EGB274 Environmentally Sustainable Design
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: | EGB274 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | EGB124 or EGB101 or EGB111 or UXB230 or ABB253 or ERB101 or EVB102 or completion of 144 CPs in AB01 or AV01 or PV21 or ID52 |
| Equivalent(s): | ENB274 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,164 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,968 |
| International unit fee | $6,252 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | EGB274 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | EGB124 or EGB101 or EGB111 or UXB230 or ABB253 or ERB101 or EVB102 or completion of 144 CPs in AB01 or AV01 or PV21 or ID52 |
| Equivalent: | ENB274 |
| Coordinator: | Buddhi Mahappu Kankanamalage | b.mahappukankanamalage@qut.edu.au |
Overview
The knowledge and skills associated with site investigation, analysis and planning for sustainable development are essential for civil and environmental engineers, as is the ability to work within multidisciplinary teams to achieve balanced solutions on social, economic, cultural and environmental outcomes. This sustainable development design project requires you to undertake typical site investigations, site analyses and conceptual designs for a selected site covering sustainability issues in the following areas: Sustainable Transport, Land Planning including assessment of the surrounding areas, Water & Wastewater Management and Environmental Impact Assessment. This unit extends and applies the knowledge developed in design based engineering units to important issues such as site analysis, site investigation, site planning, development assessment, environmental management, water quality, pollution prevention and control, and resource and waste management.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Investigate and analyse the construction of development sites based on environmental engineering standards and planning guidelines at a developed level.
- Analyse the environmental quality for sustainable outcomes using environmental impact assessment of projects at a developed level.
- Understand the sustainable land use, water management and transport planning concepts for environmental engineering systems at a developed level.
- Compose technical engineering documentation using literature review and conceptual designs of sustainable environmental developments at a developed level.
- Demonstrate effective team work skills for environmental assessment projects at a developed level.
Content
The major topics to be covered include:
principles of sustainable development and site investigation for environmental standards;
sustainable land use planning principles and site investigation and analysis
sustainable transport planning principles, road hierarchy, sustainable land use planning principles
water management and environmental impact assessment,
water quality testing (practical),design office practice
engineering investigation and reporting (research skills)
engineering investigation and reporting (technical presentation skills)
Learning Approaches
Teaching Mode: 4 hours per week
Lecture: 2 hrs/wk
Studio: 2 hrs/wk
Lab exercise: In week 6 or 7 Total = 2 hrs
This unit is project based and carries the themes of site analysis, site investigation and planning for sustainable development. You will work in a team of 4 to develop elements that contribute to a development application study, including a thorough site investigation and analysis, and a site planning proposal along a sustainability theme taking into consideration environmental sensitivity, liveability, functionality and resource management. You will also individually present your design proposal at the conclusion of the semester to assess your oral communication skills. This exercise will further develop your capabilities with emphasis on individual learning and application abilities.
Formal contact will consist of two sessions per week. Generally lecture material will be presented for 2hrs and Studio sessions will follow for 2 hours. Lectures will constitute between 25 and 40% of class contact time, with the remainder being focused on simulating the project design environment. There will be some specialist lectures, with heavy emphasis on students further researching the in class lecture material to enhance your understanding of the relevant topic. The remainder is focused on design studios and a practical class where results feed into design outcomes. Completion of the project will further your professional development, with emphasis on teamwork, planning, decision making and communication skills.
Much of the material you'll need and tasks you will undertake will be found on the ENB274 Canvas site; you must keep regularly visiting this site to keep informed of latest news and of weekly operation of the unit. Learning Approaches will include: project based, team based learning and experiential learning.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will receive feedback through group dialogue with teaching staff, written comments upon, and grading of your submission documentation, both of which will enable you to understand how your team is progressing and how your work may be improved.
Formative assessment in the form of feedback to you will be provided during studio sessions and following submission and grading of the summative assessment. Formative feedback will be offered during the semester at key times to assist you in development of your submissions. Grading will be made through the use of Criterion Referenced Assessment pro-forma, which will be discussed in class and published on Canvas prior to the due dates.
Assessment
Overview
This unit will comprise a combination of both formative and summative approaches to assessment involving a mix of formats and a combination of group and individual work. Both the formative and a proportion of the summative assessment for this unit are centred upon the completion of three assessments to exemplify your knowledge and skills gained in the unit.
Assessment 1 (Individual submission); Site Survey Report
Assessment 2 (Group submission); Development Application
Assessment 3 (Individual submission); Presentation of Develpment Application Concept Plan
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Site Survey Report
The Site Survey report is based on an inspection of the site where land development is proposed, to gather information to optimise the development design. Based on a detailed understanding of the site, the Site Survey report provides information and analysis that is submitted to a Local Authority for approval.
