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Unit Synopsis
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 bit error rate. You will characterise optical components and systems using practical experiments and advanced simulation tools during laboratory/workshop sessions for on-campus students or during a residential school for mixed-mode students. 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 systems and fundamental electromagnetic theory is assumed. Online students are also required to attend a compulsory residential school.
Details
| Level | Postgraduate |
|---|---|
| Unit Level | 9 |
| Credit Points | 12 |
| Student Contribution Band | SCA Band 2 |
| Fraction of Full-Time Student Load | 0.25 |
| Pre-requisites or Co-requisites |
There are no pre-requisites for the 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). |
| Class Timetable | View Unit Timetable |
| Residential School |
Compulsory Residential School View Unit Residential School |
Unit Availabilities from Term 2 - 2020
Term 2 - 2020 Profile
Term 2 - 2021 Profile
Term 2 - 2022 Profile
Term 2 - 2024 Profile
Term 2 - 2025 Profile
Term 2 - 2026 Profile
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).
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.
Assessment Tasks
| Assessment Task | Weighting |
|---|---|
| 1. Online Test | 0% |
| 2. Practical Assessment | 20% |
| 3. Online Test | 10% |
| 4. Project (applied) | 25% |
| 5. Online Test | 45% |
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%).
Past Exams
All University policies are available on the Policy web site, however you may wish to directly view the following policies below.
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of policies are available on the Policy web site.
No previous feedback available
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.
Source: SUTE
Audio and video equipment often malfunctioned at the start of class, resulting in lost class time.
Classroom audio and video equipment should be checked before the start of class.
Classroom equipment was checked for proper functioning before each class.
Source: SUTE
The relevance of the unit materials to the degree should be provided to students.
The relevance of the materials to the degree and future career should be explained in class.
Explanations and examples illustrating the use and relevance of unit materials and concepts were provided in class as appropriate.
Source: UC's observation
Limited licenses of the VPI Photonics Design Suite created challenges for completing the design assessment.
Students should be advised to begin the design assignment early and use the booking form efficiently to ensure fair and effective access to the software.
In Progress
Source: UC's observation
The range of topics covered may have been too extensive for a one-term unit.
The unit content should be revised to focus on key topics and streamline secondary material.
In Progress
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- 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
- Characterise components of optical fibre communications systems and confirm overall system performances using both theoretical analysis and practical measurements
- 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 a responsible, ethical, and professional attitude regarding the role of engineers.
We are seeking accreditation for the Masters of Engineering Course. This will be a unit in that course.
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 2 - Practical Assessment | • | • | • | • | ||
| 3 - Online Test | • | |||||
| 4 - Project (applied) | • | • | • | • | ||
| 5 - Online Test | • | |||||
| 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 | • | |||||
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | |
| 1 - Online Test | • | • | |||||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment | • | • | • | • | • | ||||
| 3 - Online Test | • | • | • | ||||||
| 4 - Project (applied) | • | • | • | • | • | ||||
| 5 - Online Test | • | • | |||||||