Unit Outline

This is the second in a series of units developing competencies in applying survey instruments, field techniques and computational analyses to measure and solve geometric problems in natural and built environments. In this unit, you will gain a deeper understanding of measurement science and develop their ability to discern the appropriate application of precise survey methodologies for a range of real-world circumstances. This semester, you will expand on the practical instrumental and methodological skills introduced in the fundamentals of surveying unit. Precise levelling and electronic total stations will be used in practical classes to undertake surveys and implement advanced techniques to achieve a high level of precision in the resulting spatial data. Survey methodologies, instrument calibration and advanced computational analysis for precise levelling, trigonometric heighting, resection, traversing and detail survey applications will be examined both in a theoretical sense and through practical experiences. In this unit, you will also learn to use programmable hand-held calculators and specialist survey software to reduce your field observations, to create professional plans and to report outcomes of your data collection and analysis. The results of surveying projects are are often required to be referenced to a particular coordinate datum. In this unit, you will learn the concepts and methodologies required to reduce and interpret survey data referenced to various datums including the current Map Grid of Australia (MGA2020) and the Australian Height Datum (AHD).

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Apply survey methodologies for the collection of spatial data.
2	Evaluate survey data using a range of computational techniques.
3	Evaluate a range of survey procedures by relating them to published standards.
4	Employ coordinate transformations in the reduction of survey data.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	KGG255

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Teaching arrangements


ATTENDANCE MODE	TEACHING TYPE	LEARNING ACTIVITY	CONTACT HOURS	FREQUENCY
On Campus	Seminar	Two seminars per week will generally follow the structure and topics as described in the Unit Schedule. Notes/slides, recordings and required readings will be uploaded to MyLO after each seminar is completed. Active participation is encouraged during the seminars.	1	2 times per week
	Tutorial	Tutorials will be used to undertake survey calculations, reduce survey data and provide familiarity with Quickclose and Neo survey programs. A HP50 calculator/app with Quickclose installed will be needed for all tutorials. The tutorial sessions provide your primary opportunity for supported learning in the use of the HP calculators and software and are of significant benefit for learning survey computations required for the practical components of the unit and your future careers.	1	Weekly
	Practical	Practical sessions offer a means of developing the skills required to collect survey data with modern instruments, they will also provide time for data reduction and computational work. Staff will be available for support within the timetabled sessions. Practical sessions are a significant part of this unit, it is critical that students attend and participate in both the fieldwork and computational sessions.	3	Weekly

Attendance / engagement expectations

If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online or includes online activities, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline or MyLO, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.

This unit is run fully on-campus and attendance at ALL classes is expected (note that classes will not generally be recorded).

Practical and tutorial classes will develop and deepen your technical skills and work undertaken in these sessions will form the basis of many of your assessments - attendance in these class is essential.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Precise Heighting Surveys	Week 6	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Computational Assignment	Week 14	15 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Control Traverse & Detail Survey	Week 14	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 4:	Practical Test	Week 14	15 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 5:	Quizzes	Refer to Assessment Description	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Precise Heighting Surveys

Task Description:

This assessment requires you to complete a series of precise heighting practicals using different survey equipment and techniques and then compare and contrast the results acquired using each technique to determine the heights of established control marks.

3 - 4 weeks of group-based practical classes will be used to make the survey observations. Your submission will be a report outlining the methodologies used and communicating your own individual results and analysis of the collected data.

Task Length:

At the completion of a series of field practicals you will submit a short written technical report (approximately 3-4 pages of technical review, survey results & data analysis).

Due Date:

Week 6 (08/Sep/2025)

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Collect survey data using field techniques.	LO1
2	Compute survey data reductions and analysis.	LO2
3	Assess survey outcomes against survey standards.	LO3

Assessment Task 2: Computational Assignment

Task Description:

You will respond to questions regarding survey data computations. The questions will test your ability to perform resection and intersection coordinate calculations, reduction of observations to ellipsoids, and computations on MGA2020.

Some of the computational questions will require the use of calculators and excel. Other questions are theoretical (e.g. datums), and will require a short written response.

All questions are based on information provided in seminars.

Task Length:

7 Computational Questions

Due Date:

Week 14 (27/Oct/2025)

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Compute survey data reductions using a calculator.	LO2
2	Compute survey data reduction using excel.	LO2
3	Apply coordinate corrections to reduce data and perform computations.	LO2, LO4
4	Explain the importance of datums in survey data reductions.	LO1, LO3

Assessment Task 3: Control Traverse & Detail Survey

Task Description:

Control Traverse & Detail Survey Practical.

You will work in small groups to undertake supervised off-campus practicals over a period of ~3 weeks, including an MGA2020 control traverse and detail/topographical survey.

Upon completion of field data collection, you will have ~ 2 weeks of lab practicals to individually reduce the survey data using HP calculators and then visualise and edit the data in surveying software to create a survey plan.

Your submission for this assessment will be a short, written report outlining the survey and computational methodology used plus the results and analysis of your data. (See assessment instructions for more information).

Task Length:

~9 hrs off-campus fieldwork. ~6 hrs data reduction, plan production and data analysis Submission is in the form of a short technical report ~ 3-5 pages (written and graphical information) summarising the outcomes of your practical work.

Due Date:

Week 14 (31/Oct/2025)

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Collect survey data using field techniques.	LO1
2	Compute reductions and analysis of survey data with a HP calculator.	LO2
3	Assess results and outcomes against survey standards.	LO3
4	Apply appropriate datum corrections to survey data.	LO4
5	Compute reductions and analysis of survey data using survey software.	LO2

Assessment Task 4: Practical Test

Task Description:

You will be required to undertake In-field survey observations and perform survey computations using a HP calculator and Quickclose. This work will be closed-book and completed in a 1-hour time-frame.

Date of assessment will be confirmed at the start of semester.

Task Length:

60 mins observations and computations

Due Date:

Week 14

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Collect survey data using a total station.	LO1
2	Compute reductions and analysis of survey data using an HP calculator.	LO2
3	Collect data using surveying methodologies.	LO1

Assessment Task 5: Quizzes

Task Description:

Quizzes will be held during the tutorial sessions in weeks 5, 9 and 13. Each quiz contributes 10% to the units marks.

Week 5 Quiz: Standards, Calibration and Precise Heighting
Week 9 Quiz: Control Surveys and Quickclose
Week 13 Quiz: Datums and Traverse Calculations

Task Length:

3 x 1 hour quizzes

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain field equipment and procedures used in surveying.	LO1
2	Evaluate survey data by completing survey computations.	LO2
3	Interpret and apply published standards to survey outcomes.	LO3
4	Analyse the coordinates and datums applied to survey data.	LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Required Resources

Required reading materials

You will need to download a copy of the following online resources:

Harvey, B.R. (2017). Survey Computations. School of Surveying and Spatial Information Systems, The University of New South Wales, Sydney. https://www.sage.unsw.edu.au/sites/sage/files/u112/BRH_Survey_Comps%20textbook.pdf

Geocentric Datum of Australia 2020 Technical Manual Version 1.7 Intergovernmental Committee on Surveying and Mapping (ICSM) Geodesy Working Group (GWG) 26 October 2021.
https://www.icsm.gov.au/publications/gda2020-technical-manual-v17