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Unit of study_

CIVL3310: Humanitarian Engineering

2025 unit information

Humanitarian Engineering is the application of engineering to meet the needs of communities globally; while maintaining a focus on sustainability and appropriateness. This unit will give an introduction to engineers from all disciplines about the unique skills and knowledge needed to tackle challenges in; developing countries, during all stages of disasters and indigenous communities. Achieving global sustainability is a consistent theme through-out the subject. The unit will develop skills in intra-disciplinary teamwork and cross-cultural competence. The subject is taught through a series of lectures based on real case studies and engaging guest seminars. Seminars presenters are all people who are currently working in the field of humanitarian engineering with representatives from industry, government, multi-lateral organisations and non-government organisations. This unit of study is the first lecture based subject in the Humanitarian Engineering major. The unit aligns as a 3rd year elective and is a prerequisite for 4th year subject in the Humanitarian Engineering major CIVL5320 Engineering for Sustainable Development.

Unit details and rules

Managing faculty or University school:

Engineering

Study level Undergraduate
Academic unit Civil Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
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None
Corequisites:
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None
Prohibitions:
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None
Assumed knowledge:
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None

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

  • LO1. Explain the professional roles and ethical considerations of engineers working in the context of humanitarian engineering (developing countries, disasters and remote areas)
  • LO2. Work in a small team with different engineering disciplines to solve an engineering challenge while displaying effective team membership and team leaderships.
  • LO3. Use analytical and evaluation skills to present the theoretical and practical considerations for project success and failure in humanitarian engineering.
  • LO4. Explain how engineers contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
  • LO5. Understand the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of contemporary humanitarian engineering practice
  • LO6. Application of established humanitarian engineering methods to solve complex engineering problems in developing countries, post disaster and first-nations communities.
  • LO7. Use effective oral presentation skills and written communication in a humanitarian engineering domains

Unit availability

This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.

The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.

Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2024
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2025
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Outline unavailable
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2020
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2021
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2021
Normal day Remote
Semester 1 2022
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2022
Normal day Remote
Semester 1 2023
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2023
Normal day Remote

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Modes of attendance (MoA)

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