ENN577 Integrated Water Modelling

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM) provides strategies for designing, planning and managing the components of urban water cycle while accounting for their mutual interdependence, as well as their interactions with the wider environmental and human systems. This unit contains two modules: the first six weeks focuses on learning modelling of complex water systems. It includes model conceptualisation, construction, evaluation, and application. You will explore the relationship between theoretical and empirical understanding to conceptualise and construct integrated water models.

In the second 6 week module, you will work on a group project to solve real-world problems using the modelling skills developed during first 6 weeks. You will develop professional judgement skills to critically assess models and their outcomes to design strategies for integrated water management problems.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Critically evaluate appropriate modelling approaches for a given scenario of urban water management
2. Apply systematic approaches to develop integrated water systems models within a numerical programming environment to plan and design urban water infrastructure
3. Communicate complex water modelling outcomes effectively to wider audiences

Content

Learning Approaches

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

For the first 6 weeks:

• Videos explaining key concepts, released at the beginning of each week
• 2 hour lecture, where you can engage with experienced engineers in working though problem sets, applying the concepts learned in the videos
• 1 to 2 hour of tutorials/workshops where you will be guided through applied design and data analytics problems, working with experienced engineers and your peers to deepen your skills
• Follow up formative quizzes, readings and online discussions to help you review your learning for the week and clarify any areas of misunderstanding
• You will engage with hydrological/hydraulic modelling tools and a numerical programming language to undertake modelling tasks

For the second 6 weeks, you will work together with a team of your peers to undertake a real world project. You can collaborate on the project work either through regularly scheduled face to face meetings or within an online environment. 

Overview of project: 

• Through workshops and computer studio sessions, you will investigate the problem with the guidance of industry partners
• You will recommend a solution to the problem and implement in collaboration with the industry partners

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Feedback in this unit will be provided in the following ways:

• Formative oral feedback will be offered by the lecturer and tutors during the semester to assist you in the development of your skills.
• Formative written feedback will be provided against criteria and standards within a marking rubric.
• In addition to a rubric comments on summative assessment will be provided.
• Generic comments will be provided to the cohort through the Canvas unit site.

Assessment

Overview

Assessment items in this unit have been designed to give you the opportunity to show your learning against the unit learning outcomes. You will work individually to critically review existing modelling techniques. You will work as a member of an effective group to develop an integrated urban water management model addressing key aspects of urban water management and present your findings to relevant stakeholders. You will complete a problem solving task individually where you will show your overall learning in the unit.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Contemporary Water Systems Modelling

You will conduct an independent investigation into contemporary approaches to water systems modelling for urban water management. You will present a literature review that highlights key developments in the area that are impacting on contemporary engineering practice and outcomes.

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

Assessment: Developing urban water management models

In a team you will develop an urban water management model, based on a complex engineering challenge. You will apply the techniques you have learned in this unit to address the technical, social, and policy issues associated with the challenge. You will create a written report accompanied by an engineering presentation of your key findings to a panel of stakeholders.

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

Assessment: Problem Solving Task

You will be required to analyse aspects of different urban water systems and their interdependencies. You will be presented with descriptions of urban water systems and will need to demonstrate knowledge in system conceptualisation, and theory and methods for model development and optimisation.

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

Risk Assessment Statement

You will undertake lectures and tutorials in the traditional classrooms and lecture theatres. As such, there are no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues associated with these components of the unit.

You will 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 the requirements of safe and responsible behaviour and will be required to wear appropriate protective items (e.g. closed shoes).

You will undergo a health and safety induction before the commencement of the practical sessions and will be issued with a safety induction card. If you do not have a safety induction card you will be denied access to laboratories.

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: Contemporary Water Systems Modelling, Problem Solving Task
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: Problem Solving Task
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: Developing urban water management models
4. Effectively communicate Sustainable Infrastructure problems, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
   Relates to: Developing urban water management models, Problem Solving Task
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: Developing urban water management models

EN56 Master of Engineering Technology

1. Demonstrate and apply advanced and specialist discipline knowledge, concepts and practices as they relate to contemporary practice in Engineering Technology
   Relates to: Contemporary Water Systems Modelling, Problem Solving Task
2. 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: Problem Solving Task
3. 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: Developing urban water management models
4. Effectively communicate Engineering Technology problems, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
   Relates to: Developing urban water management models, Problem Solving Task
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: Developing urban water management models

EN65 Graduate Certificate in Water Modelling

1. Demonstrate and apply advanced and specialist discipline knowledge, concepts and practices as they relate to contemporary practice in Water Modelling
   Relates to: Contemporary Water Systems Modelling, Developing urban water management models, Problem Solving Task
2. Analyse and evaluate Water Modelling problems using technical approaches informed by contemporary practice to achieve innovative, critically informed solutions
   Relates to: Problem Solving Task
3. Apply innovative, systematic approaches to plan, design, deliver and manage projects in Water Modelling in a way that assures sustainable outcomes over their whole lifecycle
   Relates to: Developing urban water management models
4. Effectively communicate Water Modelling problems, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
   Relates to: Contemporary Water Systems Modelling, Developing urban water management models
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: Developing urban water management models

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: Contemporary Water Systems Modelling, Problem Solving Task
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: Problem Solving Task
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: Developing urban water management models
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: Developing urban water management models, Problem Solving Task
5. Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability, reflective practice, risk-informed judgements, and leadership
   Relates to: Developing urban water management models

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: Contemporary Water Systems Modelling, Problem Solving Task
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: Problem Solving Task
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: Developing urban water management models
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: Developing urban water management models, Problem Solving Task
5. Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability, reflective practice, risk-informed judgements, and leadership
   Relates to: Developing urban water management models

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: Contemporary Water Systems Modelling, Problem Solving Task
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: Problem Solving Task
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: Developing urban water management models
4. Effectively communicate Engineering problems, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
   Relates to: Developing urban water management models, Problem Solving Task
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: Developing urban water management models