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

Engineers who work on very large projects need a very specific suite of additional skills when compared to engineers who work on smaller projects. Systems Engineering provides the framework to systematically allow these types of problems to be addressed. Skills that are required to carry projects to term include technical design and implementation, management of the project and teamwork coordination. Compliance to Australian and International standards is also an essential requirement of the designs. This introductory unit which will be followed by ENB355 Advanced Systems Design as well your final year project units will develop the necessary competency in dealing large scale systems.

Aims

The primary objective of the unit is to provide a thorough grounding in systems engineering methodology according to the various standards in use throughout the world. A secondary objective is to expose the students to the experience and the problems of working as a member of a design team. As such teamwork is of high focus in this unit. A third objective is to have the students undertake a group design exercise.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Analyse and present the advantages and difficulties of working in teams under pressure.
2. Decompose a large complex project into a work breakdown structure with associated work package descriptions.
3. Demonstrate skills in technical writing, project specifications to meet customer requirements based on inter/national standards appropriate to the engineering design.
4. Communicate and present ideas and specialised information effectively with customers, aerospace professionals and co-workers, both informally and formally in a variety of formats.

Content

• Introduction to Systems Engineering.


• User and system requirements process.


• Requirements Analysis.


• Project Management and Systems Engineering.


• Systems Engineering Management.


• Risk Management.


• Verification and Validation.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Total hrs per week: 4 hrs
Lectures: 2 hr
Tutorial: 2 hr

This is a highly team oriented unit and much emphasis is placed on simulating project conditions seen in the aerospace workplace. Some students will be required to use Microsoft project for the project management requirements. The lectures will be based on industry practice and experience and these will be underpinned by demonstrations, reading and the application of knowledge to solving problems. Tutorial sessions will involve individual questioning as well as group work and student-centred learning rather than guided problem solving, with feedback coming from the whole group. This will enhance the group nature of systems design.

Weekly group meetings: You should get together at least once per week and spend about 2 hours sharing what each of your team has been doing. Remember that you need to fill in your log books for these meetings.

Assessment

Assessment consists of problem solving exercises and assessment related to the group project.You will receive peer and teacher verbal feedback on individual as well as group progress during tutorials throughout the semester as well as written feedback on problems and project work.

Assessment name: Problem Solving Task
Description: This tasks specifically target issues encountered in the systems engineering process. You are expected to submit part of the assessment for feedback before week 5.
Relates to objectives: 2, 3.
Weight: 25%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 6.

Assessment name: Project
Description: Prepare complete systems engineering documentation, high level objectives, sysyem requriements, trade studies, team meeting minutes, etc.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4.
Weight: 45%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group with Individual Component
Due date: Week 13.

Assessment name: Presentation
Description: This consists of a series of weekly critical design reviews with the tutor and a more formal critical design review presentation in front of an industry and an academic panel in week 13.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4.
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group with Individual Component
Due date: Week 13.

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

James R. Wertz and Wiley J. Larson ¿Space Mission Analysis and Design¿, Third Edition, Space Technology Library, Kluwer Academic Press, 1999.

Richard Stevens, Peter Brook, Ken Jackson, Stuart Arnold, ¿Systems Engineering: Coping with Complexity¿ Prentice Hall, 1998.

Risk assessment statement

ou will be required to undertake practical sessions in the computer lab under the supervision of the lecturer/tutor/technical staff of the School. The School's occupational health and safety policies and procedures will apply to these sessions.

You will undergo a health and safety induction and will be issued with a safety induction card. If you do not have a safety induction card, you will be denied access to laboratories.

In any laboratory practical you will be advised of requirements of safe and responsible behaviour and will be required to wear appropriate protective items (e.g. closed shoes or steel capped shoes)

Students will also need to develop a risk management plan for their project.

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: 22-Oct-2012