Unit Outline

This geospatial project unit allows you to undertake a significant investigative project in a chosen field within the broad discipline of geospatial science. This will be achieved via guidance of the unit coordinator and unit materials. Through this project, you will gain insight into project management skills including project design, methods development, data collection, data management and analysis, client/supervisor meetings, report writing and presentation. You will undertake your project under the direct supervision of one or more academic staff from the School of Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences.

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	Implement a geospatial problem-based method in response to information gained from relevant literature and expert advice.
2	Evaluate the effectiveness of the chosen methodology to address the project aim and objectives.
3	Communicate the results in the context of previous work and/or industry standards and specifications.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	Any 2 intermediate level geospatial units plus any 2 advanced level geospatial units

Alterations as a result of student feedback

The Project Management Portfolio assessment task has been simplified removing the need for a separate literature review. All review material is now incorporated into the Project Progress Report (due in Week 7) to allow incorporation of feedback prior to completion of the final Project Summary (due in Week 14).

Teaching arrangements


ATTENDANCE MODE	TEACHING TYPE	LEARNING ACTIVITY	CONTACT HOURS	FREQUENCY
On Campus	Seminar	Weekly 1 hour seminars delivered on campus in weeks 1-5 and 11 of semester (6 x 1 hour seminars in total).	1	Study Period 6 times
	Project	Weekly half hourly supervisor meetings (in person or online) in weeks 2 to 13 (12 x 0.5 hour meetings in total)	0.50	StudyPeriod 12 times
	Independent Learning	Self-scheduled independent study / project work of approximately 10 hours per week.	10	Weekly
Online	Lecture (Online)	Weekly 1 hour seminars delivered in weeks 1-5 and 11 of semester (6 x 1 hour seminars in total). Zoom link will be provided in MyLO.	1	Study Period 6 times
	Project	Weekly half hourly supervisor meetings (in person or online) in weeks 2 to 13 (12 x 0.5 hour meetings in total)	0.50	StudyPeriod 12 times
	Independent Learning	Self-scheduled independent study / project work of approximately 10 hours per week.	10	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.

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:	Meeting Journal	Week 14	0 %	LO1
Assessment Task 2:	Project Summary	Week 14	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Project Presentation	Week 14	30 %	LO1, LO3
Assessment Task 4:	Project Management Portfolio	Refer to Assessment Description	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Meeting Journal

Task Description:

Regular meetings with your project supervisor are cirtical and, at each meeting, you are expected to keep notes on what was discussed. This journal is where those notes will be collated and your submission will be used to evaluate your engagement with the project and your communication and note taking abilities.

Task Length:

2-3 sentences summarising each meeting (therefore ~300-500 words)

Due Date:

Week 14 (27/Oct/2025)

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Submit a completed supervisor checklist/meeting log containing detailed descriptions of weekly milestones and discussion points	LO1

Assessment Task 2: Project Summary

Task Description:

Your Project Summary concisely documents the work undertaken in a formal professional/scientific format. Your project summary is expected to be divided into concise sections, with a flexible structure to cater for diverse projects. Some may choose a "letters" style paper format while others may choose a professional project summary (such as what might be provided by a consultant at the conclusion of a project). The different types of Project Summary that you may choose will be discussed during a seminar at the start of the unit. Your Project Summary will build on the Project Progress Report submitted in Week 7, taking advantage of feedback received from the Unit Coordinator. It is expected that you will provide a draft of your Project Summary to your supervisor by the end of week 12 at the latest so that they can provide feedback prior to your final submission.
Further detail regarding the acceptable use of generative AI will be provided at the start of the unit.

Task Length:

~10-15 pages of written text including an executive summary, review, methods, results, findings and recommendations in addition to some key figures that summarise your results.

Due Date:

Week 14 (27/Oct/2025)

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Apply theoretical knowledge and understanding of the project topic	LO1, LO3
2	Describe your research aims and methods	LO1, LO2
3	Synthesise, analyse, and evaluate data	LO2, LO3
4	Communicate your research findings in a professional written format	LO3

Assessment Task 3: Project Presentation

Task Description:

The project presentation can be undertaken in a range of formats to suit the specific project topic. Examples include a recorded presentation or vlog (~12 mins talk time) and must include pptx or equivalent with detailed notes pages for each slide, a recorded demonstration (with detailed notes), or a notebook describing your code and how to use it (e.g. Jupyter, Matlab Live). The presentation must summarise all aspects of the project.
Further detail regarding acceptable formats and the acceptable use of generative AI within your project presentation will be provided at the start of the unit.

Precise schedule of presentations will be advised in Week 13.

Task Length:

Equivalent to a ~12 min oral presentation but may take various forms (see Description of Assessment Task).

Due Date:

Week 14 (29/Oct/2025)

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Present your project in an engaging manner that is appropriate to your chosen topic	LO3
2	Describe the key elements of the project in a manner appropriate to the chosen topic	LO1, LO3

Assessment Task 4: Project Management Portfolio

Task Description:

The assessment includes a portfolio of work spanning all aspects of your project management:
Project Contract (week 2, worth 10% of this assessment), completed once you have a project topic and supervisor.
Project Outline (week 3, worth 30% of this assessment), provides and overview of the project including key milestones and deliverables.
Project Progress Report (week 7, worth 60% of this assessment), provides summary of key progress made including a draft Project Summary that includes review, methods and early results.
Proformas for the portfolio and further detail on the acceptable use of generative AI will be provided at the start of the unit.

Project Contract due Midnight, Friday 01/08/2025 (end of week 2)
Project Outline due Midnight, Friday 08/08/2025 (end of week 3)
Project Progress Report due 9 am, Monday 08/09/2025 (start of week 7)

Task Length:

Project Contract: 1 page Project Outline: 2-3 pages Project Progress Report: 6-10 pages

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description (01/Aug/2025)

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Document a clear and maturing research plan, and provide justification for the project design including a record of supervisor discussions and plan changes	LO1, LO3
2	Present a literature review that addresses the majority of the relevant literature, and provide some synthesis of the collected information.	LO1, LO2
3	Clearly outline the methodology chosen to address the project aims and justify any choices of analysis techniques and data sources	LO1, LO2
4	Clearly define and articulate project aims and objectives	LO1

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.