ENN544 Sustainable Practice in Engineering


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Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Unit code:ENN544
Credit points:12
Pre-requisite:EGH479 OR Admission to (EN55 or EN51 or EN53 or EV53 or EN71 or EN75 or EN73 or EN76)
Coordinator:Ashantha Goonetilleke | a.goonetilleke@qut.edu.au
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Overview

Sustainable development has become a global agenda that impacts on our work and everyday life. Sustainability principles and practices are rapidly becoming embedded in all phases of engineering projects from planning, design, construction and maintenance of buildings and infrastructure, through to mining and manufacturing, energy and water utilities. Engineers need to ensure that their decision making is guided by the fundamental principles of sustainable development.The unit will introduce you to principles, challenges and skills for dealing with a diversity of trans-disciplinary issues in engineering sustainable development. By introducing critical sustainability theory and challenging best practices, this unit will prepare you for the impending changes that are necessary in all built environment and engineering disciplines.

Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Demonstrate advanced knowledge of sustainability principles and their application to planning, design and implementation of projects. (CLO1)
  2. Make ethical and sustainable development recommendations to mitigate the identified adverse impacts and to enhance the potential benefits arising from the project. (CLO 2)
  3. Communicate professionally to a variety of stakeholders in written, oral and visual formats. (CLO 4)
  4. Collaborate effectively in a multi-disciplinary team environment to achieve a common goal on time and to the expected standard. (CLO 3, CLO 5)
  5. Critically reflect on contribution to a team project and the implications for your practice as professional engineer. (CLO5)

Content

Current practices in engineering including policies, methods and use of resources are changing to achieving sustainability. For example, managerial approaches are designed to predict, monitor, measure and mitigate the relative harm that a product, development or building may do in the future. However, they require ongoing transformation to address the win-win, positive development opportunities that are possible with triple bottom line approach.

Sustainable development is fundamentally a whole of system design approach, where environmental pressures are specifically taken into account alongside 'triple bottom line' social and economic issues. You will develop an understanding of how these principles and issues apply to your field of expertise. Within this context, the broad areas to be covered will include the following:'

  • Climate change - sustainability
  • Adaptation to current/future climate related challenges
  • Sustainable infrastructure design
  • Resource consumption
  •  Sustainable materials
  • Waste minimisation - construction/operation phases
  • Life cycle analysis

Learning Approaches

Hours per week: 3
Mode: lecture/tutorial/discussion groups

This unit utilises collaborative, project based learning where you work in teams throughout semester to investigate and critique a real world engineering project, developing and getting feedback on project milestones according to sustainable development principles. You work as a team to prepare the Feasibility Plan and Environmental Impact Analysis with individual assessment of the final Industry Brief and Team presentation to simulate engineering team practice as well as assure individual achievement of all unit learning outcomes. Team members are encouraged to sit together and bring devices to class to connect with dedicated technology to enable and support their learning. Each team member will also complete a review of their project outcomes and learning individually and as a team.

Formal contact will consist of a three hour integrated session, which will be a mix of lecture, tutorial and interactive discussion per week.

Some of the material you'll need and details about the tasks that you will undertake will be found on the ENN544 Canvas site. You will need to regularly connect with this site to be kept informed of latest news and of weekly requirements of the unit.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:

1. Formative feedback at key times in class to assist you/your team to develop and/or review your project deliverables and team progress (for assessment tasks)

2. Written comments on Rubrics and in class discussion for feedback on the expected standard for each Criterion in an assessment task

3. Comments or information given to you via Canvas

4. Lecture / consultation sessions in class may be available for group and individual feedback prior to assessment due dates and on completion of assessments

Assessment

Overview

This unit has three assessment items to simulate both, real world teamwork as well as individual input and achievement of all learning outcomes. The mix of group and individual assessment provides for manageable overall individual assessment load with unit coordinator moderation/change of group assessment results for individuals whose assessment outcomes vary significantly to the group's and/or contribution to the group is not equitable. Assessments include:

Assessment 1 (group assessment - group marks) - Preliminary Feasibility Assessment 30%

Assessment 2 (group assessment - individual marks) - Environmental Impact Assessment to further consolidate the preliminary assessment 40%

Assessment 3 (group presentation - individual marks) - Project finalisation presentation to stakeholders 30%

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Feasibility Assessment

As a group, you will research and write a preliminary feasibility assessment report. This assessment will include a small peer evaluation component.

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

 

Weight: 30
Length: 2000 words
Individual/Group: Group
Due (indicative): Week 4
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Assessment: Environmental Impact Assessment

The board in charge of the development have reviewed your initial feasibility report and would now like your team to undertake a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment. To complete this report you will need to work as a team, but each team member will have overall responsibility for a section of the report. This assessment will involve a self and peer evaluation component.

