Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Architecture, Design and Planning School
Practical work addressing real world planning problems and the development of a range of important planning skills (e.g. graphical presentation, sieve mapping, place making, report writing, critical thinking and team work).
PLAN1000 is a skills-basedﾠcourse which introduces students to key planning, urban design and placemaking theories, concepts and approaches by investigating the challenges thatﾠplanning professionals respond to on a daily basis. At the completion of the course students will be able to recognise and use core spatial planning analytical tools including: site and urban design analysis, data collection and analysis, identification and mapping of constraints and opportunities, and development of a place-based strategy. Students will also gain an understanding of foundationalﾠvalues and skills of the planning practice including planning ethics, as well as skills in verbal, written and graphic communications. You will also gain experience in team-based project work which reflects how planners operate in a professional context.
Course requirements
Assumed background
There are no formal pre-requisite courses that you need to have completed. However, it is assumedﾠthat you will have a solid grasp of spoken and written English and it is expected that you willﾠdemonstrate a willingness to participate in class discussions and exercises.
Restrictions
Not available for Study Abroad students
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
MINJERRIBAH FIELD TRIP: A compulsory field trip will be held in Week 3. The field trip will visit the Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) and Redland City local government areas. Details will be provided in class and on Blackboard.
URBAN DESIGN WALKING TOUR: The Brisbane City guided walking tour will occur in Week 8. The tour will be led by an industry leader and will commence from the UQ City Campus (308 Queen Street).
Aims and outcomes
The aims of PLAN1000 are to: (a)ﾠprovide a general understanding of planning andﾠhow planners contribute to and impact on communities; (b)ﾠprovide the opportunity for students to work on practical planning projects which necessitate the integration of material presented in a range of prior and/or concurrent lecture courses; (c) provide basic skills for the analysis and solution of elementary planning problems.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate awareness of the basic principles, concepts and policies used in urban planning.
LO2.
Develop a working knowledge of key planning data sets, data platforms, quantitative and qualitative measures used in spatial planning and urban design.
LO3.
Apply spatial planning, urban design and other analytical frameworks and produce professional planning reports.
LO4.
Work effectively independently, and with others, to investigate a planning problem, evaluate opinions, generate ideas, design and justify solutions.
LO5.
Develop basic skills in the spatial analysis, statutory planning, urban design and placemaking methods.
LO6.
Effectively design and communicate original ideas, solutions and recommendations to complex planning problems
LO7.
Establish an appreciation of the technical capabilities, professional ethics and values of planners, including those standards and competencies established by professional planning associations.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project |
Assessment 1: Local Planning Report
|
40% Group Assessment |
4/04/2025 2:00 pm |
| Presentation, Product/ Design |
Assessment 2: Urban Design Analysis Slide Deck
|
40% |
Video and Slides 23/05/2025 2:00 pm |
| Examination, Reflection |
Assessment 3: Final Exam
|
20% |
End of Semester Exam Period 7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025 |
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
Assessment 1: Local Planning Report
- Team or group-based
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Project
- Weight
- 40% Group Assessment
- Due date
4/04/2025 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07
Task description
Assessment Rationale:
For this assessment, you will be accessing planning data from Queensland, Australia and investigating a location based on publicly available data and insights generated by students attending the field trip. Students will form teams for this project. Each team must prepare and submit:
- Local Planning Report (2500 words)
- Project Plan including Team Work Agreement, Activity Log and Peer Assessments
This is an introductory project in the collection, collation, analyse and use of data in a planning project. Students will use overlay mapping (sieve mapping) to synthesise baseline information, and succinctly communicate the constraints and opportunities of an identified site for renewal or redevelopment
If, for whatever reason, you find that your group is not functioning effectively, please contact your Course Coordinator for support.
