EGB273 Principles of Construction

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2026, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

Construction engineering is a prominent field of civil engineering that focuses on turning civil engineering infrastructure designs into reality. Construction engineers use knowledge and skills bases that you will learn in this second year unit to select and implement methods of civil construction. You will learn about site investigation, environmental management, construction planning and project management techniques, earthworks, equipment selection for various civil infrastructure types. You will further develop your professional skills in communication and engineering teamwork. This intermediate unit draws upon your learning in EGB123 Civil Engineering Systems. EGH479 Advances in Civil Engineering Practice will build upon this unit.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Explain the fundamental construction engineering techniques used across the broad range of project types at an introduced level.
2. Apply project planning, scheduling and controlling techniques in construction engineering activities at an introduced level.
3. Solve a construction engineering problem considering constructability at an introduced level.
4. Contribute to a construction engineering assessment, with evidence of working on agreed tasks as a team member, at a developed level.
5. Compose a structured technical report of a construction engineering project including drawings at a developed level.

Content

Learning Approaches

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

• Formal lectures (2 hours / week) from experienced professional civil engineers to give you insight into knowledge, skills and attributes. You have the opportunity to ask questions during these lectures.
• Tutorial classes (2 hours / week) that will give you the opportunity to develop your understanding towards your individual problem solving task, and will give you the opportunity to collaboratively work with your team to complete your project assessment. They will be facilitated by tutors 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 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 tutors.

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 team to complete a project assessment. While there will be time during timetabled tutorial classes, you will also need to undertake independent work outside of that 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.

This unit will include content, case studies and examples of the ways in which the work of professional engineers connects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s status as First Nations owners of land and seas. This may include:

• partnership with Indigenous communities and Indigenous engineering businesses,
• connection with regulatory requirements such as the Cultural Heritage duty of care required under the Queensland Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2005, or
• engineering industry partners who have an organisational commitment through Reconciliation Actions
  Plans which bring responsibilities to engineers working with them.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

• During tutorial classes, you will share your formative ideas for your assessments and you will receive feedback from your tutor. As part of an effective team you will share the outcomes of your project assessment with your tutor for marking and feedback, and with students from other groups in your tutorial class. You are encouraged to view your team as a learning community and to share and discuss emergent ideas in the construction engineering project process and your understandings of civil engineering professional practice.
• 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 include feedback given by the markers against the criteria.

Assessment

Overview

Assessments in this unit have been designed to give you the opportunity to show your learning against the unit learning outcomes. The In-class collaborative problem solving task (PST) will give you the opportunity to demonstrate your theoretical and analytical knowledge in solving problems and explaining the techniques in construction engineering. You will work as a group member to demonstrate your personal and professional skills for the project. You will be expected to work together with your team members and independently to make individual contributions to the project. You will sit an examination individually during the central examination period at the end of the semester to show your overall learning in this unit.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Group Problem Solving Task

You will be asked several questions related to real-world construction engineering systems and problems as a group, to be finished within a specified time. You will first be assigned to a group to discuss the problems and then undertake the solutions individually.  

• This is a verified identity assessment where students will complete and submit their work in class.
• The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited in this assessment.
• Attendance is compulsory in this assessment. In case of non-attendance zero marks will be awarded for this assessment. If the attendance is missed due to unforeseen personal circumstances, you can apply for special consideration with the required documentation.
• This assignment is not eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions. 

Assessment: Project Report

You will work a an effective member of a functional civil engineering team to prepare a
construction project that demonstrates your knowledge and skills attainment. You will
communicate your work in a written technical report including calculations and
drawings, which adheres to assessment requirements and submitted in two stages as specified in the assessment brief and Canvas site. You also will submit an individual statement that outlines and reflects on your personal contributions and responsibilities in 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: Examination (Invigilated)

You will be required to explain concepts and solve problems about principles of
construction engineering. You will be presented with descriptions of problems and will
need to diagnose the problem type, make use of appropriate theory or methods,
demonstrate 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)

• Schmitt R., Schexnayder C., Cohen A., Nichols H., Day D. 2019, Moving the earth: Excavation Equipment, Methods, Safety, and Cost, Seventh Edition, McGraw Hill.
• Peurifoy, R. L., Schexnayder, C. J., Shapira, A., Schmitt, R. L., & Cohen, A. (2024). Construction Planning, Equipment, and Methods (10th edition). McGraw Hill LLC.
  
  
  

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.

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: Group Problem Solving Task, Examination (Invigilated)
2. 
   Relates to: Group Problem Solving Task, Project Report, Examination (Invigilated)
3. 
   Relates to: Project Report

2: Engineering Application Ability

1. 
   Relates to: Group Problem Solving Task, Examination (Invigilated)
2. 
   Relates to: Project Report

3: Professional and Personal Attributes

1. 
   Relates to: Project Report
2. 
   Relates to: Project Report
3. 
   Relates to: Project Report

Course Learning Outcomes

EN01 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)

1. Engage stakeholders professionally and communicate the outcomes of your work effectively to expert and non-expert audiences using appropriate modes.
   Relates to: ULO5, Project Report
2. Display leadership, creativity, and initiative in both self-directed and collaborative contexts of professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: ULO4, Project Report
3. Manage projects to solve complex engineering problems, using appropriate information, engineering methods, and technologies.
   Relates to: ULO1, Project Report, Examination (Invigilated)
4. Deploy appropriate approaches to engineering design and quality.
   Relates to: ULO3, Group Problem Solving Task, Project Report, Examination (Invigilated)
5. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of one engineering discipline, its research directions, and its application in contemporary professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: ULO2, Group Problem Solving Task, Project Report, Examination (Invigilated)

EV01 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)

1. Engage stakeholders professionally and communicate the outcomes of your work effectively to expert and non-expert audiences using appropriate modes.
   Relates to: Project Report
2. Display leadership, creativity, and initiative in both self-directed and collaborative contexts of professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: Project Report
3. Manage projects to solve complex engineering problems, using appropriate information, engineering methods, and technologies.
   Relates to: Project Report, Examination (Invigilated)
4. Deploy appropriate approaches to engineering design and quality.
   Relates to: Group Problem Solving Task, Project Report, Examination (Invigilated)
5. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of one engineering discipline, its research directions, and its application in contemporary professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: Group Problem Solving Task, Project Report, Examination (Invigilated)