Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2026 (23/02/2026 - 20/06/2026)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Civil Engineering School
This course covers the fundamentals of sustainable urban transport systems, including economics, energy, environmental and social factors, and safety of transport. Planning and design of infrastructure and vehicles, to support active travel, personal and goods movement, and public transport, are considered. These topics are critical to the successful planning and design of sustainable transport systems.
The transport system in Australia is unsustainable in its current form, with historically increasing detrimental impacts on theﾠeconomy, social outcomes, and the environment. This course provides students with tools to understand and measure these effects and to consider and evaluate transport investments that can result in more sustainable outcomes across these dimensions.ﾠ
Course requirements
Assumed background
Students must have completed the first required course in transport engineering (CIVL2420 or equivalent), and are expected to have completed an introductory course in probability and statistics (CIVL2530 or equivalent).
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
(CIVL2410 or CIVL2420) and (STAT2201 or CIVL2530)
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
CIVL4410, CIVL3420
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
1. Plan, design, and review the safe, economic, equitable, and environmentally sustainable operation of transport infrastructure and services for the movement of people.
2. Identify sustainable elements and approaches to analyse transport infrastructure, and use these skills to influence transport design and services.
3. Use analytical skills for an engineering and planning office that include the evaluation of the sustainability of transport investments, including identification of assumptions and limitations of these methods.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Explain the attributes of Australian transport infrastructure and identify sustainability challenges the infrastructure is facing.
LO2.
Identify critical sustainability outcomes of the transport system.
LO3.
Apply methods of engineering economics (time value of money) to evaluate transport costs and benefits.
LO4.
Assess transport externalities and the life-cycle and social costs of transport infrastructure.
LO5.
Define and measure accessibility of transport infrastructure in both physical and social contexts.
LO6.
Measure accessibility and describe how it varies across different transport modes and facilities.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tutorial/ Problem Set |
Transport Economic Assessment
|
20% |
27/03/2026 4:00 pm |
| Tutorial/ Problem Set |
Transport and Social Outcomes
|
20% |
1/05/2026 4:00 pm |
| Tutorial/ Problem Set |
Transport and Environmental Outcomes
|
20% |
29/05/2026 4:00 pm |
| Examination |
Final Examination
|
40% |
End of Semester Exam Period 6/06/2026 - 20/06/2026 |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Transport Economic Assessment
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
27/03/2026 4:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
This assessment explores the economics of transport project appraisal, including factors affecting costs and the economic, social, and environmental benefits.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
Students must get a minimum of 45% (a mark of 3) in the three projects as a whole (collectively).Submission guidelines
Submission will be made through TurnItIn, on the course Blackboard site.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Transport and Social Outcomes
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
1/05/2026 4:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06
Task description
This project will explore methods to evaluate the accessibility, equity, and safety outcomes of transport.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
Students must get a minimum of 45% (a mark of 3) in the three projects as a whole (collectively).Submission guidelines
Submission will be made through TurnItIn, on the course Blackboard site.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Transport and Environmental Outcomes
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
29/05/2026 4:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06
Task description
This project will consider transport project sustainability through the effects of transport on the environment, including climate change and severe weather.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
Students must get a minimum of 45% (a mark of 3) in the three projects as a whole (collectively).Submission guidelines
Submission will be made through TurnItIn, on the course Blackboard site.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Final Examination
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
6/06/2026 - 20/06/2026
- Other conditions
- Time limited, Secure.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06
Task description
The final examination is comprehensive and covers all course material. It will include short answer questions reflecting transport engineering and its associated economic, social, and environmental outcomes.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
Students must get a minimum of 45% (a mark of 3) in the final exam to pass the whole course.Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | (In person) Casio FX82 series only or UQ approved and labelled calculator |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - specified written materials permitted |
| Materials | Two A4 sheets of handwritten or typed notes double sided are permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 19 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student fails to understand the basic principles and how to apply them. |
| 2 (Fail) | 20 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student fails to demonstrate sufficient knowledge or understanding of the underlying concept. Much of the information provided is inaccurate and irrelevant. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Some knowledge of the subject is evident but the student demonstrates limited understanding of the underlying concepts. A substantial part of information provided is inaccurate or irrelevant. |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student demonstrates sound knowledge and at least partial understanding of the underlying concept. Has some correct and some incorrect information. Students must get a minimum of 45% (a mark of 3) in the in-class assessments as a whole (collectively), as well as a minimum of 45% (a mark of 3) in the final exam to pass the whole course. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student demonstrates sound knowledge and sound understanding of the key concepts. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Key concepts are understood. There is a demonstrated ability to solve previously unseen problems. There are only minor factual inaccuracies and there is little irrelevant information. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Key concepts are mastered and can be used to solve previously unseen problems. There is evidence of critical analysis and an ability to synthesise information from different aspects of the subject. There are insignificant factual inaccuracies and there is very limited irrelevant information. |
Additional course grading information
Grade cutoffs and hurdles
Final (total) marks will be rounded up to an integer value prior to applying hurdles or grade boundaries.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Any additional resources for student learning will be posted in Blackboard.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Not Timetabled |
Independent study Students are expected to spend at least six hours per week, in addition to the timetabled lectures and tutorial sessions, to adequately master the course material. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Lecture |
Lecture Series Lectures and in-class discussion of major topics in the course Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Tutorial |
Tutorials Practical and timely activities and discussion of course content Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
- AI for Assessment Guide
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: