ABB303 Environmental Planning

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2026, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

This unit increases your understanding of environmental issues, environmental policy frameworks, and strategies that support decision-making and problem solving in the face of uncertainty.  You will learn about the multi-faced aspects of environmental issues and the multi-scaled policy frameworks that guide ethical, and responsive practice. You will build on your existing spatial and non-spatial analysis skills and work in diverse teams to analyse a complex real-world environmental sustainability problem and identify integrated recommendations to address it. The knowledge and skills learnt in this unit will inform your work in advanced design and project units as well as in professional practice.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Critically analyse issues requiring the application of environment-based strategies and apply environmental planning methods and tools effectively to address sustainability problems.
2. Communicate professionally using written, oral and visual modes to engage with diverse stakeholders in a variety of contexts.
3. Reflect on personal experiences and provide and respond to peer feedback to develop your professional identity.
4. Collaborate effectively within a diverse team.

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit employs problem based learning, collaborative learning and action based learning to provide you with opportunities to apply environmental planning theory, concepts and principles to planning processes, critical thinking, collaboration and problem solving.

Your participation in the unit will include:

• Independent online preparation for lectures and computer labs to introduce you to new concepts
• Attendance at in-person lectures to expose you to ideas underpinning differing environmental ethos, key aspects of legislation and policy which guide built environment activities relative to environmental constraints, and exemplars of innovative practice from around the world
• Engagement in weekly computer labs to gain proficiency in the use of industry standard geographic information system (GIS) and electronic document production software
• Participation in group work through the forming of diverse teams to undertake Assessment Three (Strategic Environmental Assessment), which builds upon analyses and research performed within Assessments One and Two
• Participation in interactive sessions with activities led by teaching staff and industry guests in support of your project

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will receive verbal feedback on your maps during the practical sessions. You will receive a summative review of submitted assessments in the form of verbal or written feedback from academic staff and criteria-referenced assessment rubrics. 

You will share and discuss ideas with your peers during the development of your group project (Assessment 3) and participate in review of your group members input into the group work. 

Assessment

Overview

You will combine independent research with the use of planning tools and strategies of collaboration, to examine an environmental planning and development problem and co-design a solution. 

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Policy and Scientific Review

 You will collate and evaluate the available policy frameworks and scientific information about managing urban sources of impact on the environment. For this assessment, you will undertake spatial analyses of multiple datasets to demonstrate your acquisition of analytic skills learned through the computer lab sessions and understanding of environmental planning & management concepts from unit lectures and unit readings. This project will prepare you for the in-class exam (Assessment Two) and to effectively contribute to the group project in Assessment Three.

The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See Canvas for specific guidelines.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Policy and Scientific Consensus Statement

You will critically evaluate the extent of consensus between policy frameworks and scientific evidence on managing urban sources of impact on the Great Barrier Reef. For this assessment, you will complete an in-class exam where you answer three short-essay questions using your marked report (Assessment One) and concepts from unit lectures. This task will strengthen your ability to synthesise evidence and apply environmental planning and management principles under exam conditions.

The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment.

Assessment: Strategic Environmental Assessment

Oral Presentation and Reflection Report:
Acting as a team of urban planners and landscape architects, you have been commissioned to analyse a range of development options for a specified location and make a recommendation for development. You will collaboratively undertake GIS analyses, evaluate options for best practice to respond to site conditions and develop an oral presentation to present your findings and offer a grounded recommendation for a scenario for implementation. 

You will also prepare a reflection report on the experience of strategic environmental assessment and multi-disciplinary collaboration in practice.

The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment.

The reflection report component 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

Risk Assessment Statement

All commencing 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

AB01 Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours)

1. Design and critically evaluate sustainable and creative solutions to social, economic, technological and environmental challenges.
   Relates to: Policy and Scientific Review
2. Communicate knowledge, ideas and creative solutions in diverse modes, for a range of contexts and diverse audiences.
   Relates to: Policy and Scientific Review, Strategic Environmental Assessment
3. Plan, develop and complete research and other projects.
   Relates to: Policy and Scientific Review
4. Strategically collaborate with diverse stakeholders and communities, including First Nations peoples.
   Relates to: Policy and Scientific Review, Strategic Environmental Assessment
5. Reflect on feedback and experience, and display professional and ethical judgment and initiative.
   Relates to: Policy and Scientific Review, Strategic Environmental Assessment