Outline

Overview

This unit explores the theory and practice of transport network design and analysis, covering both public and private systems. Students progress from foundational concepts to advanced techniques and apply them in a semester-long group project to design a public transport network for a simplified version of Sydney. Weekly topics integrate theory with practical applications. Students will learn the basics of network algorithms and design, and how to apply them to a range of emerging transport challenges.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Civil Engineering
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	CIVL2700 or CIVL9700
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Andres Fielbaum Schnitzler, andres.fielbaum@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 1 September 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Case studies	Weekly/Fortnightly reports on project "Designing a Tramless Network for Sydney" Partial guided reports of the advances in the semester-long project	15%	Multiple weeks	-	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
In-person written or creative task	First half exam Written exam covering weeks 1-5	25%	Week 06 Due date: 09 Sep 2025 at 15:00	120 minutes	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
In-person written or creative task	Second half exam Written exam covering weeks 7-11	25%	Week 12 Due date: 28 Oct 2025 at 15:00	120 minutes	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Q&A following presentation, submission or placement	Individual Q&A session Q&A session after the group presentation with individual marks	15%	Week 13 Due date: 04 Nov 2025 at 15:00	10 minutes	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Final report Final report of the group project	10%	Week 13 Due date: 04 Nov 2025 at 23:59	-	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Final Presentation Final presentation of the group project	10%	Week 13	-	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

First-half Exam, Week 6, 25% In class
Second-half Exam, Week 12, 25% In class
Project Design of public transport network: 50%
- Partial reports 15%,
- Final presentation 10%,
- Final report 10%,
- Individual responses 15%.

Partial reports are submitted approximately every two weeks. Each builds cumulatively on the previous one, culminating in a full proposal for a public transport network to serve a simplified representation of Sydney.

The two written exams form a combined hurdle. A minimum average of 45 between the two is required to approve.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

The two written exams form a combined hurdle. A minimum average of 45 between the two is required to approve.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Motivation, examples, mathematical representation.	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 01	Presentation of the course project	Project (1 hr)
Week 02	Traditional problems on a given transport network - Dijkstra's algorithm	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Lines structures: Types and proposal	Project (1 hr)
Week 03	Evaluation, the ‘illties’	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	Generalised costs	Project (1 hr)
Week 04	Linear and integer optimisation	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Route choice, vehicles' capacity, and frequencies.	Project (1 hr)
Week 05	Public transport: Strategic decisions	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	Mid-exam preparation	Lecture and tutorial (1 hr)
Week 07	Scale, scope economies, and network effects in public transport networks	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	Finding a demand-supply-equilibrium frequencies	Project (1 hr)
Week 08	Supply-demand equilibrium in public transport	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Mid-term project presentations	Project (1 hr)
Week 09	Private networks: Externalities, mode choice, and paradoxes	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Operational costs, total budget, and users costs	Project (1 hr)
Week 10	Dynamic transport networks	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	Redesign of the network	Project (1 hr)
Week 11	Cyclepaths and bikesharing	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	Second half exam preparation	Lecture and tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	Final presentations of the course project	Presentation (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Weekly in-person (online) attendance is expected as per University requirements. There will be in-class activities and presentations critical to learning.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. develop a public transport network plan, share with class
LO2. use a transport network model: understand the representation of transport problems as combinatorial problems on networks; understand the algorithmic reasoning to solve problems on networks; understand other techniques to solve the problems
LO3. understand the main differences between public and private transport networks: draw implications of the externalities characterising each of them; practice the methods of network analysis.
LO4. analyse the implications of demand-responsive networks: compare global optimisation vs users’ equilibrium; practice different policies to align individual and societal objectives; discuss equity and implementability issues.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

More examples will be added to the first part of the class, that was deemed as too abstract in the previous delivery of this unit.

Additional information

COMPLEMENTARY READINGS

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

CIVL5701: Transport Networks

Semester 2, 2025 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links