ABB123 Sustainability and Design Thinking for the Construction Industry
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | ABB123 |
|---|---|
| Equivalent(s): | UXB100 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,164 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,356 |
| International unit fee | $4,896 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | ABB123 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Equivalent: | UXB100 |
| Coordinator: | Bo Xia | paul.xia@qut.edu.au |
Overview
In this introductory unit, you will gain a big picture view of the strategies and interactions that influence the sustainable development of the built environment. You will also learn about the principles of sustainability and application of them to real-world projects. Using design-thinking, you will consider the end user of built spaces and the social and cultural impacts of decisions at every stage of the project development and planning process. You will analyse problems and consider various innovative solutions. You will learn appropriate terminology and communication strategies to communicate and negotiate with diverse stakeholders including clients, design managers, architects, project managers, urban planners, construction managers and quantity surveyors and cost engineers. You will also learn how and when these roles intersect and how you can have a strategic impact on the project development and planning process.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Apply design-thinking and future oriented problem solving methods to recommend innovative solutions to contemporary issues related to sustainability in construction industry.
- Apply sustainable principles to real-world construction projects.
- Analyse the impacts of different sustainable principles on practices and processes within the construction industry.
- Communicate and collaborate in professional contexts, with diverse audiences, and reflect on feedback, experience and career development.
Content
Learning outcomes will be achieved through coverage of the following topics:
- Sustainability principles and application.
- Design-thinking.
- Built environment professionals and their relationships.
- Preparation of professional and academic reports.
- Academic writing and referencing.
- Professional presentation skills.
- Project life cycle and planning processes.
- Working in groups and peer review from both an academic and industry perspective.
Learning Approaches
This unit will have lectures and tutorials.
Lectures to deliver the content and tutorials reinforce the learning by hands-on activities.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
A range of formative exercises will be discussed in class.
Generic comments back to the cohort in class and on Canvas.
Criteria sheet grading.
Assessment
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Proposal
You will prepare an introductory proposal to address an opportunity or an emerging challenge related to sustainability in construction industry. Your proposal will: demonstrate your ability to identify a complex issue and the end users that will be impacted; and articulate the problem you want to solve.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Project
As a diverse team, you will work collaboratively to produce a report outlining your application of the design thinking process to an opportunity or complex challenge related to sustainability in construction industry and make recommendations to a team of diverse stakeholders.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Reflection
In response to your collaborative experience in this unit and based on teamwork theory, you will prepare a written reflection. You will use the 4R's method of reflective thinking to respond to your experience, feedback and career development, including reflecting on your own skills and personality, and your team's performance. By reference to teamwork theory you will reflect on the benefits of diversity, consider which additional people, perspectives, or skills would have been valuable to your team, and explain why.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
There is no set text for this unit. Items selected by the unit coordinator will be made available online to you for your use throughout the unit.
Relevant readings and other resources will be uploaded onto the unit Canvas website.
You are also required to use the following:
- The unit website on QUT's Canvas
- QUT Library Databases
- You can access QUT cite/write online at QUT Cite| Write
Risk Assessment Statement
All commencing Faculty of Engineering students are required to complete the Mandatory Safety Induction
There are no extraordinary risks associated with the classroom/lecture activities in this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.AB01 Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours)
- Apply theoretical, practical and cultural knowledge and skills across a range of disciplines and specialist knowledge and skills in one built environment area.
Relates to: Proposal, Project , Reflection - Design and critically evaluate sustainable and creative solutions to social, economic, technological and environmental challenges.
Relates to: Proposal, Project , Reflection - Communicate knowledge, ideas and creative solutions in diverse modes, for a range of contexts and diverse audiences.
Relates to: Proposal, Project , Reflection - Plan, develop and complete research and other projects.
Relates to: Proposal, Project , Reflection - Strategically collaborate with diverse stakeholders and communities, including First Nations peoples.
Relates to: Project , Reflection - Reflect on feedback and experience, and display professional and ethical judgment and initiative.
Relates to: Proposal, Project , Reflection