University of Sydney Handbooks - 2021 Archive

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Structural Engineering

For more information on units of study visit CUSP.

Unit outlines will be available through Find a unit outline two weeks before the first day of teaching for 1000-level and 5000-level units, or one week before the first day of teaching for all other units.
 

Master of Engineering majoring in Structural Engineering

To qualify for the award of the Master of Engineering in this specialisation, a candidate must complete 72 credit points, including:
1. 24 credit points of Core units
2. 24 credit points of Specialist units
3. A minimum of 12 credit points of Research units
4. A maximum of 12 credit points of Elective units
Candidates who have been granted 24 credit points of Reduced Volume Learning (RVL), must complete 48 credit points including:
1. A minimum of 12 credit points of Core units
2. A minimum of 24 credit points of Specialist units
3. A minimum of 12 credit points of Research units
-- Elective units are not available for candidates with RVL

Core units

ENGG5102 Entrepreneurship for Engineers

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Prohibitions: ELEC5701 Assumed knowledge: Some limited industry experience is preferred but not essential. Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit of study aims to introduce graduate engineering students from all disciplines to the concepts and practices of entrepreneurial thinking. Introduction to Entrepreneurship will offer the foundation for leaders of tomorrow's high-tech companies, by providing the knowledge and skills important to the creation and leadership of entrepreneurial ventures. The focus of the unit of study is on how to launch, lead and manage a viable business starting with concept validation to commercialisation and successful business formation.
The following topics are covered: Entrepreneurship: Turning Ideas into Reality, Building the Business Plan, Creating a Successful Financial Plan, Project planning and resource management, Budgeting and managing cash flow, Marketing and advertising strategies, E-Commerce and Entrepreneurship, Procurement Management Strategies, The Legal Environment: Business Law and Government Regulation, Intellectual property: inventions, patents and copyright, Workplace, workforce and employment topics, Conflict resolution and working relationships, Ethics and Social Responsibility.
ENGG5202 Sustainable Design, Eng and Mgt

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Assumed knowledge: General knowledge in science and calculus and understanding of basic principles of chemistry, physics and mechanics Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
The aim of this unit of study is to give students an insight and understanding of the environmental and sustainability challenges that Australia and the planet are facing and how these have given rise to the practice of Sustainable Design, Engineering and Management. The objective of this course is to provide a comprehensive overview of the nature and causes of the major environmental problems facing our planet, with a particular focus on energy and water, and how engineering is addressing these challenges.
ENGG5103 Safety Systems and Risk Analysis

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
To develop an understanding of principles of safety systems management and risk management, as applied to engineering systems. AS/NZS 4801:2001 and 4804:2001 form the foundation for teaching methods of developing, implementing, monitoring and improving a safety management system in an Engineering context.
Students will be exposed to a number of case studies related to safety systems and on completion of the course be able to develop a safety management plan for an Engineering facility that meets the requirements of NSW legislation and Australian standards for Occupational Health and Safety management systems.
Students are introduced to a variety of risk management approaches used by industry, and methods to quantify and estimate the consequences and probabilities of risks occurring, as applied to realistic industrial scenarios.
PMGT5871 Project Process Planning and Control

Credit points: 6 Session: Intensive February,Intensive July,Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Prohibitions: PMGT6871 Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit of study teaches fundamental theory and practice of project planning and control. Project planning and control are the key processes in project management, which moves the project from initiation through all its phases to a successful conclusion. Project planning refers to planning of time, cost and resources adequately to estimate the work needed and to effectively manage risk in a project.

