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

There is a need within the urban development professions, most particularly in urban and regional planning, to understand the issues of development assessment and the planning of infrastructure. This unit occurs approximately half way through the undergraduate course, at a time when you have the necessary grounding in planning and development issues, and when many of you will have obtained part time employment that requires skills related to development assessment and infrastructure.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to provide you with an understanding of the issues and skills related to the assessment of development applications and planning related to infrastructure. The unit will be conducted in two sections. The first will give you an understanding of issues related to the provision and maintenance of technical and social infrastructure, with particular reference to the importance of sustainability and the emergence of new technology and systems. The second will introduce you to the relevant legislation, procedures, and techniques associated with development assessment.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an awareness of recent technical and socio-political developments related to infrastructure provision.
2. Critically analyse issues related to the sustainability of infrastructure and the built environment.
3. Understand the relevant legislation and guidelines related to the development assessment process.
4. Demonstrate the skills necessary to interpret and participate in the development assessment process.
5. Describe the relationship between the development assessment process and the broader system of land use planning.

Content

1) The legislation and documentation related to development assessment.
2) The processes and procedures related to the production and assessment of development applications.
3) Issues related to the development application process.
4) The range and scope of infrastructure related to human settlements.
5) Environmental and socio-political issues related to infrastructure provision.
6) Current systems of infrastructure planning and charging.
7) Recent developments and potential technological changes related to infrastructure and its provision.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Teaching Mode: Hours per week: 3
Lecture: 1
Tutorial: 2
More detailed unit outline, lecture and tutorial notes, and assessment guidelines will be located at the Blackboard site of the unit.

Learning Approaches:
The unit will use a combination of lectures, delivered by either full time staff or by visiting professionals, and workshops to develop student competency related to infrastructure planning and development assessment. The concepts introduced in these lectures are then further explored in the workshop sessions, where students are given the opportunity to apply ideas to real world problems and issues. In particular students are encouraged to develop an understanding of sustainable provision of infrastructure and its spatial and economic consequences, as well as developing practical skills in the crucial area of development assessment, an activity which is integral to the implementation of planning schemes.

Assessment

QUT's Assessment Policy is located at MOPP c/5.1Formative assessment and feedback is provided in cycles of discussion between staff and students in practice-based weekly studios. Each of the stages of the project is used for both formative and summative assessment.

Assessment name: Report
Description: In groups you will assess a development application for its suitability against relevant planning codes and legislation.
Relates to objectives: 3. Understand the relevant legislation and guidelines related to the development assessment process.
4. Demonstrate the skills necessary to interpret and participate in the development assessment process.
5. Describe the relationship between the development assessment process and the broader system of land use planning
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 13

Assessment name: Examination (written)
Description: Mid-Term Exam
Relates to objectives: 1. Demonstrate an awareness of recent technical and socio-political developments related to infrastructure provision.
2. Critically analyse issues related to the sustainability of infrastructure and the built environment.
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: week 7

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

Text book:
Yigitcanlar, T., (Eds.) (2010). Sustainable urban and regional infrastructure development: technologies, applications and management. Hersey, PA: Information Science Reference.

Recommended readings:
Yigitcanlar, T., (Eds.) (2010). Rethinking sustainable development: urban management, engineering and design. Hersey, PA: Information Science Reference.

Risk assessment statement

Risk Management
There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit. Students in this unit will undertake lectures and tutorials 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.

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: 17-Jul-2012