49121 Environmental Assessment and Planning

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular semester, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

UTS: Engineering: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Postgraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 120 credit points of completed study in C10061 Bachelor of Engineering Diploma in Engineering Practice OR 120 credit points of completed study in C10066 Bachelor of Engineering Science OR 120 credit points of completed study in C10067 Bachelor of Engineering
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Handbook description

This subject analyses the principles of sustainable development and the expectations it places on various aspects of human interaction with the environment. Existing and proposed measures by governments are examined in the areas of environmental legislation, environmental economics and land use planning in relation to sustainable development.

Subject objectives

1.	Illustrate Knowledge of principles of sustainable development and how they affect human interactions with the environment.
2.	Explain the legal framework of the NSW environmental planning legislation.
3.	Appreciate environmental economics and land use planning in relation to sustainable development
4.	Explain the principles and procedures of environmental planning, as they affect the engineering and service functions in local government.

• Identify, interpret and analyse stakeholder needs. (A.1)
• Identify constraints, uncertainties and risk of the system (social, cultural, legislative, environmental, business etc.) (A.3)
• Apply principles of sustainability to create viable systems (A.4)
• Identify and apply relevant problem solving methodologies (B.1)
• Design components, systems and/ or processes to meet required specification (B.2)
• Synthesise alternative/innovative solutions, concepts and procedures (B.3)
• Apply decision-making methodologies to evaluate solutions for efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability (B.4)
• Apply abstraction, mathematics and/or discipline fundamentals to analysis, design and operation (C.1)
• Communicate effectively in ways appropriate to the discipline, audience and purpose. (E.1)
• Identify and apply relevant project management mothodologies (E.3)

Teaching and learning strategies

Lecture material in printed form is available from UTS Printing Services. Lectures will be enhanced by using an overhead projector, whiteboard and power-point presentations. Audio visual presentations, including DVD’s of actual on-site local government engineering works form part of the learning experience.

Workshops are undertaken whereby local government town planning concepts and conceptual projects/undertakings are worked through by students in groups of 2.

The subject is taught in Block Mode whereby the student is expected to attend all three (3) blocks of one and a half (1 ½) days. There is approximately 4-5 weeks between blocks.

The lecturer will present lectures and work through examples and “case studies” with the class during the sessions (blocks).

Students are expected to undertake study outside the classroom, which must be at least the equivalent in hours to those spent in the classroom.

Content

• Evolution of planning;
• Planning Technique and Procedure (Sieve Analysis);
• Land Assessment and Interpretation;
• Planning processes in New South Wales;
• Local Environmental Plans:
• Environmental impact assessment;
• Land and Environment Court of NSW;
• Development control and the civil/environmental engineer;
• Land capability and Environmental Studies;
• Project Control Techniques and Standards;
• Soil Contamination and the planning process.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Project - Environmental Planning

Objective(s):	This assessment task addresses subject learning objectives: 1, 2, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes: A.1, A.3, A.4, B.1, B.2, B.4 and E.1
Weight:	40
Criteria linkages:	Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs Well written report, professionally structured to comply with reporting standards. 12 1, 2, 3, 4 E.1 Ability to demonstrate knowledge of NSW environmental planning legislation 38 2 A.1, A.3, A.4 Ability to demonstrate knowledge of NSW environmental planning legislation 50 1, 3, 4 A.3, A.4, B.1, B.2, B.4 SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: Final Examination:

Objective(s):	This assessment task addresses subject learning objectives: 1, 2, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following course intended learning outcomes: B.1, B.3, B.4, C.1, E.1 and E.3
Weight:	60
Criteria linkages:	Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs Correctness of answer 70 1, 2, 3, 4 B.1, C.1 Justification of decisions and thoroughness of analysis 5 1, 2, 3, 4 B.1, B.4 Ability to communicate planning technique 10 1, 2, 3, 4 B.1, E.1 Demonstrate understanding of planning technique and effect on the environment 5 1, 2, 3, 4 B.1, E.3 Application of town planning standards 5 1, 2, 3, 4 B.1, B.3 Quality of town planning decision making 5 1, 2, 3, 4 B.1, B.3 SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Minimum requirements

In order to gain a “Pass” in the subject, you must gain a mark of no less than 30/60 in the Final Examination and 50/100 overall in the Subject.

Accordingly students must enter into a learning contract in this regard.

Required texts

Pam Hazelton & Brian Murphy, ‘Understanding soils in urban Environments', (First Edition), CSIRO Publishing Australia, 2011. ISBN 978-1-84971-237-8

References

1. Eisner, Simon, Gallion A & Eisner, Stanley. 'The Urban Pattern', (Sixth Edition), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1993. ISBN 0-4442-00752-3
2. Lyster, R., Lipman, Z., Franklin, N., Wiffen, G. & Pearson, L. 'Environmental and Planning Law in New South Wales', The Federation Press, Sydney, 2007. ISBN 978 186287 630 9.
3. McHarg, I, 'Design with Nature', John Wiley & Sons inc. 1992. ISBN 0-471-55797-8

Other resources

Student Guide.