Students

GEOP8030 – Smart Urbanism

2022 – Session 2, Online-flexible

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Jessica McLean
Room 444, 25B Wally's Walk
Tuesdays 10am-11.30am, or by appointment over email
Lecturer
Elizabeth Adamczyk
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MEnvEd or MEngMgt or MEnvMgt or MEnvStud or MPlan or GradCertEnvPlan or MEnvPlan or MSusDev or MPH or MWldMgt or MEnv or GradDipEnv or GradCertSusDev or GradDipSusDev or GradCertSIA or GradDipSIA or GradCertEnvPlan or MConsBiol or GradDipConsBiol or MDevStud or MPPPMDevStud or MPASRMDevStud or MSc in Remote Sensing and GIS
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Visions and practices of smart urbanism are rapidly gaining traction across Australia and around the world. The integration of digital technologies with buildings, environments, networked infrastructures and people is reconfiguring urban spaces while cities are developing smart city plans and strategies to shape their future development. This unit explores the emergence of smart urbanism in relation to infrastructure, governance and everyday life. It considers how ideas of smart urbanism are mobilised in theory and practice and the implications for ethics, sustainability, equity and citizen engagement. Contemporary examples of smart urbanism in sectors such as housing, transport and urban greening are used to highlight key planning debates. Overall, students will gain insights and practical knowledge of how cities are shaped by the relationships between digital technologies, people and places.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Identify and critique the adoption of digital technologies within and across cities
  • ULO2: Analyse and evaluate smart city plans, policies and projects
  • ULO3: Critically assess the implications of smart urbanism for people, places and environments
  • ULO4: Apply concepts of smart urbanism to a range of case studies

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Submission Penalty  

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.    

This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Quizzes 20% No 11.55 12/8/2022; 11.55 09/09/2022; 11.55 14/10/2022
City profile 40% No 11.55 02/09/2022
Smart urbanism essay 40% No 11.55 28/10/2022

Quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 11.55 12/8/2022; 11.55 09/09/2022; 11.55 14/10/2022
Weighting: 20%

 

3 quizzes across the semester, drawing on key concepts from the unit

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and critique the adoption of digital technologies within and across cities
  • Critically assess the implications of smart urbanism for people, places and environments

City profile

Assessment Type 1: Media presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 11.55 02/09/2022
Weighting: 40%

 

A digital output that analyses and evaluates smart urbanism policy and practice in a case study city.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and critique the adoption of digital technologies within and across cities
  • Analyse and evaluate smart city plans, policies and projects
  • Apply concepts of smart urbanism to a range of case studies

Smart urbanism essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 11.55 28/10/2022
Weighting: 40%

 

2000 word essay that critically assesses the implications of smart urbanism for people, places and environments

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and critique the adoption of digital technologies within and across cities
  • Critically assess the implications of smart urbanism for people, places and environments
  • Apply concepts of smart urbanism to a range of case studies

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

GEOP8030 Smart Urbanism will be delivered as seminars on campus Mondays 2-5pm in 207 Tutorial Room, 25A Wally's Walk.  External students will engage with learning and teaching activities at times that work for them. Approximately 1 hour of the seminar will be recorded for online students. Online students will listen to the recording (1 hour) and complete structured activities online (2 hours). It is important to note that all students have the same submission times and dates for assessments. 

The unit will be taught through 13 weekly themes.  Each week students are expected to complete the assigned readings for that theme prior to class, and engage in online or face-to-face discussions, activities and reflections to deepen their learning.  The internal and external learning modes involve a mix of activities including lectures and discussion-based activities (debates, Q&A, role play). 

Assessments will be worked on during the seminars and in online activities so that you are supported in achieving your learning outcomes. Feedback will be given as you develop draft assessments over the semester. The total workload for the unit is estimated to be 150 hours.

GEOP8030 will make use of web-based teaching support through iLearn. Students will require access to the internet and regular contact with the unit’s iLearn site where all key components of the unit will be stored, including links to readings (via Leganto), and assessment submission links. To complete assignments students will need access to basic word processing programmes, access to library resources, and internet access to submit assignments via iLearn. 

Unit Schedule

Week/date

Topic

Facilitator

 

1

What is smart urbanism? Putting the smart and the urban in the picture

JM

2

Considering the ‘urban’ in smart urbanism

EA

3

Digital place-making

JM

4

Comparing smart cities in Australia

EA

5

Universities as smart cities

JM

6

The feel of smart cities: a new urban aesthetic?

JM

7

Smart urban natures

JM

8

City profile: Working on your assessments

EA

9

No class - Labour Day

No class

10

Alternative smart cities

EA

11

‘Smart’ citizens in smart cities

EA

12

Sharing and working on draft Smart urbanism essays

JM

 13

Smart urban futures? And Digital shadows

JM

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes from Previous Offering

This is the first time that this unit will be offered.


Unit information based on version 2022.02 of the Handbook