This is an assignment eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extension.
Assessment: Development Application Proposal
The Development Application (DA) Package report is a formal request for permission to carry out land development lodged with and assessed by the relevant local council. It will show the preferred location, access, and best orientation of facilities (lots, roads, green space and water management approaches) based on the site characteristics and the identification of opportunities and constraints identified in the previous submitted Site Survey report. It includes a proposed Concept Plan and an Environmental Impact Assessment for the proposed development.
This is an assignment eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extension.
Assessment: Presentation of Concept Plan
The Concept Plan Presentation is based on your land development Design proposed in the DA Package. Highlight the key features of your proposal, in a concise and targeted way to the Council to convince them of its feasibility. You need to give a ‘pitch’ on:
• why your proposal is sustainable and will add value to the neighborhoods;
• how you hope to mitigate any adverse environmental impacts.
Presentation of Concept Plan from Development Application assessed in class Week 12 and 13.
No extensions is possible as this is an On-campus assessment.
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
Materials will be made available via QUT online learning platforms on a week by week basis. Text books from other prerequisite units will be used as references as appropriate.
A package of basic background information that is relevant to each project (including Project Brief) will be issued to each team. You will be expected to identify any information further than that issued formally to the class, and where feasible, procure that information. Notwithstanding, you shall not approach members of the public nor public officers in relation to your project without authorisation of the unit coordinator.
A unit Canvas site will provide a clearinghouse for electronic resources as well as documentation on unit housekeeping. You are expected to both review the unit Canvas site and check your QUT student email account at least one day prior to each class.
Risk Assessment Statement
You will be required to undertake a field trip under the supervision of the lecturer and sessional staff of the School. The School's occupational health and safety policies and procedures will apply to these sessions. You will be informed of any requirements pertaining to a safe workplace. In lectures, tutorials and such, the information will include location of fire exits and meeting points in case of fire; in any laboratory practicals you will be advised of requirements of safe and responsible behaviour and will be required to wear appropriate protective items (e.g. steel capped shoes); on any field trips or site visits, you will progress through a safety induction session and where necessary obtain a safety induction card. 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/site. You will be responsible for your own health and safety, and that of other members of the community as a responsible citizen, should they elect in their own time to conduct any site visits related to the project.
You will also be required to undertake practical sessions in the laboratory under the supervision of the lecturer and technical staff of the School. In any laboratory practicals 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). If you do not have a safety induction card you will be denied access to laboratories.
Standards/Competencies
This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.
Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standard for Professional Engineer
1: Knowledge and Skill Base
Relates to: Site Survey Report
Relates to: Presentation of Concept Plan
Relates to: Site Survey Report
2: Engineering Application Ability
Relates to: Site Survey Report
Relates to: Presentation of Concept Plan
Relates to: Site Survey Report
3: Professional and Personal Attributes
Relates to: Site Survey Report, Presentation of Concept Plan
Relates to: Development Application Proposal, Presentation of Concept Plan
Relates to: Development Application Proposal
Relates to: Site Survey Report
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: Development Application Proposal, Presentation of Concept Plan - Design and critically evaluate sustainable and creative solutions to social, economic, technological and environmental challenges.
Relates to: Site Survey Report, Development Application Proposal - Communicate knowledge, ideas and creative solutions in diverse modes, for a range of contexts and diverse audiences.
Relates to: Site Survey Report, Development Application Proposal, Presentation of Concept Plan - Strategically collaborate with diverse stakeholders and communities, including First Nations peoples.
Relates to: Site Survey Report
EN01 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
- Make decisions ethically within the social, cultural, and organisational contexts of professional engineering practice.
Relates to: Site Survey Report - Engage stakeholders professionally and communicate the outcomes of your work effectively to expert and non-expert audiences using appropriate modes.
Relates to: ULO4, Development Application Proposal, Presentation of Concept Plan - Display leadership, creativity, and initiative in both self-directed and collaborative contexts of professional engineering practice.
Relates to: ULO5, Site Survey Report, Development Application Proposal, Presentation of Concept Plan - Manage projects to solve complex engineering problems, using appropriate information, engineering methods, and technologies.
Relates to: ULO5, Site Survey Report, Development Application Proposal - Deploy appropriate approaches to engineering design and quality.
Relates to: ULO1, Presentation of Concept Plan - Engage with and apply regulatory requirements relating to safety, risk management, and sustainability in professional engineering practice.
Relates to: ULO3, Site Survey Report, Development Application Proposal - Demonstrate a thorough understanding of one engineering discipline, its research directions, and its application in contemporary professional engineering practice.
Relates to: ULO2