Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2025
Course Code: GEOM5181C
Course Title: Perform simple surveying and spatial computations
School: 530T Built Environment and Sustainability
Campus: City Campus
Program: C4417 - Certificate IV in Surveying and Spatial Information Services
Course Contact: Matthew Sweeney
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4105
Course Contact Email: matthew.sweeney@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Dr Indira Wittamperuma
Surveying and Spatial Educator
Building, Surveying & Land Management
Built Environment & Sustainability
RMIT University
College of Vocational Education
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Email: indira.wittamperuma@rmit.edu.au
Phone: +61399254176
Nominal Hours: 100
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
None
Course Description
In this course you will develop the skills and knowledge required to perform simple computations used in surveying and spatial information services. This includes computations and conversions based on algebra, geometry, trigonometry and statistics. Computations are done on simple regular geometric figures, traverses, angles, bearings, distances, plane coordinates, heights, perimeter and area.
This course is suitable for surveying or spatial information services assistants working under supervision to perform simple computations associated with field work and data collection. Individuals use cognitive, technical and communication skills to select and apply a range of methods, tools, materials and information to complete routine activities and provide solutions to predictable and sometimes unpredictable problems.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
CPPSSI3020 Perform simple surveying and spatial computations |
Element: |
1. Prepare for simple surveying computations |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Identify computational requirements for surveying and spatial tasks. 1.2 Interpret computational data provided in diagrammatic form. 1.3 Select appropriate tool, handheld device or computer software appropriate for computational task requirements. |
Element: |
2. Calculate simple surveying data |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Perform computations on angles and bearings using a calculator or surveying computations program. 2.2 Apply the basic concepts of algebra, geometry and trigonometry to plane geometry and simple regular figures. 2.3 Perform calculations relating to geometric figures, areas, angles, bearings, distances, traverses, plane coordinates, heights, perimeters and statistics. 2.4 Perform conversions between polar and rectangular coordinates. 2.5 Perform computations on the coordinates of a simple closed traverse |
Element: |
3. Finalise work processes |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Systematically and legibly lay out computations according to organisational requirements and industry-accepted methods. 3.2 Record computations and results in an appropriate format according to organisational requirements. 3.3 Develop and implement checks to identify errors in computations. 3.4 Finalise computations and conversions and confirm their accuracy |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate competency in the above elements.
Details of Learning Activities
This will include:
- Use the appropriate tools, such as a calculator and computer software, for computations.
- Perform calculations on angles and bearings with a programmable calculator.
- Apply basic algebra, geometry, and trigonometry concepts to plane geometry and simple shapes.
- Calculate properties of geometric figures, such as areas, angles, distances, bearings, perimeters, and statistics.
- Convert between polar and rectangular coordinates.
- Calculate coordinates for a simple closed traverse.
- Record all computations and results.
- Develop checks to identify errors in calculations.
- Confirm the accuracy of all computations and conversions.
The total number of scheduled hours of teaching, learning and assessment involved in this course includes all planned activities (face to face classes, lectures, workshops and seminars; workplace visits, online learning and other forms of structured teaching and learning). It also covers the amount of effort necessary to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, observation of work performance, discussions with supervisors and others providing third party evidence and one on one and group assessment sessions with students.
Teaching Schedule
Session/Date |
Theme |
Assessments |
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Session One 14-20 July |
Introduction to Course content and Assessments In this session you will be introduced to HP Prime Calculator and its operations and basic Trigonometry along with an outline of the assessment requirements. You will also complete a simple Class Activity in class followed by question-and-answer opportunities |
Assessment 1 Release Date: 14 Jul 2025 |
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Session Two 21-27 July |
Introductions to Bearings and angles In this session you will be introduced to the Whole Circle Bearings & Quadrant Bearings and learn how to compute the sum of internal angles of polygons. At the end of this session, you will complete a class activity |
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Session Three 28 July - 3 August |
Bearing computation In this session, you will learn how to compute bearings from deflection & internal angles. At the end of this session, you will complete a class activity |
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Session Four 4-10 August |
Coordinate systems & Computation In this session, you will be introduced to Polar & Rectangular coordinate systems and their coordinate conversions. At the end of this session, you will complete a class activity |
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Session Five 11-17 August |
Coordinate Computation & Bowditch corrections In this session, you will learn how to compute unadjusted coordinates and then compute adjusted coordinates by applying Bowditch Rule. you will also learn how to compute the area of a closed traverse. At the end of this session, you will complete a class activity. |
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Session Six 18-24 August |
Area computation & Liscad Introduction In this session you will be learning area computation using adjusted coordinates. Further, in this session, you will be introduced to Liscad Software |
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Session Seven 25-31 August |
Class Activities In this session, you will complete a number of mixed-class activities including, Polar to rectangular coordinate computation, unadjusted and adjusted coordinates computation. Further you will be completing a number of activities based on the Liscad software |
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Mid-semester break 1-7 September |
The Mid-semester break is a scheduled break in the semester. No teaching or assessment will occur during this time. Also, your Trainer/Assessor won't be available during this time. If you need to contact them, please email them via your student email account, and they will respond once they return from the break. Semester 2 census date 01 Sep 2025 |
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Session Eight 8-14 September |
Assessment 1: Part 1 - Prepare for simple surveying computations In this session, you will be introduced to the assessment instructions and what is required to successfully complete the project. This requirement will be marked using the observation checklist. It is required that you demonstrate each skill to a satisfactory level to pass this component. |
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Session Nine 15-21 September |
Assessment 1: Part 2 - Calculate simple surveying data In this session, you will be required to carry out all activities associated with the assessment. To complete this assessment, you will be required to work individually. |
Assessment 1 Due Date: 21 Sep 2025 |
| Session Ten
22-28 September |
Assessment 1: Part 3 – Knowledge Questions and Finalisation of the assessment In this session you will finalise the project and all written requirements. The written work completed in this session will be compiled into a project report and submitted along with the knowledge questions prior to the due date. AFL Grand Final public holiday (Friday) 26 Sep 2025 |
Assessment 2 Release Date: 22 Sep 2025 |
