Admission and Unit Information - Master of Building Surveying

This unit introduces the role and functions of the building surveyor and the National Construction Code of Australia (NCCA). The topics include building legislation, NCCA general provisions, structure and philosophy. Students are required to understand the objectives, the function statements and the performance requirements of various sections of Volume One of NCCA. The concept of performance based approach is discussed and compared with the prescriptive approach. The content covers the relationship between research in the development of building codes and the role played by approval/certifying authorities in building assessment and approval. Legal obligations of building surveyors, their tasks of assessment, enforcement and documentation are also explained.

The unit introduces students to the basic principles of fire behaviour and fire safety design so that they can appreciate fire safety systems and interpret fire safety engineering design concepts. The unit covers the basics of combustion, building fire characteristics, smoke movement, responses of fire safety devices, building fire resistance, response of building occupants, fire safety engineering design and assessment methodology. The unit provides the basis for understanding fire safety engineering and the techniques and tools used in fire safety engineering.

This unit describes the various types and application of building services and fire safety systems. It introduces appropriate standards for building fire service system design and the methods of applying recommendations of fire engineering assessments with respect to building services and fire safety systems.

This unit describes the general planning issues relevant to developments in rural and urban areas. The content covers the factors important in determining the allocation and use of land and resources together with the contributions of development to the built and natural environment. Topics include: urban and rural design issues; the impact of the 3 tiers of Government process on development control, and the legal, political and technical issues relevant to impact assessments. Particular attention will be paid to the role of the private sector in developing controls, self regulation and appeal processes. Planning in both the micro and macro environments is examined in the context of sustainability, heritage values, community resources and its strategic effects on the recycling of existing land and non-renewable natural resources. Hazardous environments such as bush fires, floods, landslip and cyclone are also considered.

This unit describes and analyses the technological, socio-economic and sustainability factors that influence the building industry. The topics include advances in contemporary issues affecting sustainability and energy conservation, access and adaptable housing, safety in special areas and building design in accordance with the relevant legislative requirements. Use of assessment tools for sustainability is covered. Discussions are also made on development management, the roles and the relationship between building owners /occupiers, developers and building surveyors.

This unit is a problem based project unit. Students are expected to conduct self studies under supervision by academic staff. Students will identify research topics in consultation with supervisors, carry out literature survey in the fields of engineering and building construction, define research objectives and scope, establish research methodology and prepare a research plan.

This unit is a continuation of unit Master Project 1 and is a problem based project unit. Students are expected to conduct self studies under supervision by academic staff and deliver the final outcomes of the research topics that are proposed in Master Project 1. Students will employ the identified methodologies to carry out the research plans and fulfill the research objectives with the defined scope. Each individual student is required to produce an oral presentation and a final written report in the fields of engineering and building construction. Students will acquire problem solving skills in this unit.

The aim of this unit is to provide students with an understanding of the factors that contribute to decisions in building design in respect of compliance with building regulations and standards. Topics include soil classification for construction, footing systems, loadings and their evaluation, structural materials and systems, structural behaviour and strength, and failure and rectification.

This unit describes the basis for the design and construction of buildings to withstand bushfire attack, the measures that can be incorporated into building design to achieve this and the legislative building requirements affecting bushfire environments. The unit examines the mechanisms of bushfire attack on structures, the role of landscaping on building survival and how materials perform in the presence of a bushfire event. The unit describes the role of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and Australian Standards in the construction of various building types and the legislative and regulatory environment in which this operates.