Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

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

Rationale

This postgraduate unit has been developed to provide students an in-depth understanding of the important issues in relation to water and waste management in the context of the urban environment and within the overall infrastructure management discipline. The management of water and waste are among the essential factors which influence the economic, social and environmental viability of urban areas. In most parts of the world including Australia, water is a limiting resource. The prudent management of the diverse water sources available, the provision of water 'fit for purpose' to meet human and ecosystem needs and the adoption of strategies for optimising of conveyance infrastructure is critical for the long-term sustainability of human settlements.

The various anthropogenic activities inherent to an urban area lead to the generation of a diversity of waste products which have detrimental impacts on human and ecosystem health. However, at the same time it is important to recognise that some waste streams can be a resource to be appropriately utilised rather than a nuisance to be disposed of expeditiously. Therefore, the development and management of systems for collection, transport and re-use and disposal of various waste streams, forms an important activity to ensure the sustainability of urban areas.

Aims

The primary aim of this unit is to enable students to develop an informed understanding of the management aspects of water resources and wastes.

Objectives

On completion of this unit, the students will be able to:
1. critically evaluate threats and vulnerabilities to water resources in urban areas;
2. understand the role and functioning of water and wastewater infrastructure;
3. understand the limitations of current waste management strategies;
4. conceptually develop re-use and recycling strategies for stormwater and for solid and liquid waste generated in urban areas

Content

This unit has been structured to facilitate your learning across the four broad component areas identified as: management of water sources, supply of water for human and ecosystem needs; water re-use and recycling; and waste management.

This will be achieved through coverage of the following topics:

• threats and vulnerabilities to surface and groundwater resources in urban areas


• planning, design, maintenance and optimisation of water supply infrastructure


• technologies for water treatment


• flood control, stormwater management and water sensitive urban design


• wastewater and solid waste issues and identification of needs in the urban environment


• technologies wastewater treatment


• stormwater re-use and wastewater recycling


• solid waste collection, storage, recycling and disposal


• environmental, social and economic impacts of water and waste management strategies in urban areas.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit will be delivered in the form of combined lecture and tutorial classes. Teaching will be in the forms of formal lectures, problem solving activities and technical discussions. Combined lectures and tutorials will be in four hour sessions per week.

Students will gain experience at independent learning from various reference sources and will be encouraged to work and learn cooperatively with others through interacting with fellow students in tutorials. Two assignments in this unit will allow students to apply the principals of management in real-world scenarios.

Assessment

Assessment items are designed to assess student's grasp of the technical information, ability to think and process independently and professionalism in work practice. Collectively assessment items cover entire syllabus of the unit.

The assessment for this unit follows the assessment policy stated in section 9.1.1 Manual of Policies and Procedures (MOPP)All assessment items will be marked according to CRA and summative feedback will be given to students.
Additionally, students will receive formative feedbacks during lectures.

Assessment name: Report
Description: A review report on Australia's water resources and management strategies
Students will be required to research information and critically review the Australian water resource management strategies
Relates to objectives: 1 & 2
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 5

Assessment name: Project (applied)
Description: Project
Conceptual design, operation and management framework for water and wastewater treatment facilities.
Students will be required to outline a conceptual framework for design, operation and management of a wastewater treatment facility.
Relates to objectives: 3 & 4
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 11

Assessment name: Examination (written)
Description: You will be required to answer a set of questions that are newly designed so that they cover the entire syllabus. This is a take home exam where you can refer to any material.
Relates to objectives: All
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Exam Week

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

Weekly readings and information will be made available to you via the Blackboard website. You should check the website regularly for updates.

There is no standard text book for this unit. However, additional reading in the disciplines of Water Resources Engineering, Environmental Engineering and Water and Wastewater Treatment would be required.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associates with this unit. Students in this unit will undertake lectures and tutorials in the traditional class room and lecture theatres. As such, there are no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues associated with these components of the unit. However, students are encouraged to familiarise with the perimeter of the class rooms giving priority to fire evacuation plans.

Students will be required to undertake practical secessions in the laboratory under the supervision of the lecturer and technical staff. The Faculty's occupational health and safety policies and procedures will apply to these sessions. Students will be supply specific details on health and safety guidelines prior to the laboratory events and are strongly recommended to follow the guidelines.

In any laboratory practicals students will be advised of requirements of safe and responsible behaviour and will be required to wear appropriate protective items (eg. closed shoes). Students who do not follow legitimate instructions or who endanger the safety of others or do not act in accordance with the requirements of the Workplace Health and Safety Act, will be required to leave the session.

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: 20-Sep-2012