Unit Outline
KGG320
Surveying Principles and Practice
Semester 2, 2026
Rachael Hurd
School of Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences
Sciences and Engineering (Portfolio)
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B
Unit Coordinator
Rachael Hurd
Email: Rachael.Hurd@utas.edu.au
 
What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
This is the third and capstone unit in a series developing student competencies in surveying practice. In this unit, you will learn more details about the various types of work undertaken by the surveying profession and the role of surveyors in society. You will learn the principles of sound professional practice in surveying and be introduced to aspects of survey tasks beyond the technical, such as project planning, accountability for work practices and professional ethics. During semester, you will attend seminars from guest presenters where you will gain real-world insight into the roles of surveyors in industry and society. In some cases the guest practitioners may invite the class to visit them at a work-site to provide a deeper level of exposure to the field-based aspects of surveying practice. At the end of this unit, you should have a strong appreciation for the many career pathways open to you upon graduation e.g. cadastral surveying, engineering/construction surveying, industrial surveying, hydrographic surveying, mining surveying and geodetic surveying. This unit also has a strong focus on further development of practical skills and ability to apply them to real-world projects. In the practical classes this semester, you will be given hypothetical client requests and asked to develop practical and professional solutions based on your previously acquired knowledge of spatial measurement techniques, instrumentation and software and with consideration for the theoretical components of this unit. The data from your practical work will be analysed and presented using programmable hand-held calculators and specialist survey software.
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
Appraise a range of surveying methodologies to determine the most appropriate technique for specialist surveying problems.
2
Apply best-practice procedures in survey data collection and processing to address complex surveying tasks.
3
Evaluate survey measurement techniques and results with respect to industry standards.
4
Explain the role of a surveyor across a range of industry applications.
Requisites
REQUISITE TYPE
REQUISITES
Pre-requisite
KGG220 AND KGG370
Alterations as a result of student feedback
Assessment instructions and rubrics have been clarified.
The format of the review of the profession task has been changed.
Interim and final deadlines for assessments have been reviewed.
 
 
Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
On Campus
Workshop
Small-class sessions to work with academic staff and industry guests to develop depth understanding of activities undertaken by surveyors using WIL experiences/discussions
2
Weekly
Practical
On-campus group fieldwork and computational analysis of data.
3
Weekly
Tutorial
Practice and development of field and computational skills required for assessments
1
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.
Workshops, practical and tutorial classes are designed to develop and deepen your technical and prfoessional skills and knowledge. Work undertaken in these classes forms the basis of most of your assessments - attendance is essential (unless you are unwell).
You must attend the exam 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:
Engineering Surveying Practical Report
Week 8
20 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:
Review of the Surveying Industry
Week 12
20 %
LO1, LO4
Assessment Task 3:
Cadastral and Detail Surveying Practical Report
Week 13
20 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 4:
Practical Test
Week 13
10 %
LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 5:
Written Exam
Exam Period
30 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
 
Assessment details
Assessment Task 1: Engineering Surveying Practical Report
Task Description:
Over 5-6 weeks of practical classes, you will work in groups to design and undertake fieldwork for an engineering survey involving control, detail and set-out survey fieldwork. During these practical classes you will also work individually to process, analyse and map your group's collected data. Specialist surveying software will be used for this part of the project.

Your individual submissions will be a professionally formatted report containing explanations for the chosen field and office work methodologies with regard to the surveying standards, plus your own data analysis and discussion of the outcomes of your project.
Task Length:
Submission is a report of approx 1,000 words plus diagrams, tables, survey plans, etc. as appropriate
Due Date:
Week 8 (31/Aug/2026)
Weight:
20 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Design a survey fieldwork and computational plan for a given project brief.
LO1
2
Apply field techniques as described in your survey plan.
LO2
3
Apply data reduction and computational procedures as described in your plan.
LO2
4
Assess the results of your survey against industry standards and the project brief.
LO1, LO3
 
Assessment Task 2: Review of the Surveying Industry
Task Description:
During semester you will attend weekly workshops which include a series of guest seminars and site-visits presented by members of the local surveying industry to provide an overview of their specialist roles.

In Part A you will compile notes from the workshops and from independent research to summarise (~1 page per specialisation) the key aspects of the various roles of professionals in surveying (more details will be provided in the assessment instructions).

In Part B, you will expand on the information provided in Part A to communicate your personal view of the surveying industry, its scope, current development trajectory, and the changing role of surveyors in society. This part of your submission will take the form of a reflective summary and will be written from your own perspective and in your own 'voice'. (more details will be provided in the assessment instructions).
Task Length:
Part A - Summary of specialist areas in the profession (~ 7 pages) Part B - Reflective commentary on the surveying profession (~ 2 pages). This assessment will submitted as a Microsoft Sway presentation.
Due Date:
Week 12 (02/Oct/2026)
 
Weight:
20 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Summarise the methodologies employed by surveyors in a range of specialisation
LO1
2
Explain the breadth of activities that are undertaken by surveyors
LO1, LO4
3
Explain the impacts of change across a variety of specialisations within the surveying industry
LO4
4
Explain the role of surveyors in society
LO4
 
Assessment Task 3: Cadastral and Detail Surveying Practical Report
Task Description:
Over 4-5 weeks of practical classes, you will work in groups to undertake a cadastral and detail survey of a block of land in response to a client brief. During these practical classes you will also individually complete survey reductions and create plans from your collected data. Specialist surveying software will be used for this part of the assessment.

Your individual submission will be a professionally formatted report containing explanations for the chosen field and office work methodologies with regard to survey standards, plus professionally drafted cadastral and detail survey plans and associated information.
Task Length:
Submission is a report of approx 1,000 words plus diagrams, tables, survey plans, etc. as appropriate
Due Date:
Week 13 (05/Oct/2026)
Weight:
20 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Design a cadastral survey that meets the client brief.
LO1
2
Collect survey data in a professional and ethical manner.
LO2, LO3
3
Evaluate survey data to determine location of title boundaries
LO2, LO3
4
Assess survey results against industry standards.
LO3
5
Compile cadastral survey results in a professional manner.
LO2
6
Compile detail survey data using specialist software to create a plan.
LO2
 
Assessment Task 4: Practical Test
Task Description:
You will complete survey observations and calculator-based data reductions to solve a given problem in a closed-book and time-restricted setting.

The test will be undertaken in small groups. You group allocation and start time will be provided closer to the date.
Task Length:
1-hour field observations and computations to complete a given survey task.
Due Date:
Week 13 (08/Oct/2026)
Weight:
10 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Collect data using specialist survey equipment.
LO2
2
Collect data using standard survey techniques.
LO2
3
Evaluate and correct the errors in collected survey data.
LO2, LO3
 
 
Assessment Task 5: Written Exam
Task Description:
In this written exam you will answer questions related to all aspects of the unit content including seminars, workshops, practicals and tutorials.
Task Length:
2-hour written, in-person, closed-book exam
Due Date:
Exam Period
Weight:
30 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Articulate the role of surveyors across a range of applications
LO4
2
Explain best-practice survey techniques for a range of applications
LO1
3
Compute survey information from provided data
LO2, LO3
4
Develop a solution to a given problem that incorporates best-practice surveying methodologies.
LO2
5
Explain the role of professional ethics in the work of a surveyor.
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 exam 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.
 
Review of results and appeals
You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions 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
 
Recommended reading materials
 
 
Other required resources
Students are required to have an app (or HP calculator) and associated survey software extension. Information will be provided in MyLo prior to the start of semester regarding how to access these resources if students do not already have them.