Specialist units

CIVL5277 Structural Rehabilitation and Timber Design

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Assumed knowledge: (CIVL2201 AND CIVL3205 AND CIVL3206) OR (CIVL9201 AND CIVL9205 AND CIVL9206) Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This course will provide students broader knowledge in timber design and structural rehabilitation. In the first section of the subject, students will learn the engineering properties of timber and requirements to be met for specification of the design, installation and maintenance of timber structures. It includes grading and structural properties; design actions; design of timber columns, beams, tension members and connections; principles of limit state design and serviceability; methods of testing; quality standards and maintenance of timber structures based on AS 1720. 1-2010 timber structures-design methods, and AS NZS 4063. 1-2010 characterization of structural timber-test methods.
The second part covers monitoring, rehabilitation and strengthening techniques of existing structures (concrete/steel/timber/masonry). Students will be introduced to structural inspection and evaluation; durability and deterioration; destructive and non-destructive testing; and design of strengthening systems including advanced fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) materials, epoxy injection, steel plate bonding, and post tensioning according to relevant Australian, ACI and European guidelines.
CIVL5668 Fundamentals of Wind Engineering for Design

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit of study will introduce the fundamentals of meteorology governing wind flow, details of extreme wind events, wind structure, statistical distribution of the wind, the effect of topography and terrain changes on wind profile, investigate the fluid flow around bluff bodies, and detail the design of civil engineering structures for wind loading.
This unit will provide students with the following knowledge and skills: On completion of this course students will have an understanding of the governing principles of wind engineering, how to predict the extreme wind speed and analyse anemographs, predict the effect of terrain and topography on velocity and turbulence, understand flow patterns around bodies, how to predict the pressure distribution and wind loading on bodies and structures, dynamic response of structures, and how all the above relates to AS1170.2.
CIVL6257 Concrete Structures - Prestressed Concrete

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Prohibitions: CIVL5257 Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) evening
Objectives: To develop an advanced understanding of the behaviour, analysis and design of prestressed concrete structures.
Outcomes: Students will develop skills in the analysis and design of prestressed concrete beams, columns and slabs, to satisfy the serviceability and strength provisions of the Australian Concrete Structures Standard.
Syllabus Summary: The behaviour and design of prestressed concrete structures and structural elements, including beams and slabs. Topics covered will include steel and concrete materials, prestress losses, flexural and shear behaviour at service loads and ultimate loads, short and long term deflections, load balancing, anchorage zones (including strut and tie modelling of anchors), dynamic response of post-tensioned floors, and sustainability considerations for prestressed concrete structures.
CIVL6264 Composite Steel-Concrete Structures

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Prohibitions: CIVL5264 Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) evening
Students will understand the basic principles for the design of composite steel-concrete structures. In particular, they will develop an understanding of the procedures required for the design of composite beams, slabs and columns. Design guidelines will reflect requirements of the Australian Standards and international codes.
CIVL6267 Steel Structures - Adv Analysis and Design

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Prohibitions: CIVL5267 Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) evening
This Unit covers: a) Principles of the design of cold-formed steel structural members, where reference is made to the Australian Standard AS/NZS4600, explaining the underlying theory for its provisions; and b) The behaviour of steel columns under transverse impact loads, where reference is made to design procedures established in the research literature. The objectives are to provide students with advanced knowledge of steel structural design and confidence to apply the underlying principles to solve a wide range of structural steel problems.
This Unit will provide students with the following knowledge and skills: An understanding of the basic principles of reliability based design on steel structures; An understanding of the relationship between structural analysis and design provisions; An understanding of the background to the design provisions for cold-formed steel structures; Proficiency in applying the provisions of AS/NZS4600 to columns and beams; An understanding of the behaviour of steel columns under transverse impact; Proficiency in performing structural analyses of steel columns subjected to transverse impact loads.
Syllabus Summary:
Limit states design philosophy and approaches, Loading standards, Methods of analysis, Interrelationship between analysis and design, Flexural members section and member capacity, Compression members section and member capacity, Plastic collapse mechanisms and Impact resistance, of structural steel members.
CIVL6268 Structural Dynamics