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Session Eleven 29 September - 5 October |
Traverse computation In this session, you will be introduced to open traverse computation including unadjusted and adjusted coordinates and complete a number of class activities. |
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Session Twelve 6-12 October |
Traverse computation In this session, you will be introduced to open traverse computation including unadjusted and adjusted coordinates and complete a number of class activities. |
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Session Thirteen 13-19 October |
Assessment 2: Part 1 – Prepare for simple surveying computations In this session, you will be introduced to the assessment instructions and what is required to successfully complete the project. This requirement will be marked using the observation checklist. It is required that you demonstrate each skill to a satisfactory level to pass this component. |
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Session Fourteen 20-26 October |
Assessment 2: Part 2 – Calculate simple surveying data In this session, you will be required to carry out all activities associated with the assessment. To complete this assessment, you will be required to work individually. |
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Session Fifteen 27 October- 2 November |
Assessment 2: Part 3 – Knowledge Questions and Finalisation of the assessment In this session you will finalise the project and all written requirements. The written work completed in this session will be compiled into a project report and submitted along with the knowledge questions prior to the due date. |
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Session Sixteen 3-9 November |
Assessment 2: Part 3 – Knowledge Questions and Finalisation of the assessment (Continuation) Melbourne Cup Day public holiday (Tuesday) 04 Nov 2025 |
Assessment 1 Due: 02 Nov 2025 |
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Session Seventeen 10-16 November |
Revision and feedback on work completed |
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Session Eighteen 17-23 November |
Assessment marking and finalising results | |
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01 December |
Important: It is your responsibility to check your results on this date. Your official results for this course will be released on this date. Your teacher will not inform you of your final result. It will only be available via My Student Record on RMIT's website. It is not your Trainer/Assessors responsibility to let you know your final result. Your teacher will not be available to comment on your assessment or final results from 18-24 Nov - 07 Dec 2025. After this date, you can contact them to talk about your final result if you need it. |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
Students will be able to access course information and learning materials through the Learning Hub and may be provided with additional materials in class. Lists of relevant reference books, resources in the library and accessible Internet sites will be provided where possible. You will also use equipment and software packages in the laboratory for the project work. During the course, you will be directed to websites to enhance your knowledge and understanding of difficult concepts
Check the Library Subject Guides: http://rmit.libguides.com/geospatial
Accessed Via the RMIT Library Link:
Overview of Assessment
Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Your knowledge and understanding of course content is assessed through participation in class exercises, oral presentations and through the application of learned skills and insights to your written tasks. Full assessment briefs will be provided and can be found on CANVAS.
Assessment Tasks
|
Assessment Name |
Description |
Release Date |
Due Date |
| Assessment 1: Traverse Calculation | Plan and execute the entire process of performing traverse calculations. |
14 Jul 2025 | 21 Sep 2025 |
| Assessment 2: Coordinate Calculation | Plan and execute the entire process of performing coordinate calculations. | 22 Sep 2025 | 08 June 2025 |
Assessment Matrix
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Element |
Performance criteria |
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Assessment Task 1: Traverse Calculations |
Assessment Task 2: Coordinate Calculation |
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1.1 Identify computational requirements for surveying and spatial tasks. |
Part A (1.1) |
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1.2 Interpret computational data provided in diagrammatic form. |
Part A (1.2) |
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1.3 Select appropriate tool, handheld device or computer software appropriate for computational task requirements. |
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Part A (1.1) |
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2.1 Perform computations on angles and bearings using a calculator or surveying computations program. |
Part B (1.1) |
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2.2 Apply the basic concepts of algebra, geometry and trigonometry to plane geometry and simple regular figures. |
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Part B (1.1) Part B (1.2) |
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2.3 Perform calculations relating to geometric figures, areas, angles, bearings, distances, traverses, plane coordinates, heights, perimeters and statistics. |
Part B (1.2) |
Part B (1.1) Part B (1.3) |
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2.4 Perform conversions between polar and rectangular coordinates. |
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Part B (1.2) |
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2.5 Perform computations on the coordinates of a simple closed traverse |
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Part B (1.3) |
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3.1 Systematically and legibly lay out computations according to organisational requirements and industry-accepted methods. |
Part B (2.1) |
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3.2 Record computations and results in an appropriate format according to organisational requirements. |
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Part B (2.1) |
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3.3 Develop and implement checks to identify errors in computations. |
Part A (2.1) |
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3.4 Finalise computations and conversions and confirm their accuracy. |
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Part A (2.1) Part B (2.1) |
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Foundation Skills – This section is only completed when foundation are explicitly stated in the unit of competency. In most Training Packages the foundation skills are integrated into the unit of competency and this is clearly stated. |
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Performance Evidence | ||
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Assessment Task 1: Traverse Calculations |
Assessment Task 2: Coordinate Calculation |
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To demonstrate competency a candidate must meet the elements and performance criteria of this unit by accurately performing and checking simple computations, including: | ||
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Part B (1.2) |
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Part B (1.1) |
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Part B (1.1) and (1.2) |
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Part B (1.2) |
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Part B (1.1) |
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Part B (1.2) |
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Part B (1.3) |
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Part B (1.1) |
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Knowledge Evidence | |||
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KQ1 |
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KQ2 |
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Assessment conditions |
Describe how assessments meet the assessment conditions |
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Assessors must satisfy the requirements for assessors contained in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations.
