Land3003 Land Utilisation

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 Course profile – LAND 3003 

 Brief description 

Any economic development – rural, urban or industrial – transforms or impacts on our land.  Subsequent changes to our land can only be predicted and assessed, benefits maximised and potential damages minimised if the factors that control or influence land use options are understood.

The course covers physical, biological, social and economic factors that determine land use, capability, and how these different factors are connected and affect land use decisions.  An important aspect of this course is the examination of environmental, economic and social consequences of the use of land for agriculture and other purposes. 

Objectives 

1.      Gain a thorough understanding of the biophysical factors that control land utilisation

2.      Gain an understanding of economic concepts that help explain land use patterns

3.      Critically assess and advise on suitable land use options

4.      Appreciate that rural, ecological, economic and social and economic land use factors cannot be seen in isolation

Graduate attributes 

 Assumed background 

•     Basic knowledge (high school level) of mathematics, chemistry and biology 

Introduction to staff 

Dr Gunnar Kirchhof is a lecturer in Land Resource Science. He has extensive research experience in the areas of soil management and landscape processes in tropical and temperate regions, with a strong interest in sustainable systems.

Contact: Room 236 Hartley Teakle Bldg, (07) 3365-1364,

Email g.kirchhof1@uq.edu.au

Dr Colin Brown is a senior lecturer in agricultural economics. He has extensive research experience in the areas of land use policy and management as well as regional economics in both China and Australia.

Contact:  Room 541 Hartley Teakle Bldg, (07) 3365 – 2148,

Email Colin.brown@uq.edu.au 

Required texts/resources 

Not applicable

Recommended texts/resources  

Yencken D, Wilkinson D 2000.  Resetting the compass: Australia's journey towards sustainability.  Collingwood, Vic : CSIRO Publishing. (QH77.A8 Y46 2000) 

Australia state of the environment 1996 : an independent report presented to the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment / by the State of the Environment Advisory Council.  Collingwood, Vic.: CSIRO Publishing, 1996. (HC610.E5 A87 1996) 

Australia, state of the environment 2001 [electronic resource] / Australian State of the Environment Committee.  Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing, 2001. (HC610.E5 A87 2001 sup.1) 

Also available at:

http://www.deh.gov.au/soe/2001/index.html 

For the economics component of the course, the main study material/readings will come from various chapters in: 

Barlowe, R. (1986) Land Resource Economics - The Economics of Real Estate, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs. {HD111.B25 1986} 

Additional study material and suggested readings will be provided in the course notes on the WebCT site. 

Course home page/WebCT site 

The WebCT page for this course is the main communication channel between Teaching staff and students besides lectures and practical sessions. All announcements will be made through the WebCT and during lectures.  

Student support 

Important information on examinations and support services can be found on the web at http://www.uq.edu.au/nravs/  and the Student Support Services site at http://www.sss.uq.edu.au/  

Any student with a disability who may require alternative academic arrangements in the course is encouraged to seek advice at the commencement of the semester from a Disability Adviser at Student Support Services. 

How to study this course 

Lectures provide the basic fundamental knowledge required towards developing skills in land use. The field excursion to the Darling Downs is designed as a case study to learn and experience some the fundamental processes that underpin land use. Participation of students in all aspects are essential as part of the learning process.

Students are advised to allow for own study time before and after lectures. As a guide, for each hour lecture students should plan at least around 2 hours of individual study time.  Course notes will be placed on the course WebCT

Study chart

Lectures are Mondays, 16:00-17:50h, in 83-324 (changes TBA) 

as on 24th Feb 2004.

Assessment details

Summary 

 Theory:

Final Examination (2 hour examination, essay type questions in two parts of equal value:  biophysical and economic component of the course.  Each component has 5 questions where you must answer 3).  You must attend the final examination to fulfil the requirement of the course.  The exam counts for 70% of the marks.  Calculators and dictionaries are not allowed. 

Assignment:

The assignment is closely related to the field excursions. The assignment topic will be given at the start of the excursion.  It includes a brief summary of the excursion and a thorough discussion of topic related to the excursion.  This discussion is based on your own observation during the field trip, researching related literature and your objective and substantiated conclusion.  The assignment is due 6 weeks after the excursion.   As a guide the length of the assignment should be around 3000 words. Assignment topics will be given at the start of the excursion.  An assignment of an acceptable standard is required before the requirements of the course are fulfilled. You must complete the assignment to fulfil the requirement of the course.

A variation in assessment is possible for students with a disability (see HUPP 3.30.3 Special Arrangements for Examinations for Students with a Disability). 