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Prohibitions: CIVL5268 Assumed knowledge: Students are assumed to have a good knowledge of fundamental structural analysis, which is covered in the courses of Structural Mechanics, Introduction to Structural Concepts and Design, Structural Analysis, and Finite Element Analysis. Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) evening
This unit introduces the fundamental concepts and theory of dynamic analysis. In a first step, free vibrations are studied and the problem of determining the natural frequency of a system is addressed. This is followed by the study of harmonically excited vibrations. While initially systems with a single degree of freedom (SDOF) are considered, the theory is generalized to cover multi-degree of freedom systems. The theory is applied to explain how structures are designed against earthquake actions with specific reference to Parts 4 of the Australian loading standard AS1170 for determining earthquake loads. This unit will provide students with the following knowledge and skills: Understanding of the fundamental concepts and definitions used in structural dynamics; Ability to calculate the natural frequency of a system using equilibrium or energy methods; Ability to determine the effect of viscous damping on the response of a freely vibrating system; Ability to determine the response of a system to a harmonic excitation; Ability to apply AS1170 Part 4 in structural design against earthquake actions; Understanding of the fundamental concepts of earthquake engineering
Exchange units may be taken as Specialist units with the approval of the Program Director.

Research units

CIVL5020 Capstone Project A

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Prerequisites: 96 cp from MPE degree program or 48 cp from the MPE(Accel) program or 24 cp from the ME program (including any credit for previous study). Prohibitions: CIVL5222 OR CIVL5223 Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Supervision
The capstone project requires the student to plan and execute a substantial research-based project, using their technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise about developments that contribute to professional practice thus demonstrating the achievement of AQF Level 9.
Capstone Project provides an opportunity for students to conduct original research. Students will generally work individually and an individual thesis must be submitted by each student.
Capstone Project is a major task and is to be conducted with work spread over most of the year, in two successive Units of Study of 6 credits points each, Capstone Project A (CIVL5020) and Capstone Project B (CIVL5021). This particular unit of study, which must precede CIVL5021 Capstone Project B, should cover the first half of the work required for a complete Capstone Project. In particular, it should include almost all planning of a research or investigation project, a major proportion of the necessary literature review (unless the entire project is based on a literature review and critical analysis), and a significant proportion of the investigative work required of the project.
A thesis at this level will represent a contribution to professional practice or research, however the timeframe available for the thesis also needs to be considered when developing project scopes. Indeed, a key aim of the thesis is to specify a research topic that arouses sufficient intellectual curiosity, and presents an appropriate range and diversity of technical and conceptual challenges, while remaining manageable and allowing achievable outcomes within the time and resources available. It is important that the topic be of sufficient scope and complexity to allow a student to learn their craft and demonstrate their research skills. Equally imperative is that the task not be so demanding as to elude completion. Finally the ability to plan such a project to achieve results within constraints and the identification of promising areas and approaches for future research is a key assessment criterion.
CIVL5021 Capstone Project B

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Corequisites: CIVL5020 Prohibitions: CIVL5222 OR CIVL5223 OR CIVL5022 Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Supervision
The capstone project requires the student to plan and execute a substantial research-based project, using their technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise about developments that contribute to professional practice thus demonstrating the achievement of AQF Level 9.
Capstone Project provides an opportunity for students to conduct original research. Students will generally work individually and an individual thesis must be submitted by each student.
Capstone Project is a major task and is to be conducted with work spread over most of the year, in two successive Units of Study of 6 credits points each, Capstone Project A (CIVL5020) and Capstone Project B (CIVL5021). This particular unit of study, which must be preceded by or be conducted concurrently with CIVL5020 Capstone Project A, should cover the second half of the work required for a complete Capstone Project. In particular, it should include completion of all components of the research or investigation project planned but not undertaken or completed in CIVL5020 Capstone Project A.
A thesis at this level will represent a contribution to professional practice or research, however the timeframe available for the thesis also needs to be considered when developing project scopes. Indeed, a key aim of the thesis is to specify a research topic that arouses sufficient intellectual curiosity, and presents an appropriate range and diversity of technical and conceptual challenges, while remaining manageable and allowing achievable outcomes within the time and resources available. It is important that the topic be of sufficient scope and complexity to allow a student to learn their craft and demonstrate their research skills. Equally imperative is that the task not be so demanding as to elude completion. Finally the ability to plan such a project to achieve results within constraints and the identification of promising areas and approaches for future research is a key assessment criterion.
CIVL5022 Capstone Project B Extended