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

Weight: 40
Length: 5000 words in total
Individual/Group: Individual and group
Due (indicative): Week 10
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Assessment: Presentation on Environmental Impact Statement

Project finalisation
You will deliver a presentation to stakeholders, which will outline the key aspects of the Environmental Impact Assessment that has been completed. 

 

Weight: 30
Length: 5 mins
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 13
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 4

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

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.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Students will be provided with a number of required readings that will be accessible via the Canvas site and/or library.

The 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

All commencing SEF 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.

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: Feasibility Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment
  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: Feasibility Assessment
  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: Environmental Impact 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: Feasibility Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment, Presentation on Environmental Impact Statement
  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: Feasibility Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment

EN53 Master of Renewable Energy

  1. Analyse and evaluate Renwable Energy problems using technical approaches informed by contemporary practice and leading edge research to achieve innovative, critically informed solutions
    Relates to: Feasibility Assessment
  2. Apply innovative, systematic approaches to plan, design, deliver and manage projects in Renewable Energy in a way that assures sustainable outcomes over their whole lifecycle
    Relates to: Environmental Impact Assessment
  3. Effectively communicate Renewable Energy problems, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
    Relates to: Feasibility Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment, Presentation on Environmental Impact Statement
  4. Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability and reflective practice when working in individual and collaborative modes
    Relates to: Feasibility Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment

EN55 Master of Professional Engineering

  1. Apply advanced and specialist knowledge, concepts and practices in engineering design, analysis management and sustainability.
    Relates to: Feasibility Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment, Presentation on Environmental Impact Statement
  2. Critically analyse and evaluate complex engineering problems to achieve research informed solutions.
    Relates to: Feasibility Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment
  3. Apply systematic approaches to plan, design, execute and manage an engineering project.
    Relates to: Feasibility Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment, Presentation on Environmental Impact Statement
  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: Feasibility Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment, Presentation on Environmental Impact Statement
  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: Feasibility Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment, Presentation on Environmental Impact Statement

EN56 Master of Engineering Technology

  1. Analyse and evaluate Engineering Technology problems using technical approaches informed by contemporary practice and leading edge research to achieve innovative, critically informed solutions
    Relates to: Feasibility Assessment
  2. Apply innovative, systematic approaches to plan, design, deliver and manage projects in Engineering Technology in a way that assures sustainable outcomes over their whole lifecycle
    Relates to: Environmental Impact Assessment
  3. Effectively communicate Engineering Technology problems, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
    Relates to: Feasibility Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment, Presentation on Environmental Impact Statement
  4. Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability and reflective practice when working in individual and collaborative modes
    Relates to: Feasibility Assessment, Environmental Impact 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: Feasibility Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment
  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: Feasibility Assessment
  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: Environmental Impact 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: Feasibility Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment, Presentation on Environmental Impact Statement
  5. Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability, reflective practice, risk-informed judgements, and leadership
    Relates to: Feasibility Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment

EN73 Master of Renewable Energy with Project Management

  1. Analyse and evaluate problems in Renewable Energy 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: Feasibility Assessment
  2. Apply innovative, systematic approaches to plan, design, deliver and manage projects in Renewable Energy and Project Management domains in a way that assures sustainable outcomes and strategic objectives over their whole lifecycle
    Relates to: Environmental Impact Assessment
  3. Effectively communicate problems in Renewable Energy and Project Management domains, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
    Relates to: Feasibility Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment, Presentation on Environmental Impact Statement
  4. Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability, reflective practice, risk-informed judgements, and leadership
    Relates to: Feasibility Assessment, Environmental Impact 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: Feasibility Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment
  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: Feasibility Assessment
  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: Environmental Impact 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: Feasibility Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment, Presentation on Environmental Impact Statement
  5. Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability, reflective practice, risk-informed judgements, and leadership
    Relates to: Feasibility Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment

EN76 Master of Renewable Energy with Data Analytics

  1. Analyse and evaluate problems in Renewable Energy 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: Feasibility Assessment
  2. Apply innovative, systematic approaches to plan, design, deliver and manage projects in Renewable Energy and Data Analytics domains in a way that assures sustainable outcomes and strategic objectives over their whole lifecycle
    Relates to: Environmental Impact Assessment
  3. Effectively communicate problems in Renewable Energy and Data Analytics domains, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
    Relates to: Feasibility Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment, Presentation on Environmental Impact Statement
  4. Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability, reflective practice, risk-informed judgements, and leadership
    Relates to: Feasibility Assessment, Environmental Impact 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: Feasibility Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment
  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: Feasibility Assessment
  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: Environmental Impact Assessment
  4. Effectively communicate Engineering problems, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
    Relates to: Feasibility Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment, Presentation on Environmental Impact Statement
  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: Feasibility Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment