
- Planning Framework - compares the statutory planning process, community involvement and planning policies at local, state, national and international levels with relevant theoretical concepts related to landscape planning.
- Site Development - introduces how a development application may be compiled and assessed in relation to the site characteristics, community concerns and planning policies at the local level.
- Neigbourhood Plans - considers how a local area plan can be used in relation to local economic development, social issues, ecological protection and planning legislation at the neighbourhood level.
You will be asked to acknowledge the past and present traditional owners of the land on which projects are undertaken and to seek to contribute to the spirit of reconciliation wherever practicable in their work.
Continued development of graphic and other communication skills will be integrated into the project study in the studio.
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
Teaching Mode: Total Hours per week: 4 hours
Lecture: 2 hours per week
Studio workshop: 2 hours per week
Learning Approaches:
Learning approaches will cover the following:
- individual problem based learning through a semester long Landscape Study applying intermediate-level knowledge of landscape planning theory to site development /li>
- team based learning through the completion of fieldwork on a proposed development site;
- staged progression through the Landscape Study with in-class studio workshops to assist in the oral, written and graphic (manual and digital) techniques to communicate effectively with a range of professional and academic audiences;
- team based learning through working together to complete components of the study project; and
- individual learning facilitated through exams on substantive unit content.
Assessment
Assessment will be based on a semester-long study project.Formative feedback will be given on work in progress. Summative assessment will be based on each of the defined components of the study project and will include detailed assessed feedback through relevant criterion referenced evaluation sheets issued with the study project.
Assessment name:
Professional Proposal
Description:
Written assessment of a site development proposal
Relates to objectives:
1- 6
Weight:
30%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Mid Semester
Assessment name:
Examination (Theory)
Description:
Test of knowledge of planning theory and relevant policies in relation to site development.
Relates to objectives:
1- 6
Weight:
20%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
End of Semester
Assessment name:
Report
Description:
Written assesment of a site development proposal in relation to neighbourhood planning practice.
Relates to objectives:
1- 6
Weight:
50%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
End of Semester
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
No Set text
Resource materials will be made available as appropriate through the unit Blackboard site
Additional Costs
There may additional costs associated with purchasing spatial information from local governments authorities if what you require is unavailable from the QUT Library.
Risk assessment statement
In this unit you will undertake lectures and workshops in the traditional classrooms and lecture theatres. As such, there are no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues associated with these components of the unit. The unit will require you to undertake field work of a self-guided nature. A risk assessment for these trips has identified only low impact risks. You will be provided with relevant safely guidelines prior to any field visit. You will be required to obey all safety guidelines and directions while undertaking field work.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 29-May-2012
