Overview
In this unit you will develop an understanding of optical fibre communications from the basic components up to the system levels. You will analyse various optical fibre link parameters including loss, bandwidth and error rate. You will characterise optical components and systems using practical experiments and advanced simulation tools during laboratory sessions for on-campus students or during residential school for mixed mode students. You will conduct a literature/technology review into a specialised topic and utilise the advanced knowledge to design sophisticated optical communications systems. Upon completion of this unit, you will gain advanced knowledge to analyse and design complex optical communication systems. Prior knowledge of basic concepts of electrical circuit analysis, signals and linear systems and fundamental electromagnetic theory is assumed. Online students are required to attend compulsory residential school.
Details
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 1 - 2019
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).
Residential Schools
This unit has a Compulsory Residential School for distance mode students and the details are:
Click here to see your Residential School Timetable.
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 12-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 25 hours of study per week, making a total of 300 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
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.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
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 "Have your say" survey
Students found that the practical laboratories were very useful and enhanced their understanding of the lecture materials.
Laboratory exercises and practical experiments are important learning components within this unit. These will be kept and improved.
Feedback from "Have your say" survey
There is no local teaching staff in the Perth campus who is familiar with this unit and with the simulation software to assist students during the project work.
Local teaching staff with knowledge of the unit and the simulation software will be recruited or trained to support the students in Perth more effectively. Alternatively, the lecturer or the unit coordinator can travel to Perth and spends a week prior to the project submission to assist the students there face-to-face.
Feedback from Unit Coordinator's observation
Group assessments worked well for the more engaged students but provided insufficient learning encouragements for the remaining students.
Assessment tasks will be revised and individual assessments will be introduced to allow better assessment of individual students and at the same time encourage regular and steady learning of the covered material throughout the entire term.
Feedback from "Have your say" survey
Students found that the assignment return needs improvement.
Some assessment tasks will be brought forward to allow returning of feedback prior to the end of term and also the online tests will be introduced to provide quick feedback to students.
- Analyse optical components including advanced models of optical transmitter, receiver and optical fibre
- Predict system performances through advanced modelling of loss, bandwidth and error rate using the state of the art simulation tools
- Design sophisticated fibre optic systems using advanced technologies
- Research advanced topics and emerging technologies in the optical fibre communications field
- Document and communicate professional engineering information, including computer-based simulations and drawings using appropriate electrical engineering standards, terminology and symbols
- Scope, plan, manage and successfully complete engineering projects autonomously and in teams with responsible, ethical and professional attitude regarding the role of engineers.
We are seeking accreditation for the Masters of Engineering Program. This will be a unit in that course.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Online Test - 15% | ||||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 15% | ||||||
| 3 - Literature Review or Systematic Review - 20% | ||||||
| 4 - Project (applied) - 35% | ||||||
| 5 - Online Test - 15% | ||||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | ||||||
| 2 - Communication | ||||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | ||||||
| 4 - Research | ||||||
| 5 - Self-management | ||||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | ||||||
| 7 - Leadership | ||||||
| 8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
| 1 - Online Test - 15% | ||||||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 15% | ||||||||
| 3 - Literature Review or Systematic Review - 20% | ||||||||
| 4 - Project (applied) - 35% | ||||||||
| 5 - Online Test - 15% | ||||||||
Textbooks
Fiber Optic Communications
Fifth Edition (2005)
Authors: Josepth C. Palais
Pearson
Upper Saddle River Upper Saddle River , New Jersey , USA
ISBN: 978-0-130-08510-8
Binding: Hardcover
Fiber Optic Communication Systems
4th Edition (2010)
Authors: Govind P. Agrawal
Wiley
Hoboken Hoboken , New Jersey , USA
ISBN: 978-0-470-50511-3
Binding: Hardcover
Additional Textbook Information
Supplementary text is optional, it is however recommended that students purchase the prescribed textbook as they contain essential reading materials for this Unit.
Both copies can be purchased at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Access to a document scanner and a software that can create pdf documents.
- MSOffice (Excel, Word, Powerpoint etc) or similar software
- Zoom Conferencing (Webcam and Microphone)
- VPI Photonic design suite
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
l.bui@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Overview of the teaching schedule and assessments
Introduction to optical fibre communications
Chapter
Chapter 1 of textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
None
Module/Topic
Literature review of Optical Fiber Communications
- Method for conducting a scientific literature review
- Suggested topics for literature reviews
Chapter
Not applicable
Events and Submissions/Topic
Forming laboratory group, literature view group, and project group
Module/Topic
Introduction to optical fibres:
- Various types of fibres
- Fibre characteristics: loss, dispersion, and polarisations.
