CQUniversity Unit Profile
BLCN14039 Infrastructure Planning
Infrastructure Planning
All details in this unit profile for BLCN14039 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

The unit introduces students to the principles and practices of infrastructure planning. Topics to be studied include infrastructure evaluation strategies, risk management, environmental and social impacts of infrastructure projects, financial concepts to assess project viability, contractual and participation relationships, management structures and sustainability of projects. Project case studies will be used to support student learning.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 4
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

There are no requisites for this unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 3 - 2024

Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment
Weighting: 30%
2. Written Assessment
Weighting: 30%
3. Presentation and Written Assessment
Weighting: 40%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Communication with students

Feedback

Students would like to see more case studies in this unit.

Recommendation

The teaching team will add more case studies to explain the knowledge.

Feedback from Communication with students

Feedback

'Presentation night' is helpful for students to exercise their communication skills.

Recommendation

Presentation night will be kept.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Evaluate infrastructure projects, their risks and uncertainties
  2. Explain environmental and social impacts on infrastructure projects
  3. Apply financial concepts to project selection and viability
  4. Assess contractual relationships and participation strategies
  5. Discuss the management of infrastructure projects
  6. Apply knowledge of infrastructure management to a case study

Not applicable

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 - Written Assessment - 30%
2 - Written Assessment - 30%
3 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 40%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • Microphone and headset (and preferably a camera) to participate in Zoom sessions
  • Microsoft Office or equivalent (word-processing) software for preparation of assessment items in the appropriate format
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Bill Zhao Unit Coordinator
b.zhao@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 04 Nov 2024

Module/Topic

Introduction to Infrastructure Planning

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 11 Nov 2024

Module/Topic

Project evaluation and risk management

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 18 Nov 2024

Module/Topic

Project evaluation and risk management (continued)

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 25 Nov 2024

Module/Topic

Environmental and social impacts

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Written assessment Due: Week 4 Friday (29 Nov 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 5 Begin Date: 02 Dec 2024

Module/Topic

Environmental and social impacts (continued) 

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 09 Dec 2024

Module/Topic

Financial concepts and strategies

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 16 Dec 2024

Module/Topic

Financial concepts and strategies (continued) 

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 23 Dec 2024

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 30 Dec 2024

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 06 Jan 2025

Module/Topic

Infrastructure relationships and contracts

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Written assessment Due: Week 8 Friday (10 Jan 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 9 Begin Date: 13 Jan 2025

Module/Topic

Infrastructure relationships and contracts (continued) 

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 20 Jan 2025

Module/Topic

Managing infrastructure projects

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 27 Jan 2025

Module/Topic

Managing infrastructure projects (continued) 

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 03 Feb 2025

Module/Topic

International projects and sustainability

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 10 Feb 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Presentation and written assessment Due: Exam Week Monday (10 Feb 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Written assessment

Task Description

You are to complete a report on infrastructure project evaluation and risk management. Using a risk management approach, you are to assess the main risks in planning and constructing an infrastructure project in Australia. 


Assessment Due Date

Week 4 Friday (29 Nov 2024) 11:45 pm AEST

Submit via the assessment portal on the Moodle home page


Return Date to Students

Week 6 Friday (13 Dec 2024)


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

The assessment will be assessed on the following criteria:

Clarity and succinctness of expression.
Adequate coverage of topics discussed.
Use of supporting information where appropriate and associated references.
Original thought.
Overall presentation and the ability to communicate using correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Where appropriate the use of graphs, illustrations and other diagrams that visually support the context of your submission.
Demonstration of the core knowledge associated with this course and appropriate application of this knowledge.
 


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submit a single MS Word or Pdf file

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Evaluate infrastructure projects, their risks and uncertainties
  • Explain environmental and social impacts on infrastructure projects


Graduate Attributes

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Written assessment

Task Description

You are to complete a report on environmental and social impacts of infrastructure projects with focuses on the environmental benefits and problems, infrastructure and resilience to climate change, investment in infrastructure projects, and Productivity and infrastructure projects.


Assessment Due Date

Week 8 Friday (10 Jan 2025) 11:45 pm AEST

Submit via the assessment portal on the Moodle home page


Return Date to Students

Week 10 Friday (24 Jan 2025)


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

The assessment will be assessed on the following criteria:

Clarity and succinctness of expression.
Adequate coverage of topics discussed.
Use of supporting information where appropriate and associated references.
Original thought.
Overall presentation and the ability to communicate using correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Where appropriate the use of graphs, illustrations and other diagrams that visually support the context of your submission.
Demonstration of the core knowledge associated with this course and appropriate application of this knowledge.
 


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submit a single MS Word or Pdf file

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Apply financial concepts to project selection and viability
  • Assess contractual relationships and participation strategies
  • Discuss the management of infrastructure projects
  • Apply knowledge of infrastructure management to a case study


Graduate Attributes

3 Presentation and Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Presentation and written assessment

Task Description

You are to investigate one aspect of Australia’s public transport infrastructure and evaluate and make recommendations on possible improvements based on the theories you have learnt in this unit.  This could be any past, current or future projects, current risk management process, environmental or social impacts, financial or project success strategies, improved future contract strategies, current partnering, governance standards, project management (organisation, planning or control) or its sustainability practice. You will also present your findings to the audience. 


Assessment Due Date

Exam Week Monday (10 Feb 2025) 11:45 pm AEST

Submit via the assessment portal on the Moodle home page


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Monday (10 Feb 2025)

Before the school grade certification meeting


Weighting
40%

Minimum mark or grade
To pass this unit, students must obtain 16 out of 40 (40%) from this assessment and overall 50% mark.

Assessment Criteria

The assessment will be assessed on the following criteria:

Clarity and succinctness of expression.
Adequate coverage of topics discussed.
Use of supporting information where appropriate and associated references.
Original thought.
Overall presentation and the ability to communicate using correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Where appropriate the use of graphs, illustrations and other diagrams that visually support the context of your submission.
Demonstration of the core knowledge associated with this course and appropriate application of this knowledge.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submit a single MS Word or Pdf file

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Evaluate infrastructure projects, their risks and uncertainties
  • Explain environmental and social impacts on infrastructure projects
  • Apply financial concepts to project selection and viability
  • Assess contractual relationships and participation strategies
  • Discuss the management of infrastructure projects
  • Apply knowledge of infrastructure management to a case study


Graduate Attributes

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?