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Unit of study_

ELEC5518: IoT for Critical Infrastructures

Semester 1, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Connected smart objects, platforms and environments have been identified as the next big technology development. The intelligent network for automatic interaction and processing between objects and environments is referred to as the Internet of Things (IoT). This unit aims to introduce the design, processing and operation of critical IoT applications, including smart grids, intelligent transportation systems, smart cities and healthcare. The unit will cover the IoT architecture, important components of IoT, such as sensors, communications networks and information processing, critical IoT applications, and the design and operations of these IoT systems and infrastructures. The students will be engaged in IoT programming and system development using advanced IoT platforms.

Unit details and rules

Unit code ELEC5518
Academic unit Electrical and Information Engineering
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Mahyar Shirvanimoghaddam, mahyar.shirvanimoghaddam@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Record+) Type B final exam hurdle task Final Exam
This is an open-book exam that covers mostly technical parts of the unit.
45% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO9 LO11 LO13 LO16
Tutorial quiz Quizzes
Individual quizzed during the lectures
10% Multiple weeks n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO11 LO13
Small continuous assessment Lab work
Lab group activites
15% Multiple weeks n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO4 LO7 LO13
Assignment group assignment Progress report
This is a short report to highlight your ideas and get feedback
5% Week 07 n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO7 LO10 LO11 LO12 LO13 LO14
Assignment group assignment Mini video
Groups are required to prepare a mini-video to explain their ideas.
10% Week 09 n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO3 LO2
Assignment group assignment Final report and demonstration
The final demonstration of your working prototype and technical report
15% Week 13 n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO4 LO8 LO9 LO10 LO11 LO15 LO16
hurdle task = hurdle task ?
group assignment = group assignment ?
Type B final exam = Type B final exam ?

Assessment summary

  • Lab work: Students are assessed during the lab according to their participation in the lab work and evaluation by the tutors. You will fail this unit if you miss more than 2 labs if you fail to show a valid reason.
  • Project report: A full technical report should be submitted to summarise the project goals, design, and achievements. This is a huge opportunity to publish papers.
  • Project presentation: This is mainly to disseminate the achievements during the semester.
  • Project demonstration: Each project will be demonstrated in week 13.
  • Quizzes: Multiple quizzes will be held during the lecture hours to help students better understand the basic concepts.
  • Final exam: The final exam will be a variation of exercises dealt with in tutorials. 

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

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.

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.

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.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to Internet of Things (IoT): Fundamental concepts, key trends and terms, enabling technologies, effects on society, challenges and opportunities Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 02 Fundamental concepts in IoT networking and key wireless technologies Lecture (2 hr)  
Lab 0 Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 03 Enabling Technologies for IoT: Advances in connectivity and networks (4G LTE, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, Bluetooth Low Energy), advances in sensor and microprocessor design Lecture (2 hr)  
Lab 1 Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 04 Data in IoT ecosystem Lecture (2 hr)  
Lab 2 Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 05 Data analytics for IoT Lecture (2 hr)  
Lab 3 Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 06 Energy in the IoT ecosystem Lecture (2 hr)  
Lab 4 Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 07 Energy in the IoT ecosystem Lecture (2 hr)  
Lab 5 Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 08 Medium access control techniques For IoT Lecture (2 hr)  
Project development Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 09 Medium access control techniques For IoT Lecture (2 hr)  
Project development Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 10 Cellular systems for IoT Lecture (2 hr)  
Project development Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 11 Security threat in IoT, what can go wrong? Lecture (2 hr)  
Project development Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 12 Summary Lecture (2 hr)  
Project development Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 13 Project Demonstration Lecture (2 hr)  
Project Demonstration Tutorial (2 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

The unit will be offered in a flexible mode, with both online and in-person availability. We highly recommend in-person mode due to several lab and group activities, however, this depends on the university’s requirements for COVID safe plans.

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

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

  • Andrew S. Tanenbaum and David J. Wetherall, Computer Networks (Fifth). Pearson, 2013. 978-0-13-212695-3.
  • Larry L. Peterson and Bruce S. Davie, Computer Networks: A System Approach (Fifth). Morgan Kaufmann, 2012. 978-0-12-385059-1.
  • Jan Holler, Vlasios Tsiatsis, Catherine Mulligan, Stamatis Karnouskos, Stefan Avesand, David Boyle, From Machine-to-Machine to the Internet ELEC5518: IoT for Critical Infrastructures (Semester 1, 2019) of Things. Oxford, United Kingdom, Academic Press, 2014. 978-0-12-407684-6.
  • Andrea Goldsmith, Wireless Communications. 2004.

