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

Assessment instructions have been revised/clarified.

More class time available to introduce new software.

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. The tutorial sessions provide your primary opportunity for supported learning in the use of 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.
Practical and tutorial classes will develop and deepen your technical skills and work undertaken in these sessions forms the basis of most of your assessments - attendance in these class is essential (unless you are unwell).

You must attend the quizzes and practical test in person in order to meet the Lane 1 assurance of learning requirements of the unit.

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 7	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Practical Test	Week 13	15 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 3:	Computational Assignment	Week 13	15 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 4:	Control Traverse & Detail Survey	Week 13	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 5:	Quizzes	Refer to Assessment Description	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Precise Heighting Surveys

Task Description:

Over a series of 4 practical classes you will use advanced equipment to collect field survey data using three heighting techniques. You will then apply advanced computational techniques to reduce the data and determine height values at a series of common points. Error analysis of the survey results will be undertaken after the field work and reductions have been completed. During the practicals you will also be asked technical questions to assess your practical knowledge in the field. You will submit a report in which you compare and contrast the results acquired using each of the 3 techniques to determine the heights of a series of marks. You will also be required to assess your work against the surveying standards. This will be an individual submission in which you communicate your own individual results and analysis of the collected data and techniques.

Task Length:

Submission for this assessment is a Survey Report. The report will comprise of approximately 4–6 pages of written information, computations and drawings plus appendices as required/requested. During the practical classes each student will also be assessed on their practical knowledge via verbal answers to technical questions – the result of this oral test will be documented in the results and is a hurdle for this assessment.

Due Date:

Week 7

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: Practical Test

Task Description:

You will be required to undertake in‑field total station observations and perform survey computations using a calculator. This work will be closed‑book and completed in a 1‑hour time‑frame.

The test will run in small groups - your group allocation and start time will be published in Mylo closer to the date

Task Length:

60 mins to undertake total station observations and calculator computations to complete a given task.

Due Date:

Week 13 (07/Oct/2026)

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 3: Computational Assignment

Task Description:

This task is designed to assess your understanding of datums used in surveying and your ability to perform coordinate calculations, reduction of observations to ellipsoids, and computations on MGA2020 grid. Some of the AT 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 13

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 4: 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 survey. During the practicals you will also be asked technical questions to assess your practical knowledge in the field. Upon completion of field data collection, you will have 2 weeks of lab practicals to individually reduce your survey data and to create a survey plan. Your submission for this assessment will be a short, written report outlining the survey and computational methodology used (and its relationship to survey standards) plus the results and analysis of your data. This will be an individual submission in which you communicate your own individual results and analysis.

Task Length:

In class activities: ~9 hrs off-campus fieldwork, ~6 hrs data reduction, plan production and analysis. Submission for this assessment is a Survey Report. The report will comprise of approximately 4–6 pages of written information, computations and drawings plus appendices as required/requested. During the practical classes each student will also be assessed on their practical knowledge via verbal answers to technical questions – the result of this oral test will be documented in the results and is a hurdle for this assessment.

Due Date:

Week 13

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 5: Quizzes

Task Description:

Quizzes will be held during the tutorial sessions in weeks 4, 8 and 12. Each quiz contributes 10% to the unit's marks.

Week 4 Quiz: Adjustment, Calibration & Heighting
Week 8 Quiz: Standards, Heighting, Control Surveys (traversing)
Week 12 Quiz: Control Surveys (other methods), Datums & Detail Surveys

Task Length:

3 × 1 hour, in‑class, closed‑book, MyLO 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.

The quizzes and practical test form the Lane 1 assurance of learning tasks in this unit. The practical test is also a hurdle task for the unit.

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