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RMIT employment requires all trainers and assessors to comply with the Standards for RTOs in respect to holding the TAE40116, or higher VE qualification including any necessary updated units. All employees must show currency within their vocational specialty along with their professional employment. |
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Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting where these skills and knowledge would be performed.
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These activities have been carried out as roleplay in a simulated environment with students playing the role of surveyor and the assessor playing the role of survey manager |
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Candidates must have access to: scientific or programmable calculator or software applications |
As part of their standard learning resources students have been provided with HP Prime graphics calculators that have all the relevant programs pre-installed onto them
Student that doesn’t bring their calculator will have access to an HP Prime emulator that is on the computers in each lab
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Other Information
Attendance Requirement - 85% for all students.
Resubmission Policy:
To pass this course, students must achieve a Satisfactory (S) result for all their Assessments (and parts of those assessments).
Students who do not achieve a Satisfactory (S) result for their entire original submission for an Assessment will be provided with 1 (one) more submission opportunity (e.g. the resubmission) with a specific due date by their assessor. Students must achieve a Satisfactory (S) result on their resubmission for that Assessment, by the due date given to them by their Assessor.
Students who fail to submit their assessment by the due date will be issued a DNS (Did Not Submit) result which will not be overturned by teaching or managing staff. A DNS result will be overturned based on an approved Extension of Time or approved Special Consideration.
To be deemed Competency Achieved, students must achieve a satisfactory result in all assessment tasks. Students who fail to receive a Satisfactory result on all assessment tasks and have exhausted their resubmissions, extension of time applications, special consideration applications or Equitable Learning Plan provisions will be deemed as Not Yet Competent.
Credit Transfer and/or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
You may be eligible for credit towards courses in your program if you have already met the learning/competency outcomes through previous learning and/or industry experience. To be eligible for credit towards a course, you must demonstrate that you have already completed learning and/or gained industry experience that is:
• Relevant
• Current
• Satisfies the learning/competency outcomes of the course
Please refer to the following link for more information about Credit Transfer and/or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/enrolment/credit
Study and learning Support:
Study and Learning Centre (SLC) provides free learning and academic development advice to you.
Services offered by SLC to support your numeracy and literacy skills are:
• Assignment writing, thesis writing and study skills advice
• Maths and Science developmental support and advice
• English language development
Please refer to the following link for more information about study and learning support:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/studyandlearningcentre
Equitable Learning Services (ELS):
If you are suffering from long-term medical condition or disability, you should contact Equitable Learning Services (ELS) to seek advice and support to complete your studies.
Please refer to the following link for more information about equitable learning services:
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/support-and-facilities/student-support/equitable-learning-services
Late submission:
If you require an Extension of Submittable Work (assignments, reports or project work etc.) for 7 calendar days or less (from the original due date) and have valid reasons, you must complete and lodge an Application for Extension of Submittable Work (7 Calendar Days or less) form and lodge it with the Senior Educator/ Program Manager.
The application must be lodged no later than one working day before the official due date. You will be notified within no more than 2 working days of the date of lodgement as to whether the extension has been granted.
If you seek an Extension of Submittable Work for more than 7 calendar days (from the original due date) must lodge an Application for Special Consideration form under the provisions of the Special Consideration Policy, preferably prior to, but no later than 2 working days after the official due date.
Submittable Work (assignments, reports or project work etc.) submitted late without approval of an extension will not be accepted or marked.
Special consideration:
Please refer to the following link for more information about special considerations:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is a form of cheating, and it is very serious academic offence that may lead to expulsion from the University.
Please refer to the following link for more information about plagiarism:
www.rmit.edu.au/academicintegrity
All email communications will be sent to your RMIT email address, and you must regularly check your RMIT emails.
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