Course Title: Carry out site investigation

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2008

Course Code: CIVE5563

Course Title: Carry out site investigation

School: 130T Infra, Electrotec & Build Serv

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6066 - Advanced Diploma of Civil Engineering (Structural Design)

Course Contact : Tony Skinner Program Coordinator

Course Contact Phone: (03) 9925 4444

Course Contact Email:tony.skinner@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Program Coordinator:
Mr Tony Skinner
Tel. 9925 4444
Fax. 99254377
Email: tony.skinner@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 40

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

EDX010 - Communicate and apply standard industry procedures and policies in an engineering design office.

Course Description

This unit covers the competency to carry out site investigation in accordance with the Australian Standard AS 1726

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	EDC010 Carry out site investigation
Element:	Carry out field and laboratory tests and classify the soil in accordance with the Unified Soil Classification System
Performance Criteria:	1.1 The stages of various civil projects are recorded and the role of the site investigation can be explained. 1.2 Field testing techniques and their correlation to established data can be explained. 1.3 Laboratory tests are performed to AS 1726 and from the tests, the soils is classified in accordance with the Unified Classification System. 1.4 Test results are presented in a written report.
Element:	Carry out site Investigations using geological and geophysical methods
Performance Criteria:	2.1 The sequence of tasks in the performance of a site investigation for a particular project is listed. 2.2 The nature and extent of s site investigation is determined according to risk assessment and the project brief. 2.3 Geological and geophysical tests performed for a particular project are analysed and the results explained.
Element:	Collect samples from a site using sampling and drilling
Performance Criteria:	3.1 The stages of various civil projects are recorded and the role of the site investigation explained. 3.2 Equipment used for drilling and sampling can be listed and their functions described. 3.3 The relevance and application of various drilling and sampling techniques is explained. 3.4 Samples collected through drilling and field sampling are logged in accordance with AS 1726.
Element:	Demonstrate the application of field and laboratory testing, sampling, geophysical and geological methods to an approved large scale civil engineering project
Performance Criteria:	4.1 A large-scale civil engineering project is researched and relevant site investigation techniques explained in a technical report. 4.2 The relevance and application of site investigation plant and equipment can be clearly identified. 4.3 The critical stages of a project and the place of site investigation can be clearly identified.

Learning Outcomes

Carry out field and laboratory tests and classify the soil in accordance with the Unified Soil Classification System

Carry out site Investigations using geological and geophysical methods

Collect samples from a site using sampling and drilling

Demonstrate the application of field and laboratory testing, sampling, geophysical and geological methods to an approved large scale civil engineering project

Details of Learning Activities

Teacher-led :
* Explain the term ‘Site Investigation’ together with an overview of site investigation methods and their role at every stage of a Civil Engineering project.
* Explain the site investigation tasks carried out during an engineering project.
* Describe geological and geophysical testing methods.
* Explain and demonstrate field sampling methods and procedures.
* Demonstrate reporting soil classification reports.
* Illustrate the requirements for writing a technical report.
Student-based problem-solving :
Participate in individual problem solving activities completed to industry standard related to typical engineering workplace problems requiring:
• Calculation of moisture content in soil.
• Completing Atterberg Limits work sheet
• Completing Particle Size Distribution work sheet
• Writing report regarding soil test results
Lab work
Working in pairs students will demonstrate the classification tests (Atterberg Limits and Particle Size Distribution)

Teaching Schedule

See Online Learning Hub for details.

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

From online notes

References

• Manual of Soil Laboratory Testing Volume 1, K. H. Head, Pentech Press,
• Australian Standard 1726 – Geotechnical Site Investigations
• Australian Standard 1289 - Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes
• Australian Standard 1141 - Methods for sampling and testing of aggregates

Other Resources

Overview of Assessment

This unit will be assessed in the classroom and the laboratory environment using holistic assessment based on typical workplace activities.
Assessment Method
1. Exams/tests
2. Laboratory work, practical work/demonstration, submission of report
The format of the test will include case studies and scenarios based on typical workplace activities to support problem-based assessment of ability to accurately complete calculations to industry standards. The industry standards applied will reflect those stated in the curriculum document under the sub-heading: ‘Critical aspects of assessment’
Students will have access to manufacturer’s charts and a list of relevant formulae, equations and material constants.

Assessment Tasks

To achieve competence in this unit a student must demonstrate competence to industry standard in each element in terms of selected performance criteria and underpinning knowledge and skills.
A higher grading may be achieved by demonstrating competence in terms of additional performance criteria and underpinning knowledge and skills.

Context of assessment
This unit will be assessed in the classroom and the laboratory environment using holistic assessment based on typical workplace activities.
Assessment Method
1. Exams/tests
2. Laboratory work
3. Practical work/demonstration
The format of the test will include case studies and scenarios based on typical workplace activities to support problem-based assessment of ability to accurately complete calculations to industry standards. The industry standards applied will reflect those stated in the curriculum document under the sub-heading: ‘Critical aspects of assessment’

Students will have access to manufacturer’s charts and a list of relevant formulae, equations and material constants.

Assessment Matrix

Other Information

Prerequisite units comprise part of the underpinning knowledge and skills.
Understanding of the meaning of the term ‘Site Investigation’ in relation to engineering projects.
The stages in a Civil engineering project and the role of site investigation.
The tasks carried out in a site investigation and the sequencing of the tasks.
Geological and geophysical testing.
Drilling and field sampling in accordance with AS 1726.
The unified system of soil classification.
The application of report writing to soil test results.
The application of technical report writing and research skills to a long report.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview