FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES

Civil Engineering
CIVL4903: CIVIL ENGINEERING DESIGN
Semester 2, 2014 | 6 Credit Points | Mode: Normal-Day
Sessions Valid: Semester 2
Coordinator(s): Robert Herbertson, Stuart Reid
WARNING: This unit version is currently under review and is subject to change!
1. INTRODUCTION
This is a fourth year core unit of study for the degree in Civil Engineering and fourth year elective for the degree
in Project Engineering and Management (Civil).
The objective of this unit is to give students an appreciation of the role of the designer in the development of
Civil Engineering projects. At the end of this unit, students will have developed an understanding of the design
philosophy. They will gain this through their involvement in a number of exercises which cover the design
sequence from concept to documentation.
The syllabus comprises: design sequence beginning with a 'brief' and including definition, value and criteria
selection; generation of proposals; analysis of proposals; selection of design; development of details of a
particular design selected; feasibility studies and examination of existing works; study of design projects by
stages, including details of some aspects.
This unit is under the direction of an engineer in professional practice in cooperation with other professional
practitioners and members of the academic staff. Lectures and exercises on the interaction between civil
engineering and architectural design and practice are included in the unit.
2. LEARNING OUTCOMES
Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. See assessment
summary table below for details of which outcomes are assessed where. Outcomes are listed according to the
course goals that they support.
Design (Level 3)
1. ability to formulate and solve structural design problems
2. ability to formulate and solve geotechnical engineering problems
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 3)
3. ability to apply appropriate discipline specific expertise to develop solutions to design problems
Communication (Level 3)
4. ability to prepare documentation to communicate results of design tasks (appropriate for engineering
practice)
Project Management and Team Skills (Level 2)
5. Ability to manage and contribute to successful completion of group projects
Professional Conduct (Level 2)
6. ability to meet expected professional practice requirements for a trainee engineer
For further details of course goals related to these learning outcomes, see online unit outline at
http://cusp.eng.usyd.edu.au/students/view-unit-page/alpha/CIVL4903 .
3. ASSESSMENT TASKS
ASSESSMENT SUMMARY
Assessment name Team-based? Weight Due Outcomes Assessed
Assignment Yes 75% Multiple Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Final Exam No 25% Exam Period 1, 3
ASSESSMENT DESCRIPTION
Assignment: Series of design assignments.
Final Exam: Final examination.
ASSESSMENT GRADING
Final grades in this unit are awarded at levels of HD (High Distinction), D (Distinction), CR (Credit), P (Pass) and
F (Fail) as defined by University of Sydney Assessment Policy. Details of the Assessment Policy are available on
the Policies website at http://sydney.edu.au/policies . Standards for grades in individual assessment tasks and the
summative method for obtaining a final mark in the unit will be set out in a marking guide supplied by the unit
coordinator.
4. ATTRIBUTES DEVELOPED
CIVL4903: Civil Engineering Design (Semester 2, 2014)
Attributes listed here represent the course goals designated for this unit. The list below describes how these
attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment sections above for
details of how these attributes are assessed.
Attribute Method
Design (Level 3) design exercises to formulate and solve design problems at the level of
a trainee engineer
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level
3)
exercises requiring the application of appropriate discipline specific
expertise to develop solutions to design problems
Information Seeking (Level 3) In order to complete design tasks students must obtain and interpret
information from a variety of sources
Communication (Level 3) preparation of documentation for design assignments
Professional Conduct (Level 2) preparation of design assignments to meet expected professional
practice requirements for a trainee engineer
Project Management and Team Skills
(Level 2)
group projects requiring management of individual contributions for
successful completion
For further details of course goals and professional attribute standards, see the online version of this outline at
http://cusp.eng.usyd.edu.au/students/view-unit-page/alpha/CIVL4903 .
5. STUDY COMMITMENT
Tutorial: group work on design challenges - facilitated by lecturer and tutors
Independent Study: independent study to complete design assignments and to reinforce learning from lectures
and tutorial work
Activity Hours per Week Sessions per Week Weeks per Semester
Lecture 1.00 1 13
Tutorial 3.00 1 13
Independent Study 4.00 1 13
Standard unit of study workload at this university should be from 1.5 to 2 hours per credit point which means 9-
12 hours for a normal 6 credit point unit of study. For units that are based on research or practical experience,
hours may vary. For lecture and tutorial timetable, see University timetable site at:
web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp
6. TEACHING STAFF AND CONTACT DETAILS
COORDINATOR(S)
Name Room Phone Email Contact note
Herbertson, Robert robert@wellstructured.com.au
A/Prof Reid, Stuart stuart.reid@sydney.edu.au
7. RESOURCES
RECOMMENDED REFERENCES
Standards Australia, Australian Standards. Standards Australia, 0 7337 5027 3.
NOTE ON RESOURCES
The unit is of a wide-ranging nature, and all text and reference books from previous and current courses have
relevance. In addition, reference will be made to many codes and guides to practice, of which the following list
covers only the structural field: Current SAA Codes, Manuals and Specifications, particularly AS4100 - Steel
Structures Code, AS3600 - Concrete Structures Code, AS1554 - Manual Welding (Part I), AS/NZS1170 - Loading
Code (Parts I and II).
8. ENROLMENT REQUIREMENTS
ASSUMED KNOWLEDGE
CIVL3205 AND CIVL3206.
PREREQUISITES
None.
9. POLICIES
See the policies page of the faculty website at http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/student-policies/ for information
regarding university policies and local provisions and procedures within the Faculty of Engineering and
CIVL4903: Civil Engineering Design (Semester 2, 2014)
Information Technologies.
10. WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar
https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp
Week Topics/Activities
Week 1 Design problem
Week 2 Design problem
Week 3 Design problem
Week 4 Design problem
Week 5 Design problem
Week 6 Design problem
Week 7 Design problem
Week 8 Design problem
Week 9 Design problem
Week 10 Labour Day Holiday
Week 11 Design problem
Week 12 Design problem
Week 13 Design problem
Exam Period Final exam
Assessment Due: Final Exam
CIVL4903: Civil Engineering Design (Semester 2, 2014)