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Unit outline_

ITLS6103: Transport, Sustainability and Health

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Remote

Students completing this unit have an increased knowledge and understanding of the complex relationships between transport provision, travel behaviour and public health. Both health-promoting and health-damaging issues are considered providing students with a balanced understanding from both the transport and health domains. This includes an appreciation and understanding of health impacts of transport externalities including air pollution, noise, congestion and accidents; role of transport provision and travel choices (car travel, public transport, active transport, air travel) on health, wellbeing and social inclusion; health impacts of age and disability on transport options; transport systems as conduits for spread of communicable diseases; health impacts of future transport options, such as driverless vehicles; the role of transportation and public health agencies in sustainable transport promotion; and how to conduct Health Impact Assessments (HIAs) of transport interventions. The unit considers how contemporary sustainable transport policy options in Australia and overseas could both reduce detrimental health impacts of transport as well as promote better health outcomes. The unit is particularly suited to students with broad interest intransport (passenger and freight), public health, urban planning, and sustainability issues.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Transport and Logistics Studies
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Stephen Greaves, stephen.greaves@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Stephen Greaves, stephen.greaves@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Supervised exam
? 
Final Exam
Final exam covering all class materials
35% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3
Skills-based evaluation Opinion Piece
Students will research and complete an academic Opinion piece.
20% Week 04
Due date: 17 Mar 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 27 Mar 2023
800 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Presentation In-class Debates
Students will debate a transport/health topic
20% Week 07
Due date: 04 Apr 2023 at 12:00

Closing date: 04 Apr 2023
35 minutes equivalent
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Health Imapct Assessment
Students will complete a Health Impact Assessment on a transport project
25% Week 12
Due date: 19 May 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 29 May 2023
1200 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Assessment summary

Opinion Piece: You will complete an opinion piece on a transport/health topic.

Health Impact Assessment: You will complete a HIA on a transport project

In-class Debates: You will debate a transport/health topic with fellow students.

Final exam: A 2-hour exam covering on all materials covered.

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

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

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:

Standard late penalties apply

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introductions; Transport, Health & Sustainability; Writing Opinion Pieces Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 02 Transport, safety & health - road accidents, personal safety, road rage Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 03 Transport, air pollution and health Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 04 Transport noise and health Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 05 Active travel, physical activity & health Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 06 Motorised travel  & health (cars, public transport) Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 07 Transport, built environment & health Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 08 In-Class Debates; Transport & Health Equity/Social Exclusion Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 09 ANZAC Day Public Holiday, No Class Independent study (3 hr)  
Week 10 Health Impact Assessments of Transport Decisions Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 11 HIA Workshop - Using HEAT to evaluate health impacts of transport projects Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 12 Transport & communicable diseases Seminar (3 hr)  
Week 13 Health Impacts of Future Transport Options Seminar (3 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recordings: All lectures and seminars are recorded and will be available on Canvas for student use. Please note the Business School does not own the system and cannot guarantee that the system will operate or that every class will be recorded. Students should ensure they attend and participate in all classes.

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

Prescribed text, available for download from the university library:

Nieuwenhuijsen, M.J. and Khreis, H (eds), 2020. Advances in Transportation and Health. Elsevier. ISBN 9780128191361, https://doi.org/10.1016/C2018-0-04993-2

Other readings provided on Canvas,

 

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. Evaluate the relationships between transport provision, travel choices and health and sustainability outcomes in different contexts.
  • LO2. Critically evaluate published ideas in relation to transport policy solutions designed to promote positive health and sustainability outcomes.
  • LO3. Question, assess and respond independently and creatively to assumptions, propositions and debates around transport, health and sustainability issues.
  • LO4. Prepare verbal and written policy communication appropriate for different audiences and contexts within the transport, public health and wider sustainability domains.

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.

Unit has been refocused from general considerations around sustainability to health as they pertain to transport.

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.