Complex / authentic assessment using AI and/or MT to support learning: This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
The School of Architecture, Design and Planning uses Blackboard and Turnitin for assessment submission. Turnitin is accessed through the course Blackboard site. Turnitin also checks for plagiarism or instances where the original work of others is not appropriately acknowledged. Uploaded files must contain readable text and not be rasterised. Students are advised to commence assignment uploads with sufficient amount of time (consider possible technical problems with computers, internet speed, etc). After successfully submitting an assignment through Turnitin, a ‘Submission Complete!’ screen will be displayed. It is the student’s responsibility to check assignment preview and confirm successful submission. If the ‘Submission Complete!’ screen isn’t displayed, the student should regard the submission as unsuccessful. Students should download a copy of the digital receipt as proof they have submitted the assignment. Students who are experiencing upload issues must advise the Course Coordinator immediately by email and should include screenshots and a copy of the assessment for submission. To meet professional accreditation, public engagement and quality assurance obligations, digital copies of all course assessment items must be submitted in addition to any hard copy submission requirements specified in individual Course / Studio Outlines. Any physical models should be photographed and a minimum of two photographs describing the complete and full model must be included in the digital submission.
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.
If a student wishes to apply for an extension, they must apply online on or before the assignment due date. When possible, it is suggested that requests are submitted 2 business days prior to the submission due date for the assignment to allow processing time. Students with outstanding applications for extensions are advised to submit their assessment by the original due date, irrespective of whether the work is complete, so that what has been done can be graded.
Group requests must fill out the group member acknowledgement form: https://my.uq.edu.au/files/35533/extension-to-group-assessment.pdf with at least 50% in agreeance.
Late submission
The late penalty for this assessment item will be calculated as follows:
First 1-hour block - initial 1 hour grace period no penalty.
Second 1-hour block - An penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item will be deducted
Third 1-hour block - An additional penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item will be deducted. (adding up to a total penalty of 20% of the maximum possible mark)
Any submissions received after three hours will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each one-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.
Assessment 2: Urban Design Analysis Slide Deck
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- Mode
- Oral, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Presentation, Product/ Design
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
Video and Slides 23/05/2025 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07
Task description
Assessment Rationale:
This is an introductory project in urban design analysis. As an individual assessment activity, students are required to select and analyse three precincts or urban spaces using an agreed urban design framework. One of the precincts should be on the UQ St Lucia Campus. Students will propose design strategies for each precinct, which improve the ‘place qualities’ and user experience. Students are to submit their analysis as a video presentation with an accompanying slide deck. Planners are increasingly being required to use this highly visual reporting format – reporting with impact.
Student's individual progress on this assessment be monitored and recorded at in-person consultations at the scheduled weekly practical sessions. Students who fail to meet and share their work may be deemed to not meet the Identity Verified Assessment requirements for this course.
Complex / authentic assessment using AI and/or MT to support learning: This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Hurdle requirements
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied to receive a specific grade in the course. This assessment item is designated as a Hurdle in this course. This means a minimum achievement of 50% (a grade of 4) is required for this assessment item in order to pass the course. Meeting the hurdle requirement for a course does not guarantee a passing grade for the course and in order to pass this course, students also need to achieve a minimum grade of 4 overall.Submission guidelines
The School of Architecture, Design and Planning uses Blackboard and Turnitin for assessment submission. Turnitin is accessed through the course Blackboard site. Turnitin also checks for plagiarism or instances where the original work of others is not appropriately acknowledged. Uploaded files must contain readable text and not be rasterised. Students are advised to commence assignment uploads with sufficient amount of time (consider possible technical problems with computers, internet speed, etc). After successfully submitting an assignment through Turnitin, a ‘Submission Complete!’ screen will be displayed. It is the student’s responsibility to check assignment preview and confirm successful submission. If the ‘Submission Complete!’ screen isn’t displayed, the student should regard the submission as unsuccessful. Students should download a copy of the digital receipt as proof they have submitted the assignment. Students who are experiencing upload issues must advise the Course Coordinator immediately by email and should include screenshots and a copy of the assessment for submission. To meet professional accreditation, public engagement and quality assurance obligations, digital copies of all course assessment items must be submitted in addition to any hard copy submission requirements specified in individual Course / Studio Outlines. Any physical models should be photographed and a minimum of two photographs describing the complete and full model must be included in the digital submission.
