ENN479 Public Transport Capacity and Quality

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2026, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

Transport engineers undertake investigations and assessments as part of public transport infrastructure planning, design and management activities that meet stakeholders' needs. This unit introduces you to knowledge and skills bases that are used in these activities. You will learn about public transport applications in the Australian context, infrastructure planning, capacity analysis, quality of service analysis, advanced control and intelligent transport systems, and project review and evaluation. You will continue to learn about ethics, cultural awareness, sustainable development practices and how they underpin your professional work. You will further develop your professional skills in communication and teamwork. This advanced unit draws upon your learning in EGB123 Civil Engineering Systems and EGB272 Traffic and Transport Engineering (or similar units from other institutions).

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Classify and explain the appropriate roles and operational processes of specific modes of public transport at a mastered level.
2. Exemplify and apply the system for planning, design, operation and management of public transport projects and systems using engineering information at a mastered level.
3. Contribute to a public transport project assessment, as a team member with negotiated tasks, at a mastered level.
4. Compose technical documentation of a public transport project assessment that meets specifications and includes design calculations and drawings at a mastered level.

Content

Learning Approaches

In this unit you can expect to experience the following timetabled activities:

• Formal lectures (2h/week) from experienced professional transport engineers to give you insight into knowledge, skills, and attributes, including perspectives of stakeholders in public transport and how public transport can contribute to sustainability. You have the opportunity to ask questions during these lectures.
• Tutorial classes (2h/week) that will give you the opportunity to work collaboratively with your peers to solve problems including using software, and searching and using online resources. They will be facilitated by a tutor and will provide an opportunity to test your understanding and gain feedback on your work.

These activities will be detailed by week of semester on the unit schedule. You can also expect to be provided with with learning resources including video presentations and readings on a unit Canvas site, which you can access flexibly to complete your learning in this unit.

At the beginning of the unit, you will be made aware of the ways in which you can ask questions or seek clarification from the unit coordinator, lecturers and tutor.

You are expected to:

• Engage with timetabled learning activities on campus and ask questions.
• Engage with online resources outside of timetabled learning activities. They will be available on the unit Canvas site. You will receive regular email announcements regarding the release of these resources.
• Work in a group to complete a public transport project in two parts. While there will be time during timetabled tutorial classes, you will also need to undertake independent work outside of this time to complete assessment tasks, including for areas of individual responsibility.
• Prepare for learning activities according to the unit schedule, and follow up on any work not completed.
• Complete assessment tasks by working consistently throughout the semester and meeting the due dates that are published via the unit Canvas site.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

During tutorial classes, with your group you will share your formative ideas for your public transport project and you will receive verbal feedback from your tutor. You are encouraged to view your group and the broader class as a learning community and to share and discuss emergent ideas in the public transport engineering process and your understandings of transport engineering professional practice, including use of relevant technologies, consideration of stakeholders’ needs, and approaches towards sustainability. Each assessment submission will be graded against criteria and standards that will be shared with you at the beginning of semester through Assessment Task Descriptions and Marking Rubrics. Marked assessment will also include written feedback given by the markers against the criteria, which will directly relate to and inform your final assessment.

Assessment

Overview

Assessment in this unit has been designed to give you the opportunity to show your learning against the unit learning outcomes. During the semester you will work in a group to prepare and submit two assessments related to public transport capacity and quality, deploying work practices that align to transport engineering professional practice (including applying technologies, addressing stakeholder needs and sustainability). You will be expected to work together with your group members and independently to make individual contributions to the assessments. You will sit an examination individually during the central examination period at the end of semester, where you will show your overall learning in the unit.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Existing Conditions Assessment

You will work in an effective group with tasks negotiated between members to prepare your existing conditions assessment for your public transport project, which demonstrates your development of knowledge and skills bases in transport engineering. Your group will communicate your findings in a written technical report with appended calculations and designs, which adheres to a specification. As an individual you will submit an individual contribution statement that details and reflects on your own contribution, responsibilities and group interactions during this assessment.

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

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

Assessment: Project Conditions Assessment

You will work in an effective group with tasks negotiated between members to prepare your project conditions assessment for your public transport project, which demonstrates your development of knowledge and skills bases in transport engineering. Your group will communicate your findings in a written technical report with appended calculations and designs, which adheres to a specification. As an individual you will submit an individual contribution statement that details and reflects on your own contribution, responsibilities and group interactions during this assessment.

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

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

Assessment: End of semester Examination

You will be required to analyse aspects of public transport systems including public transport applications in the Australian context, infrastructure planning, capacity analysis, quality of service analysis, advanced control and intelligent transport systems, and project review and evaluation. You will be presented with descriptions of the public transport systems and will need to diagnose the problem type, make use of appropriate theory or methods, demonstrate systems knowledge, show your working, and communicate a complete answer in writing and graphically.

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

Resource Materials

Reference book(s)

Kittelson & Associates et al. (2013). Transit Capacity and Quality of Service Manual, 3rd Edition. National Academies, Washington.

Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads – TransLink Division. (2020).

Public Transport Infrastructure Manual. Brisbane.

Software

Nearmap n.d., Nearmap

Risk Assessment Statement

You will undertake lectures and tutorials in the traditional classrooms and lecture theatres of QUT. You will follow all legitimate instructions of staff in accordance with QUT workplace health and safety requirements.

