Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

The role of the surveyor is to provide spatial information to designers and to translate design information from the designer's plans, to full scale information on the ground for use in construction or by other professionals. This unit will develop your skills in basic surveying data gathering, processing and the presentation of results. These foundation skills and knowledge are also used as a basis for more specific survey measurement applications as you progress through your course.

Aims

This unit aims to provide practical experience, skills and knowledge in a variety of plane surveying measurement techniques.

These aims include:

• Acquire skills in the use of survey total station instruments and levelling instruments.


• Provide foundation knowledge in plane survey computations and error analysis.


• Provide foundation skills and knowledge in the presentation of spatial information.

Objectives

1. Identify, define and solve problems associated with field surveying related tasks to collect surveying data in the field or within a simulated surveying environment.

2. Process field surveying data to provide validated spatial information.

3. Demonstrate effective written communication using surveying field notes, sketches and scaled plans.

4. Demonstrate competency in the use of programmable calculators (coordinate geometry programs), levelling instruments and total station measuring systems.

Content

• Applications and testing of automatic levels, levelling methods and standard recording systems.


• Measurement of angles and distances using electronic total stations.


• Horizontal traversing, error analysis and adjustments.


• Application of hand-held surveying equipment and survey orientation.


• Elementary coordinate geometry calculations using programmable calculators.


• Advanced levelling and stadia techniques.


• Survey Setting-out (placing survey marks) and set out calculations.


• Elementary Contour and detail surveys including introduction to electronic data recording.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Teaching Mode: 5 hours per week
Lecture: 1
Practicals: 2 (combined to a number of half day and all-day field practical sessions)
Tutorials: 2

This unit will include lectures, demonstrations, tutorials, simulations and practical exercises. Students will also need to research relevant topics in reference books and other reference material. The demonstrations and tutorials will be interactive sessions where the students will be given the opportunity to practice in groups and as individuals with the instruments, techniques and methods being demonstrated. The simulations and practical sessions allow application of the instruments, techniques and methods to practical, problem solving exercises.

Learning Approaches:

• Problem based; Self-learning; Team based learning and Experiential learning.


• On-line resources from the university Blackboard site support the learning approaches in this unit.

Assessment

Assessment will be formative and summative, involving an emphasis on constructive and progressive feedback using a criterion referencing approach. Student performance in the unit will be assessed through three items of assessment to be completed during the semester and submitted at the specified times in the semester. The assignments will contribute to the overall summative grade for the unit.Formative assessment will be provided throughout the semester to provide the opportunity to plan future learning and to enhance chances of achieving well in summative assessment pieces. Students will have the opportunity to practice their skills and explore their understanding during the tutorial lab sessions, practicals and simulations. Feedback will be provided during these sessions and at regular milestones during the development of the portfolio assessment item to assist in the development of student submission.

Assessment name: Simulation
Description: Simulations for survey levelling and total station instrumentation. Student submission will include the results from a levelling and total station traversing simulation and the results of two field practical exercises.
Relates to objectives: 1 to 3
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 4

Assessment name: Portfolio
Description: Portfolio
The portfolio will include the results of a series of practicals and simulations developing to a completed document as the student progress through the semester.
Relates to objectives: 1 to 3
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 12

Assessment name: Demonstration
Description: Survey Instrument competency tests
A demonstration of competency skills in the use of programmable calculators (coordinate geometry programs), levelling instruments and total station measuring systems.
Relates to objectives: 4
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Exam Period

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

A range of written material and computational tools will be provided through an online environment.

Calculator:
Programmable Scientific Calculator is recommended for spatial science students (a coordinate geometry program that is compatible with the HP50G will be provided).

Text Books:
Nil

Reference Books:
Author: Ghilani, C.,Wolf, P.
Title: Elementary Surveying: An Introduction to Geomatics
Year: 2012
Publisher: Pearson
Edition: 13

Author: Schofiled and Breach
Title: Engineering Surveying
Year: 2007
Publisher: Elsevier
Edition: 6

Risk assessment statement

Students will be required to have completed a Construction Site Safety (white card) induction. If any student has completed this course previously and possess a construction site safety blue or white card, they will not be required to repeat the course. Details of the courses available will be communicated to you in Week 1. A General Safety Induction will also need to be undertaken - (this is completed on-line).

A risk assessment for the field practicals has identified several low impact risks including travel, slips and trips, sun exposure. Students will be required to wear suitable clothing (sunscreen, long-sleeve shirt and broad-brimmed hat recommended for outdoor fieldwork) for working outdoors and wear enclosed footwear. Students will be provided with an on-site safety brief prior to survey fieldwork.

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: 06-Feb-2013