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Unit outline_

DESC9202: Water Sensitive Design

Semester 2, 2024 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

As cities expand and weather becomes more unstable, the need to design buildings and neighbourhoods that use less water has become ever more important. This unit examines the emerging problems with water usage in the built environment and how design can tackle them. It takes an interdisciplinary approach to water sensitive design, drawing on insights from landscape urbanism, climate science, building services and sustainable architecture. The unit explores the changing valuation of water in the built environment and methods to improve ecological amenity and minimise net water use in buildings. By examining water sensitive strategies and technologies, students will be challenged to think beyond current approaches and apply their learning from this unit to demonstrate the way that design innovation can effectively address the challenge of water in the built environment.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Architectural and Design Science
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Daniel Ryan, daniel.ryan@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Daniel Ryan, daniel.ryan@sydney.edu.au
David Knights, david.knights@sydney.edu.au
Alexa McAuley, alexa.mcauley@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment group assignment Assignment 1
Report
40% Week 06
Due date: 03 Sep 2024 at 23:59
3000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO6
Assignment Assignment 2
Proposal, Report
60% Week 13
Due date: 01 Nov 2024 at 23:59
3000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  1. You will write an in-depth report looking at how land has been transformed over time and the effect on the water cycle
  2. You will prepare an illustrated report for a water sensitive design for a part of your study site 

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2021 (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.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

In accordance with University of Sydney School of Architecture Design and Planning Faculty Resolutions 2022, for every calendar day up to and including 10 calendar days after the due date, a penalty of 5% of the maximum awardable marks will be applied to the late work. For work submitted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

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 2023 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 2023. 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

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Intro to the unit. Water sensitive cities frameworks part 1. Lecture (5 hr) LO1 LO5
Introduction to the assignments; reading the land Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 03 Water sensitive cities frameworks part 2. Case studies. Lecture (5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO6
Review of draft research Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO5 LO6
Week 07 WSD & Ecological Principles. WSD & Engineering principles. WSD & Landscape Principles. Lecture (4 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5
Site visit Field trip (1 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Introduction to assessment 2 Tutorial (2 hr) LO5 LO6
Week 09 Planning & Policy. Zero Water Demand. Minimising Wastewater Discharge. Minimising Stormwater Runoff. Defining objectives and baselines. Lecture (5 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Defining site objectives, baselines & best practice; basic calculations Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5 LO6
Week 11 Emerging issues and opportunities for water sensitive design Lecture (5 hr) LO2 LO5 LO6
Draft presentation Tutorial (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

Attendance and class requirements

Please refer to the Resolutions of the University School: 

University of Sydney School of Architecture Design and Planning Faculty Resolutions 2022

Clause 8 (3) (a). Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90% of timetabled activities for each unit of study, unless granted exemption.

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.

Required readings

See canvas site

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.

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

  • LO1. apply water sensitive design frameworks to evaluate the built environment
  • LO2. understand how stormwater can be transformed into a resource by integrated design and water sensitive technologies.
  • LO3. perform manual design calculations and evaluate different design strategies.
  • LO4. select water sensitive technologies for use in buildings and urban spaces.
  • LO5. find and critically evaluate information on water sensitive design.
  • LO6. communicate effectively about water sensitive design topics.

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
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

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

Course has been maintained following positive feedback last year.

Site visit guidelines

For site visit see canvas site for details. There will likely be a local site visit on day 3.

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.