Chapter
Chapters 2 to 5 of textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
Submission of the literature review topics (to be approved by the Unit Coordinator)
Module/Topic
Optical sources:
- Fabry-Perot lasers
- Single mode lasers
- Laser characteristics
Chapter
Chapter 6 of textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
None
Module/Topic
Optical receivers
- Photodetectors
- Photodetector characteristics: noise and sensitivity
Chapter
Chapters 7 and 11 of textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
None
Module/Topic
Non teaching
Chapter
Not applicable
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Test 1 opened (Friday)
Module/Topic
Introduction to VPI Photonics Simulation Suite
Photonic simulations using VPI Photonics Simulation Suite
Chapter
Not applicable
Events and Submissions/Topic
VPI Photonics workshop
Online Test 1 Due: Week 6 Friday (26 Apr 2019) 12:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Optical amplification
- Erbium dopped fiber amplifier (EDFA)
- Gain and noise
- Cascade amplifiers
Chapter
Chapter 6 of textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
Laboratory Part 1
Module/Topic
Optical modulations
- Basics of modulation formats
- Light modulation devices
- Digital modulations
- Analogue modulations
Chapter
Chapter 10 of textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Introduction to WDM
- Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) concepts
- WDM system components
- WDM system design
Chapter
Chapter 9 of textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Optical link design: fibre dispersion, system rise time and bandwidth
- System rise time
- Dispersion compensations
- Maximum bit rate
Chapter
Chapter 12 of textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Signal quality: the probability of error and bit error rate (BER)
Chapter
Chapter 11 of textbook and Chapter 4 of the supplementary textbook
Events and Submissions/Topic
Technology Discussion Presentation slides due (Friday)
Module/Topic
Technical discussion paper presentation
Chapter
Not applicable
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Test 2 opened (Friday)
Design Project Due: Week 12 Friday (7 June 2019) 12:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Non teaching
Chapter
Not applicable
Events and Submissions/Topic
None
Online Test 2 Due: Review/Exam Week Friday (14 June 2019) 12:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Non teaching
Chapter
Not applicable
Events and Submissions/Topic
None
Residential school is essential for this Unit learning and thus attendance is compulsory for non Melbourne based students. If students cannot attend the residentail school, he or she must make alternative arrangement to do the laboratory and attend the VPIPhotonics workshop with the Unit Coordinator at the start of term that is prior to Week 3 of term.
1 Online Test
Online Test 1 is designed to assess student understanding and application of the materials covered between Week 1 and Week 5. This test comprises of multiple choice questions and will be timed. Some of the questions require students to perform designs and calculations to arrive at the correct answers. Please ensure that you read the instructions accompanied the test carefully and understand them clearly prior commencing the test. The test will automatically end when the test time elapses and therefore it is advisable that you move on the next question if you are getting stuck at the current question. You have only ONE chance to complete the test. Good luck.
Week 6 Friday (26 Apr 2019) 12:59 pm AEST
The test will be opened on Friday of Week 5 and closed on Friday of Week 6. It is important that the test MUST be completed within this period.
Week 8 Friday (10 May 2019)
Test results are to be returned to students within two weeks of the test completion.
Online Test 1 aims to assess student understanding and application of the materials covered between Week 1 and Week 5 inclusively. In particular, the test will include questions relating to the following topics:
- Otical fibre communication introduction
- Scientific literature review
- Optical sources: lasers and LEDs
- Optical receivers: PIN and Avalanche photodetectors
- Analyse optical components including advanced models of optical transmitter, receiver and optical fibre
- Knowledge
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
2 Practical Assessment
The laboratory aims to provide students with handon experiences with optical fibre components and systems. The laboratory consists of two parts and will be carried out in Weeks 7 and Week 8 of the term during which students will perform several experiments/measurements, record observations and results and report their findings. Students will work in a group, however, each student must nominate to work on a specific part of the reports. Collaborations among the students are required to ensure that they can achieve the best possible marks for their group report. Students who do not contribute to the laboratory report by providing their part will receive a zero mark for the report.
Week 9 Friday (17 May 2019) 12:59 pm AEST
Only one PDF report is submitted per group. This report submission must be accompanied by the team contribution/responsibility matrix.
Week 11 Friday (31 May 2019)
Marked reports will be returned to students within 2 weeks after submission.
The detailed marking criteria will be provided in the laboratory instruction sheet. The assessment criteria focus on the technical details and the demonstrations of understanding and applications of the knowledge, however, there is some mark allocated for presentation and technical writing. Only one report is required to be submitted per group. No mark will be given to report missing the team contribution/responsibility matrix.
