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

Many civil engineers have to deal with the analysis and design of small drainage systems at some stage of their career. Taken individually, these drainage systems are small and relatively inexpensive. However, the annual expenditure on these systems nationally runs into several hundred million dollars. Economically and socially they play a crucial role in our everyday lives. The adverse consequences of flooding due to drainage system failure can be costly to communities and to individuals. Therefore, it is important that the design of these systems is based on sound engineering principles and practicing civil engineers are familiar with the fundamental concepts of their design. This unit will build upon and draw extensively on the fundamental principles of fluid behaviour covered in ENB280 - Hydraulic Engineering and apply those principles to the analysis and design of drainage systems. The unit provides fundamental knowledge required for ENB478 - Advanced Water Engineering and a range of design units.

Aims

The primary aim of this unit is to promote an understanding of the fundamentals of civil engineering hydraulics and hydrology in practical applications.

Objectives

On the completion of this unit, the students will be able to demonstrate professionalism in water engineering. This will include:
1. Understanding of theory and principles in water engineering and using them in solving complex problems (estimating, designing and analysis) leading to decision making.
2. Communicating solutions in effective, clear and orderly forms (oral, written report, design report and structured calculation forms).
3. Demonstrating creativity, competency and accuracy in solving water engineering problems.

Content

• The water cycle and introduction to rainfall and runoff.


• Hydrologic data, probabilistic analysis of rainfall and runoff


• The rational method, estimation technique for peak runoff for small to medium size catchments


• Introduction to deterministic runoff estimations, runoff routing and loss modelling


• Use of computer models for runoff estimation and runoff routing


• Hydraulic characteristics of open channels, uniform flow, gradually varied, rapidly varied flow, flow measurements and weir flow


• Introduction to urban drainage systems


• Analysis and design of culverts


• Analysis and design of detention basins

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Teaching Mode
This unit will be delivered in the form of formal lectures, tutorial classes and laboratory practicals.
The lectures and tutorial sessions will be in the following format:
Lecture - 2 hours per week
Tutorial - 2 hours per week
Laboratory practicals - 1 hour per semester
Lecture materials and tutorial sheets relevant for each session will be uploaded to corresponding Blackboard site prior to the session.
Three studio classes will be conducted to introduce, discuss and to peer assess your submissions for Catchment analysis project (Assessment item No. 2)

Approach

• Lectures: Formal lecture delivery including interactive discussions and problem solving activities


• Tutorials: Problem based learning and peer learning is encouraged within tutorial sessions. You are expected to solve problems with minimum guidance from the tutor and share the experience and understanding with peers.


• Laboratory experiments: Learning by experiment and observations are promoted. You are expected to experiment with scenarios and report your findings providing technical relations to the theory learned.

Assessment

Assessment items are designed to assess your grasp of the technical information, ability to think and process independently and professionalism in work practice. It includes a group catchment analysis project, lab experiments and reports and a final exam.You will receive ongoing verbal feedback in tutorial and studio sessions (on catchment analysis project) throughout the semester. You will receive written feedback on project design tasks and lab reports. Criterion Referenced Assessment (CRA) will be used for all assessment tasks.

Assessment name: Laboratory Experiments
Description: Students will be required to experiment three flow scenarios and report their findings with technical explanations.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group with Individual Component
Due date: Week 11

Assessment name: Catchment Analysis Project
Description: Catchment analysis project is a design project divided into few tasks. This project is common for UDB385 unit and students from both units should work collaboratively.
Formal feedback will be provided in Week 5.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 12

Assessment name: Final Exam
Description: Students will be required to answer a set of exam questions. Questions will be newly designed so that they cover entire syllabus.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3
Weight: 50%
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

Resource material in the form of lecture notes will be uploaded into the QUT Blackboard web site. This material is designed to supplement rather replace the material presented during the lectures and tutorial sessions. You may refer following text books for additional information.

Text Books

1) Type: Book
Author: Institute of Engineers Australia
Title: Australian Rainfall and Runoff
Year: 1998 Publisher: Institute of Engineers Australia
Edition: 3rd

2) Type: Book
Author: Anthony Ladson
Title: Hydrology: An Australian Introduction
Year: 2008

2) Type: Book
Author: Queensland Government, Department of Main Roads
Title: Road Drainage Design Manual

3) Type: Book
Author: Douglas, F.J. et al
Title: Fuid Mechanics
Year: 2005 / 2001
Publisher: Pearson
Edition: 5th/4th

4) Any text book titled, hydrology / Applied Hydrology / Engineering Hydrology and Fluid Mechanics and Open Channel Flow

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associates with this unit. You 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, you are encouraged to familiarise yourself with the perimeter of the class rooms giving priority to fire evacuation plans.

You 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 you will be advised of requirements of safe and responsible behaviour and will be required to wear appropriate protective items (eg. closed shoes). If you do not follow legitimate instructions or endanger the safety of others or do not act in accordance with the requirements of the Workplace Health and Safety Act, you 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: 16-Oct-2012