Risks may be associated with visiting study areas and/or project sites. You are required to have completed a valid Workplace Health and Safety course. You shall not enter project sites without the Unit Coordinator's approval. You shall not to contact members of the public, public officers or staff associated with any project without permission of the Unit Coordinator. More detailed information will be provided in your Week 1 information class.

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

1. 
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, End of semester Examination
2. 
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment
3. 
   Relates to: Project Conditions Assessment, End of semester Examination
4. 
   Relates to: Project Conditions Assessment, End of semester Examination

2: Engineering Application Ability

1. 
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, Project Conditions Assessment
2. 
   Relates to: Project Conditions Assessment, End of semester Examination
3. 
   Relates to: Project Conditions Assessment, End of semester Examination
4. 
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, Project Conditions Assessment, End of semester Examination

3: Professional and Personal Attributes

1. 
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, Project Conditions Assessment
2. 
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, Project Conditions Assessment
3. 
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment
4. 
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, Project Conditions Assessment
5. 
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, Project Conditions Assessment

Course Learning Outcomes

EN51 Master of Sustainable Infrastructure

1. Demonstrate and apply advanced and specialist discipline knowledge, concepts and practices as they relate to contemporary practice in Sustainable Infrastructure
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, End of semester Examination
2. Analyse and evaluate Sustainable Infrastructure problems using technical approaches informed by contemporary practice and leading edge research to achieve innovative, critically informed solutions 
   Relates to: Project Conditions Assessment, End of semester Examination
3. Apply innovative, systematic approaches to plan, design, deliver and manage projects in Sustainable Infrastructure in a way that assures sustainable outcomes over their whole lifecycle
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, Project Conditions Assessment
4. Effectively communicate Sustainable Infrastructure problems, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, Project Conditions Assessment, End of semester Examination
5. Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability and reflective practice when working in individual and collaborative modes
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, Project Conditions Assessment

EN55 Master of Professional Engineering

1. Apply advanced and specialist knowledge, concepts and practices in engineering design, analysis management and sustainability.
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, End of semester Examination
2. Critically analyse and evaluate complex engineering problems to achieve research informed solutions.
   Relates to: Project Conditions Assessment, End of semester Examination
3. Apply systematic approaches to plan, design, execute and manage an engineering project.
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, Project Conditions Assessment
4. Communicate complex information effectively and succinctly, presenting high level reports, arguments and justifications in oral, written and visual forms to professional and non specialist audiences.
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, Project Conditions Assessment
5. Organise and manage time, tasks and projects independently, and collaboratively demonstrating the values and principles that shape engineering decision making and professional accountability.
   Relates to: Project Conditions Assessment

EN71 Master of Sustainable Infrastructure with Project Management

1. Demonstrate and apply advanced and specialist discipline knowledge, concepts, methods and practices as they relate to contemporary practice in Sustainable Infrastructure and Project Management domains
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, End of semester Examination
2. Analyse and evaluate problems in Sustainable Infrastructure and Project Management domains using technical approaches informed by contemporary practice and leading-edge research to achieve evidence based, innovative, critically informed solutions and outcomes
   Relates to: Project Conditions Assessment, End of semester Examination
3. Apply innovative, systematic approaches to plan, design, deliver and manage projects in Sustainable Infrastructure and Project Management domains in a way that assures sustainable outcomes and strategic objectives over their whole lifecycle
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, Project Conditions Assessment
4. Effectively communicate problems in Sustainable Infrastructure and Project Management domains, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, Project Conditions Assessment, End of semester Examination
5. Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability, reflective practice, risk-informed judgements, and leadership
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, Project Conditions Assessment

EN75 Master of Sustainable Infrastructure with Data Analytics

1. Demonstrate and apply advanced and specialist discipline knowledge, concepts, methods and practices as they relate to contemporary practice in Sustainable Infrastructure and Data Analytics domains
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, End of semester Examination
2. Analyse and evaluate problems in Sustainable Infrastructure and Data Analytics domains using technical approaches informed by contemporary practice and leading-edge research to achieve evidence based, innovative, critically informed solutions and outcomes
   Relates to: Project Conditions Assessment, End of semester Examination
3. Apply innovative, systematic approaches to plan, design, deliver and manage projects in Sustainable Infrastructure and Data Analytics domains in a way that assures sustainable outcomes and strategic objectives over their whole lifecycle
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, Project Conditions Assessment
4. Effectively communicate problems in Sustainable Infrastructure and Data Analytics domains, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, Project Conditions Assessment, End of semester Examination
5. Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability, reflective practice, risk-informed judgements, and leadership
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, Project Conditions Assessment

EN79 Graduate Diploma in Engineering Studies

1. Demonstrate and apply advanced discipline knowledge, concepts and practices as they relate to contemporary Engineering practice
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, End of semester Examination
2. Analyse and evaluate Engineering problems using technical approaches informed by contemporary practice and leading edge research to achieve innovative, critically informed solutions
   Relates to: Project Conditions Assessment, End of semester Examination
3. Apply innovative, systematic approaches to plan, design, deliver and manage Engineering projects in a way that assures sustainable outcomes over their whole lifecycle
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, Project Conditions Assessment
4. Effectively communicate Engineering problems, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, Project Conditions Assessment, End of semester Examination
5. Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability and reflective practice when working in individual and collaborative modes
   Relates to: Existing Conditions Assessment, Project Conditions Assessment