Credit points: 12 Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Prerequisites: 24 credit points in the Master of Engineering and WAM >=70 or 96 credit points in the Master of Professional Engineering and WAM >=70 or 48cp from MPE(Accel) program and WAM >=70 Prohibitions: CIVL5021 OR CIVL5222 OR CIVL5223 Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Supervision
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
The capstone project requires the student to plan and execute a substantial research-based project, using their technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise about developments that contribute to professional practice thus demonstrating the achievement of AQF Level 9.
Capstone Project provides an opportunity for students to conduct original research. Students will generally work in groups, although planning and writing of the thesis will be done individually; i. e. , a separate thesis must be submitted by each student. Only in exceptional circumstances and by approval of Capstone Project course coordinator and the relevant academic supervisor concerned will a student be permitted to undertake a project individually.
Capstone Project is a major task and is to be conducted with work spread over most of the year, in two successive Units of Study of 6 credits points each, Capstone Project A (CIVL5020) and Capstone Project B (CIVL5021) or this unit Capstone Project B extended (CIVL5022) worth 12 credit points. This particular unit of study, which must be preceded by or be conducted concurrently with CIVL5020 Capstone Project A, should cover the second half of the work required for a complete Capstone Project. In particular, it should include completion of all components of the research or investigation project planned but not undertaken or completed in CIVL5020 Capstone Project A.
A thesis at this level will represent a contribution to professional practice or research, however the timeframe available for the thesis also needs to be considered when developing project scopes. Indeed, a key aim of the thesis is to specify a research topic that arouses sufficient intellectual curiosity, and presents an appropriate range and diversity of technical and conceptual challenges, while remaining manageable and allowing achievable outcomes within the time and resources available. It is important that the topic be of sufficient scope and complexity to allow a student to learn their craft and demonstrate their research skills. Equally imperative is that the task not be so demanding as to elude completion. Finally the ability to plan such a project to achieve results within constraints and the identification of promising areas and approaches for future research is a key assessment criterion.
CIVL5222 Dissertation A

Credit points: 12 Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Prohibitions: CIVL5020 OR CIVL5021 OR CIVL5022 Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Supervision
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
Note: In order to enrol in a project, students must first secure an academic supervisor in an area that they are interested. The topic of your project must be determined in discussion with the supervisor. The supervisor can come from any of the Engineering Departments, however, they need to send confirmation of their supervision approval to the Postgraduate Administrator.
To complete a substantial research project and successfully analyse a problem, devise appropriate experiments, analyse the results and produce a well-argued, in-depth thesis.
CIVL5223 Dissertation B

Credit points: 12 Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Prohibitions: CIVL5020 OR CIVL5021 OR CIVL5022 Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Supervision
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
Note: In order to enrol in a project, students must first secure an academic supervisor in an area that they are interested. The topic of your project must be determined in discussion with the supervisor. The supervisor can come from any of the Engineering Departments, however, they need to send confirmation of their supervision approval to the Postgraduate Administrator.
To complete a substantial research project and successfully analyse a problem, devise appropriate experiments, analyse the results and produce a well-argued, in-depth thesis.
With permission from the Program Director candidates progressing with distinction (75%) average or higher results may replace CIVL5020, CIVL5021 and 12 credit points of electives with CIVL5222 & CIVL5223 Dissertation A & B.
A candidate who has been granted RVL and who is eligible to undertake the extended capstone project or dissertation may be granted exemption of up to 12 credit points of specialist units.

Elective units

Specialist units may also be taken as Elective units.
AMME5202 Computational Fluid Dynamics

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Prerequisites: [(MECH3261 AND AMME2000) OR (AERO3260 AND AMME2000)] OR ENGG5202 OR MECH8261 Assumed knowledge: Partial differential equations; Finite difference methods; Taylor series; Basic fluid mechanics including pressure, velocity, boundary layers, separated and recirculating flows. Basic computer programming skills. Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Objectives: To provide students with the necessary skills to use commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics packages and to carry out research in the area of Computational Fluid Dynamics. Expected outcomes: Students will have a good understanding of the basic theory of Computational Fluid Dynamics, including discretisation, accuracy and stability. They will be capable of writing a simple solver and using a sophisticated commercial CFD package.
Syllabus summary: A course of lectures, tutorials and laboratories designed to provide the student with the necessary tools for using a sophisticated commercial CFD package. A set of laboratory tasks will take the student through a series of increasingly complex flow simulations, requiring an understanding of the basic theory of computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The laboratory tasks will be complemented by a series of lectures in which the basic theory is covered, including: governing equations; finite difference methods, accuracy and stability for the advection/diffusion equation; direct and iterative solution techniques; solution of the full Navier-Stokes equations; turbulent flow; Cartesian tensors; turbulence models.
CIVL5266 Steel Structures - Stability

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Assumed knowledge: There are no prerequisites for this unit of study but it is assumed that students are competent in the content covered in Structural Mechanics, Steel Structures, and Structural Analysis. Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit aims to: provide fundamental understanding at advanced level of the behaviour and design of hot-rolled/fabricated and cold-formed steel members; to provide fundamental understanding of newly developed Direct Design Method (DDM) for analysis and design of structural systems; and to develop an understanding of the behaviour and design of steel connections in open and hollow sections. It is anticipated that at the end of this unit of study students should be familiar with the behaviour of steel structures at advanced level in selected areas, including design for local buckling and design for flexural-torsional buckling of columns and beams; have a sound knowledge of AS 4100 in the areas of section capacity determination of slender cross-sections, and flexural-torsional buckling of beams; have a sound knowledge of AS/NZS 4600 in the areas of section capacity determination of slender cross-sections, and flexural-torsional buckling of columns and beams; have knowledge of the use of FEM software in the design of structural systems; have the skills to assess the behaviour of specific connections; have an appreciation of some practical aspects of economical steel connection design. This unit will examine stability theory, Stability design to AS4100 and AS/NZS4600, Direct Design Method, Steel connection design.
CIVL5269 Advanced Concrete Structures

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Prerequisites: CIVL3205 OR CIVL9205 Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This Unit reviews the fundamental concepts of 'elastic' behaviour of reinforced concrete structures and introduces models of behaviour and methods of analysis related to the time-dependent effects of creep and shrinkage (at service loads). This Unit also examines the non-linear (strain-softening) behaviour of reinforced concrete and the related effects concerning the strength of statically-indeterminate reinforced concrete structures. In particular, this Unit examines the concepts of ductility, moment-redistribution and plastic design (for beams and slabs). Strut-and-tie modelling of reinforced concrete members is also described. Design guidelines will reflect requirements of the Australian Standards and Eurocodes.
This Unit will provide students with the following knowledge and skills: understanding of the fundamental concepts and theoretical models concerning the time-dependent structural effects of concrete creep and shrinkage; ability to carry out calculations to estimate 'elastic' load-effects (stresses/strains/deformations) for reinforced concrete structures (at service loads), accounting for the time-dependent effects of concrete creep and shrinkage; understanding of the fundamental concepts and theoretical models of the strain-softening behaviour of reinforced concrete (in flexure); understanding of the fundamental concepts and numerical models of ductility and moment redistribution for reinforced concrete beams; ability to quantitatively assess the ductility and moment-redistribution capacity of reinforced concrete beams; understanding of the fundamental concepts and numerical models of plastic behaviour and design for reinforced concrete beams and slabs (including yield-line analysis); ability to determine the ultimate plastic load-carrying capacity of statically-indeterminate reinforced-concrete beams and slabs; ability to use strut-and-tie models of reinforced concrete behaviour.
CIVL5276 Bridge Engineering

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Assumed knowledge: (CIVL2201 and CIVL3205 and CIVL3206) or (CIVL9201 and CIVL9205 and CIVL9206). Students who have not completed Concrete Structures (CIVL3205 or CIVL9205) will be very disadvantaged and should not attempt this unit. Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit will provide students a wide knowledge and understanding of Bridge Engineering enabling them to be future practical bridge engineers. The unit consists of 4 parts, as detailed: Part 1 covers Introduction to Bridge Assets, Sustainability and Bridge Design Investigation. Part 2 covers Bridge Design to AS5100-2017. Part 3 covers Bridge Asset Management - Materials of construction, Asset Managers' challenges, Maintenance, Rehabilitation and Bridge Information System. Part 4 covers Types of Non-Destructive Bridge Load Testing and Structural Health Monitoring, and Benefits of Application of these Procedures.
CIVL5320 Engineering for Sustainable Development