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. make written and oral presentations in the form of assignments and lab reports using varied media aids and tools, to convey complex engineering material concisely and accurately
  • LO2. demonstrate proficiency across all facets of project development and delivery. Lead project activities on a small team scale to successful completion at a professional standard.
  • LO3. make a substantial contribution to a team project where members have some overlapping and complementary skills
  • LO4. exercise sound critical and ethical judgement in undertaking a complex engineering/IT leadership role
  • LO5. investigate vulnerability and reliability
  • LO6. apply disciplinary skills in interdisciplinary contexts displaying culturally aware interpersonal effectiveness, synthesizing different perspectives at different levels to communicate convincingly and produce effective solutions
  • LO7. work collegially with peers from other disciplines on the same project and deliver the final product by the due date
  • LO8. lead and execute a whole systems design cycle, working to independently determined user requirements
  • LO9. model critical infrastructure, including communication, energy, and transportation systems
  • LO10. design and simulate large-scale IoT systems for critical infrastructure
  • LO11. solve complex systemic problems, requiring thorough knowledge of the discipline working with a high level of autonomy and initiative
  • LO12. demonstrate proficiency in using equipment and associated programming tools to the extent of the work presented in the course
  • LO13. demonstrate an understanding of technologies, principles and techniques used in IoT systems, to the extent of the material presented throughout the course
  • LO14. identify opportunities through creative (system) thinking approaches and analyse complex, multilayered problems and identify potential novel opportunities; creatively use different system thinking approaches; comprehensively justify solutions and decisions
  • LO15. model and analyse broadly and design substantial parts of state-of-the-art IoT systems while appreciating the issues for further developments
  • LO16. implement advanced modelling and analysis, and construct or adapt investigative methods, models and tools with thorough consideration of limitations potentially affecting the accuracy of the results.

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

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes Competency standards
LO9
Stage 1 Competency Standard for Professional Engineer (UG) - EA
1.3 (L3). Specialist discipline knowledge. (Level 3- Exceeding required standard) In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline.
1.4 (L3). Discipline research knowledge. (Level 3- Exceeding required standard) Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline
1.5 (L3). Discipline context knowledge. (Level 3- Exceeding required standard) Knowledge of contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline
1.6 (L3). Discipline professional practice knowledge. (Level 3- Exceeding required standard) Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of contemporary engineering practice in the specific discipline.
Engineers Australia Curriculum Performance Indicators - EAPI
4.5. An ability to undertake problem solving, design and project work within a broad contextual framework accommodating social, cultural, ethical, legal, political, economic and environmental responsibilities as well as within the principles of sustainable development and health and safety imperatives.
Engineers Australia Curriculum Performance Indicators - EAPI
3.1. An ability to communicate with the engineering team and the community at large.
5.3. Skills in the selection and characterisation of engineering systems, devices, components and materials.
5.4. Skills in the selection and application of appropriate engineering resources tools and techniques, appreciation of accuracy and limitations;.
Engineers Australia Curriculum Performance Indicators - EAPI
1.1. Developing underpinning capabilities in mathematics, physical, life and information sciences and engineering sciences, as appropriate to the designated field of practice.
Engineers Australia Curriculum Performance Indicators - EAPI
1.1. Developing underpinning capabilities in mathematics, physical, life and information sciences and engineering sciences, as appropriate to the designated field of practice.
Engineers Australia Curriculum Performance Indicators - EAPI
4.2. Ability to use a systems approach to complex problems, and to design and operational performance.
Stage 1 Competency Standard for Professional Engineer (UG) - EA
2.3 (L3). Engineering design. (Level 3- Exceeding required standard) Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes.
Engineers Australia Curriculum Performance Indicators - EAPI
2.3. Meaningful engagement with current technical and professional practices and issues in the designated field.
4.3. Proficiency in the engineering design of components, systems and/or processes in accordance with specified and agreed performance criteria.
Engineers Australia Curriculum Performance Indicators -
Competency code Taught, Practiced or Assessed Competency standard
1.1 A Developing underpinning capabilities in mathematics, physical, life and information sciences and engineering sciences, as appropriate to the designated field of practice.

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

The student now have more opportunity to work with peers from business school.

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.