- Predict system performances through advanced modelling of loss, bandwidth and error rate using the state of the art simulation tools
- Document and communicate professional engineering information, including computer-based simulations and drawings using appropriate electrical engineering standards, terminology and symbols
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
3 Literature Review or Systematic Review
Students are working in group to conduct a literature review on a topic related to the field of optical fiber communications or photonics and summarise their findings in a report of approximately 2000 words (~ 4x A4 pages in length using 12 point font and single line-spacing). It is important that this report provides an in-depth review of the chosen topic and the topic must be agreed and approved by the Unit Coordinator at the start of the term. Students are also required to present their literature review to the whole class at the end of the term. The presentation will contribute to half of the total mark of this assessment task while the report contributes the remaining half.
Week 10 Friday (24 May 2019) 12:59 pm AEST
Only one PDF report is submitted per group. This report submission must be accompanied by the team contribution/responsibility matrix.
Week 12 Friday (7 June 2019)
Marked reports will be returned to students within 2 weeks after submissions.
The technology discussion paper will be assessed based on the quality of the findings and the insights into the reviewed topic. The following format must be adhered to when preparing the litreview:
1) Introduction: introduce the topic of literature review and place it in the context of the general applications and uses so that a layperson can easily relate and understand
2) Method: explain techniques/methods used to conduct the literature review
3) Result: summarise the results/findings of the literature review
4) Discussions: provide a critical/in-depth analysis and insightful discussions of the findings and what do they mean to you, also identify the frontiers and the knowledge gaps.
5) Conclusions: summarise key points from the review/analysis
There will be some mark allocation for the report presentation and to encourage collaboration and teamwork, a matrix showing the contributions of each student must be submitted together with the report. Students who have no contribution to the paper will receive zero marks and they shall immediately fail the Unit.
- Research advanced topics and emerging technologies in the optical fibre communications field
- Scope, plan, manage and successfully complete engineering projects autonomously and in teams with responsible, ethical and professional attitude regarding the role of engineers.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Research
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
4 Project (applied)
This task requires students to work in a group and use VPI Photonics Design Suite to simulate optical systems and prepare a report based on the simulation results. Each student in the group will work on a distinct, predefined aspect of the system, they, however, need to collaborate together to produce a coherent group report. As only one mark is given to the report, this mark will be shared equally among the students to encourage teamwork and collaborations. Students who do not contribute to the project report by providing their part of the report will receive zero marks and shall immediately fail the Unit.
Week 12 Friday (7 June 2019) 12:59 pm AEST
Only one PDF report is submitted per group. This report submission must be accompanied by the team contribution/responsibility matrix.
Exam Week Friday (21 June 2019)
Marked reports are returned to students approximately two weeks after submssions.
The detailed marking criteria will be provided in the project description/information document. Students will investigate optical systems using VPI Photonics Design Suite and prepare a report of their findings. Only one report is required per group. The assessment criteria will focus on the technical details and the demonstration of understanding and applications of the knowledge, however, there will be some mark allocated for technical writing and report presentation. Students who do not contribute to the project report by providing their part of the report will receive zero marks and shall immediately fail the Unit.
- Predict system performances through advanced modelling of loss, bandwidth and error rate using the state of the art simulation tools
- Design sophisticated fibre optic systems using advanced technologies
- Document and communicate professional engineering information, including computer-based simulations and drawings using appropriate electrical engineering standards, terminology and symbols
- Scope, plan, manage and successfully complete engineering projects autonomously and in teams with responsible, ethical and professional attitude regarding the role of engineers.
- Knowledge
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
5 Online Test
Online Test 2 is designed to assess student understanding and application of the materials covered between Week 6 and Week 11. This test comprises of multiple choice questions and will be timed. Some of the questions require students to perform designs and calculations to arrive at the correct answers. Please ensure that you read the instructions accompanied the test carefully and understand them clearly prior commencing the test. The test will automatically end when the test time elapses and therefore it is advisable that you move on the next question if you are getting stuck at the current question. You have only ONE chance to complete the test. Good luck.
Review/Exam Week Friday (14 June 2019) 12:59 pm AEST
The test will be opened on Friday of Week 5 and closed on Friday of Week 6. It is important that the test MUST be completed within this period.
Exam Week Friday (21 June 2019)
Test results are to be returned to students within two weeks of the test completion.
Online Test 2 aims to assess student understanding and application of the materials covered between Week 6 and Week 11 inclusively. In particular, the test will include questions relating to the following topics:
- VPIPhotonics simulations of optical fibre and photonics systems
- Optical amplifications and EDFA
- Optical modulations
- Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM)
- Link design
- Bit error rate (BER) and probability of error
- Analyse optical components including advanced models of optical transmitter, receiver and optical fibre
- Knowledge
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
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?