Other requirements 

Students must attend and complete the examination, attend the excursion and submit the required assignment before they are eligible for a passing grade. Exemption will be granted only on medical grounds (medical certificate required) and not on clashes with other courses. 

For students enrolled in the B Agricultural Science program:  Practical experience reports.  These reports must be handed in to the School of Land and Food Secretariat (Ms Anne Hanson, 83-329) no later then the 20^th of August 2004.  They must be of an acceptable standard before the final grade for the course will be released. 

Outcomes of assessment 

The assessments are intended to prepare the students to meet the objectives of this course 

Availability of feedback 

Drs Gunnar Kirchhof and Colin Brown maintain an open door policy. They are available for student contact through e-mail and WebCT any time, through telephone or in their offices when on site.  Students are advised that only their official UQ-e-mail will be used for communication.  In some cases ad-hoc meeting are possible, but students are encouraged to give reasonable notice if they wish to meet with the course lecturers.

Assessment guidelines 

Assessment policies

A statement about how late submission of assessable work, non submission of assessable work, plagiarism, illness and so on will be dealt with. If these topics are covered, for example, in a school, faculty or program handbook then a reference might suffice.

·      Non-attendance at the field excursion: 

In case of illness (or bereavement of a close relative or friend) you may be exempted from attending the excursion.  To grant this exemption you must submit a medical certificate (or other documentation) to prove the cause for non-attendance.  Note that ad hoc excuses (car trouble and the like!) will not be accepted.  In case an exemption is granted you will be asked to submit a substantial assignment which will show your ability to self-study and apply your knowledge from the lectures and literature to a topic given to you.   

·      Non or late submission of assignment

In case of illness (or bereavement of a close relative or friend) you may be allowed to submit your assignment at a later date provided you submit a medical certificate (or other documentation) to prove the delay.  If there is no valid reason for late submission the grade for your assignment will drop by one every three days after the due date. 

·      Non-attendance at the final exam:

You must attend the exam to obtain a passing grade.  In case of illness (or bereavement of a close relative or friend) you may be able to do the examination at a later date provided you submit a medical certificate (or other documentation) to prove the cause for non-attendance.   

Presentation of assignments 

For written work (reports, assignments and reports), assessment will be based on:

 Plagiarism 

Refer to the Library website http://www.library.uq.edu.au/training/plagiarism.html  or to any other relevant School publication

See HUPP 3.40.12 Plagiarism, see URL: http://www.uq.edu.au/hupp/contents/view.asp?s1=3&s2=40&s3=12 

The University has adopted the following definition of plagiarism:

"Plagiarism is the action or practice of taking and using as one’s own the thoughts or writings of another, without acknowledgment. The following practices constitute acts of plagiarism and are a major infringement of the University’s academic values:

• Where paragraphs, sentences, a single sentence or significant parts of a sentence are copied directly, and are not enclosed in quotation marks and appropriately footnoted;
• Where direct quotations are not used, but are paraphrased or summarised, and the source of the material is not acknowledged either by footnoting or other simple reference within the text of the paper; and
• Where an idea which appears elsewhere in printed, electronic or audio-visual material is used or developed without reference being made to the author or the source of that material."

Excursion

A five day excursion to the south eastern Darling Downs is scheduled from the 19th to 23rd July 2004.  Students must attend the excursion.   

Assignment 

Due date                    3 September 2004 (details TBA)

Weighting                  30 % of final mark

Word length               3000 words

Topic                          TBA during the field excursion 

Assessment criteria 

The assignment

·               Integrates the theory from the lectures with a general and specific topic relating to the excursion.

·               Must be combined with a suitable literature study.

·               needs to conclude with an objective argument summarising your own observation and published work

·               Is not an essay summarising and outlining in chronological sequence where the student group visited. 

Exam

The examination will take 2 hour.  There will be essay type questions in two parts of equal value:  biophysical and economic component of the course.  Each component has 5 questions where you must answer 3. 

Practical experience reports

For Bachelor of B Agricultural Science program students only:  This report will be graded (by Prof Richard Burns, room 83-345) as a ‘pass’ or ‘no pass’ and does not affect your final grade.  

Final grade

The final grade will be a weighted average out of the 2 required components (exam and assignment).  However, if you fail to attend the excursion, fail to submit an acceptable assignment or fail attend the exam you will have not fulfilled the requirements of the course. 

Note: Bachelor of B Agricultural Science program students must submit a report summarising their pre-professional work experience.  A pass is required for the report in order to fulfil the requirements of the course.