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Prerequisites: CIVL3310 OR CIVL9310 Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
The aim of this unit of study is to provide students with an introduction to the knowledge and skills necessary to design and implement sustainable humanitarian engineering projects. The context for the delivery of humanitarian engineering projects are set in developing countries, disaster relief situations, indigenous communities and our societies at large. Sustainability it critical to the long term impact of any engineering project. Students will learn about how engineering fits within a range of sustainability frameworks. Systems thinking, inter-disciplinary approaches, partnerships and government policy are some of the topics that will be covered. This unit of study is the 4th year elective for Humanitarian Engineering major and is open to all undergraduate engineers who have completed the pre-requisites.
CIVL5351 Geoenvironmental Engineering

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Geoenvironmental Engineering is an applied science concerned with the protection of soil and aquifers from human activities. It can be divided into 2 main branches: waste containment and treatment of pollution sites. The former is usually a preventative activity, whereas the latter is corrective, i.e., it occurs after pollution has taken place. Geoenvironmental Engineering draws on fundamental science, especially fluid flow and contaminant migration in soil and the physics and chemistry of low-permeability material such as clay. The goal of CIVL5351 is to introduce you to the science behind Geoenvironmental Engineering and develop your skills at designing barrier systems for groundwater protection.
Learning Outcomes: 1. Analyse flow regime in saturated and unsaturated soils using Darcy¿s Law; 2. Analyse contaminant migration in soil using coupled flow and reactive diffusion-advection equations; 3. Describe the main processes of clay-water interactions and their influence on behaviour of barrier systems; 4. Design a contaminant barrier system satisfying groundwater quality requirements; 5. Assess the feasibility of waste-to-energy conversion; 6. Conduct research on a geoenvironmental topic; 7. Build simulation models and appraise quality of their predictions.
Syllabus Summary: introduction to geoenvironmental engineering; integrated waste management and life cycle assessment; soil composition and mineralogy; types and characteristics of contaminants; theory of water seepage in saturated and unsaturated soils; theory of reactive contaminant transport in soil including molecular diffusion, mechanical dispersion and advective flow; analytical and numerical solutions of reactive diffusion advection equation; design of barrier systems; geosynthetics and geomembranes; defects and leakage rates; methane generation in landfills and waste-to-energy potential.
CIVL5452 Foundation Engineering

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Prohibitions: CIVL6452 Assumed knowledge: [CIVL2410 OR CIVL9410] AND [CIVL3411 OR CIVL9411]. Students are assumed to have a good knowledge of fundamental soil mechanics, which is covered in the courses of soil mechanics (settlement, water flow, soil strength) and foundation engineering (soil models, stability analyses; slope stability; retaining walls; foundation capacity) Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
The objectives of this unit are to gain an understanding of the design process in foundation engineering, to understand the importance of site investigation and field testing, and to learn how to deal with uncertainty. To achieve these objectives students are asked to design foundations using real data. Students will develop the ability to interpret the results of a site investigation; to use laboratory and field data to design simple foundations; develop an appreciation of the interaction between the soil, foundation system and the supported structure. The syllabus is comprised of field testing, site characterisation, interpretation of field data, design of pile raft and surface footings, support of excavations, soil improvement, and geotechnical report writing.
CIVL5453 Geotechnical Hazards