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.
If a student wishes to apply for an extension, they must apply online on or before the assignment due date. When possible, it is suggested that requests are submitted 2 business days prior to the submission due date for the assignment to allow processing time. Students with outstanding applications for extensions are advised to submit their assessment by the original due date, irrespective of whether the work is complete, so that what has been done can be graded.
Late submission
The late penalty for this assessment item will be calculated as follows:
First 1-hour block - initial 1 hour grace period no penalty.
Second 1-hour block - An penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item will be deducted
Third 1-hour block - An additional penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item will be deducted. (adding up to a total penalty of 20% of the maximum possible mark)
Any submissions received after three hours will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each one-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.
Assessment 3: Final Exam
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination, Reflection
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07
Task description
Assessment Rationale:
The objective of this online exam is to demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of a range of planning issues, frameworks and skills including but not limited to matters observed or discussed over the semester.
The exam will consist of:
- Case Study Activity requiring the use of online government mapping platforms to critically analyse a site/issue.
- A reflection on the planning and professional skills and knowledge developed through the semester.
Assessment tasks prohibiting use of AI or MT: This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | Any calculator permitted |
| Open/closed book | Open Book examination |
| Exam platform | Inspera |
| Invigilation | Not invigilated |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Late submission
Exams submitted after the end of the submission time will incur a late penalty.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
To meet assessment validity and integrity obligations, this course includes at least one piece of individual Identity Verified Assessment with a Hurdle (IVAH) that is unambiguously completed by that student, and in which a minimum level of achievement is reached. IVAH assessment item(s) contribute at least 30% towards the final grade. Examples of IVAH items include any activity in which a student’s individual performance is directly monitored, such as performances, fieldwork, oral assessment (including design critiques), design studio project work and invigilated exams. In order to pass this course students must achieve a minimum grade for the IVAH designated assessment item(s) as stated in the Assessment Task Description in the ECP.
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 costs
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
Minjerribah Field Trip (overnight) |
Contribution of $100 for accommodation, food and travel costs. |
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 |
Practical |
Practical Program Week 1 - Introduction to research tools. Working with spatial and data platforms Week 2 - Planning Skills: Mapping Week 3 - Field Trip Week 4 - Planning Skills: Local Plans Week 5 - Working Session on Local Planning Report Week 6 - Working Session on Local Planning Report Week 7 - Meet and greet with industry Week 8 - Urban Design Walk Week 9 - Urban Design Skills Week 10 - Public Holiday Week 11 - Urban Design Skills Week 12 - Urban Design Skills Week 13 - Revision and Viva Voce (for Assessment 2) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
Lecture |
Lecture Week 1 - What is planning? What does a planner do? Overview of skills development program. Week 2 - Planning Skills: The Practice of Planning Week 3 - Field trip Week 4 - Planning Skills: Strategic Planning Week 5 - Workshop session on overlay mapping Week 6 - Planning Skills: Strategies and local plans Week 7 - Planning Skills: Ethics and Communication Week 8 - Urban Design: Foundational Skills Week 9 - Urban Design: Theory and Concepts Week 10 - Public Holiday Week 11 - Urban Design: Implementation Strategies Week 12 - Urban Design: Placemaking Week 13 - Revision and Viva Voce (for Assessment 2) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
|
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Fieldwork |
PLANNING SKILLS: Minjerribah Field Trip FIELD TRIP: Understanding place and community contexts. How to collect data at the local scale. Role of stakeholders in planning and development. Planning for resilient, inclusive and sustainable communities and places. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
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 - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.