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Assumed knowledge: (CIVL2410 AND CIVL3411) OR (CIVL9410 AND CIVL9411). Students are assumed to have a good knowledge of fundamental soil mechanics, which is covered in the courses of soil mechanics (settlement, water flow, soil strength) and foundation engineering (soil models, stability analyses; slope stability; retaining walls; foundation capacity). Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
Geotechnical hazards include landslides, rock falls and mud flows. They are triggered by soil/rock failure due to natural or human causes. The objective of this Unit of Study is to develop the ability to assess and mitigate the risks associated to such events.
Students will learn how to estimate when and where these events are likely to occur, how to define safety zones and how to design effective protection structures. The syllabus is comprised of (i) Landslide Risk Assessment and Management procedures (ii) post-failure and out of equilibrium soil mechanics applied to prediction of rock fall, landslide and mud flow run-out distance and impact force on structures; (iii) design of geotechnical protection structures using Finite Element modelling.
Senior geotechnical engineers from major companies will deliver some guest lectures presenting on practical case study involving geotechnical hazards throughout the semester.
CIVL5460 Particle Mechanics for Geotechnics

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
The objectives of this unit are to demonstrate how the granular structure of soil materials controls their engineering behaviour; translate particle micromechanics to improve macroscopic engineering predictions; and establish the intimate connection of geotechnical engineering to other disciplines where granular materials play a pivotal role, including mining engineering, bulk materials handling, and geophysics. Similarly, this course will cohesively connect geotechnical engineering with fluids engineering principles, as well as enhance students' background in materials science. At the end of this unit students will be able to understand and use Discrete Element Method to evaluate and solve geotechnical problems such as rockfall interactions with surrounding terrain. They will also critically analyse pile penetration and silo discharge in light of granular mechanisms; apply soil rheology to carry out parametric study of landslide flows; and understand and use dimensionless analysis principles to predict resistive forces on obstacles. Strong focus will be dedicated for communicating students' results using written methods appropriate for professional engineers.
CIVL5670 Reservoir, Stream and Coastal Engineering

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Assumed knowledge: (CIVL3612 OR CIVL9612) AND MATH2061 Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
The objectives of this unit of study are to develop an understanding of the processes occurring in lakes, reservoirs, streams and coastal seas, an introduction to transport and mixing in inland waters, and to the design the design of marine structures. The unit will cover the mass and heat budget in stored water bodies, mixing, and the implications for water quality. In streams, natural river systems will be discussed, and the principles of sediment transport and scour, monitoring and management will be introduced. The basic equations for linear and nonlinear wave theories in coastal seas will be introduced, and wave forces on structures and an introduction to design of offshore structures will be discussed.
CIVL5701 Transport Networks

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Assumed knowledge: CIVL2700 OR CIVL9700 Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit of study aims to provide an introduction to the intersections of theory and applications in Transport Networks, Geography, and Land Use. It describes how to characterize networks, (topology, hierarchy, morphology), and how that affects the use of those networks. The course is a mix between a lecture and a student-led seminar, with students responsible for researching and presenting on a number of the topics, as well as developing a course text in a wikibook format. Students will learn the basics of networks and how transportation systems function on them.
CIVL5702 Traffic Engineering

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Assumed knowledge: (CIVL2700 OR CIVL9700) AND (MATH1001 OR MATH1021) AND (MATH1003 OR MATH1023) AND MATH1005 AND ENGG1801. Basic statistics through regression analysis, differential and integral calculus, computer programming. Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit of study aims to provide an introduction to the theory and practice of transport models as used for traffic operations. Topics include: travel demand forecasting; choice modelling; agent-based modeling; queuing and traffic flow; intelligent transport systems; the microscopic and macroscopic fundamental diagrams; highway operation; congestion control; static, quasi-dynamic and dynamic network equilibrium; the four-step (generation, distribution, mode choice and assignment) transport model; macroscopic models vs microscopic simulation; transport data sources and survey methodology; introduction to the main transport modelling software packages; coordinated control.
CIVL5703 Transport Policy, Planning and Deployment

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Prohibitions: CIVL3703 OR CIVL9703 Assumed knowledge: CIVL2700 Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This subject aims to provide an environment for students to learn essential facts and develop models and frameworks to understand the development of transport policy, the making of transport plans, and the deployment of transport technologies. The unit uses a mixture of traditional lectures, and interactive learning through case studies and role playing. Both the lectures and the cases allow the students to develop an inductive understanding of transportation. The unit will be successful if at the end, the student has developed a worldview on transportation (not necessarily the same as the instructor's), and has an appreciation for merits and demerits of various perspectives on transport issues. The course seeks an integrative approach for transport, and though the stories in lecture will be told mode by mode, there are a number of opportunities to see the relationships between modes, in their structure in function, and in the learning as one mode adopts successful (and unsuccessful) attributes of others.
CIVL5704 Transport Analytics

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Assumed knowledge: CIVL3704 OR CIVL9704 Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit of study uses a hands-on, data driven approach to exploring foundational concepts in transport. Students will undertake focussed study of a selection of highly influential texts in the field and develop skills to recreate, evaluate and improve upon these seminal analyses.
The students will use an integrated approach, drawing on perspectives from multiple disciplines and exercising their judgement regarding social, environmental and economic sustainability. Mastery of the concepts will be demonstrated through submitted technical analysis as well as clear written and graphical communication.
CIVL5999 Advanced Research and Analysis

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Assumed knowledge: (CIVL2201 OR CIVL9201) AND (CIVL2611 OR CIVL9611) AND (CIVL2410 OR CIVL9410) Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) day
This unit requires students to use a number of advanced experimental tools and techniques which they learn through project-based learning as well as a structured theoretical lecture program. It will be very useful as co-requisite study for students engaged in an experimental honours thesis topic. It also covers issues of basic electronic circuitry and signal processing, various analysis techniques using both simple and advanced statistics, and advanced data processing methods such as PIV and Fourier filtering. It will also prepare students for further research in industry or academia.
CSYS5010 Introduction to Complex Systems

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1,Semester 2 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) evening
Globalisation, rapid technological advances, the development of integrated and distributed systems, cross-disciplinary technical collaboration, and the emergence of "evolved" (as opposed to designed) systems are some of the reasons why many systems have begun to be described as complex systems in recent times. Complex technological, biological, socio-economic and socio-ecological systems (power grids, communication and transport systems, food webs, megaprojects, and interdependent civil infrastructure) are composed of large numbers of diverse interacting parts and exhibit self-organisation and/or emergent behaviour. This unit will introduce the basic concepts of "complex systems theory", and focus on methods for the quantitative analysis and modelling of collective emergent phenomena, using diverse computational approaches such as agent-based modelling and simulation, cellular automata, bio-inspired algorithms, and game theory. Students will gain theoretical knowledge of complex adaptive systems, coupled with practical skills in computational simulation and forecasting using a range of modern toolkits.
CSYS5020 Interdependent Civil Systems

Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: Refer to the unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units Assessment: Refer to the assessment table in the unit outline. Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) evening
Our modern day civil infrastructure includes transport networks, telecommunications, power systems, financial infrastructure and emergency services, all of which are growing more and more interconnected. Moreover, the behaviour of the modern infrastructure is not dependent only upon the behaviour of its parts: complex civil systems (such as modern power grids), communication and transport systems, megaprojects, social and eco-systems, generate rich interactions among the individual components with interdependencies across systems. This interdependent behaviour brings about significant new challenges associated with the design and management of complex systems. Cascading power failures, traffic disruptions, epidemic outbreaks, chronic diseases, financial market crashes, and ecosystem collapses are typical manifestations of these challenges, affecting the stability of modern society and civil infrastructure. This unit will develop an understanding of how interdependent systems perform under stress, how to improve resilience and how best to mitigate the effects of various kinds of component failure or human error, by more accurate analysis of interdependent cascades of failures across system boundaries. The studied topics will include dynamical analysis of complex interdependent networks, local and global measures of network structure and evolution, cascading failures, as well as predictive measures of catastrophic failure in complex adaptive systems, and the tools that enable planning for resilient infrastructure. This unit will equip future professionals with sufficient expertise and technical know-how for the design of efficient prevention and intervention policies, and robust crisis forecasting and management. This unit will equip future professionals with sufficient expertise and technical know-how for the design of efficient prevention and intervention policies, and robust crisis forecasting and management.