This individual study based subject is a capstone option for the completion of the Master of Urban Planning. Students will be supervised by an academic throughout the research process. Discussions with a supervisor allow the student to obtain advice and guidance for completion of an independent study.

The thesis requires two consecutive semesters of enrolment:

• The focus of the first semester is developing a research question, undertaking a literature review related to that question and proposing methods to answer the research question (which may require ethics clearance).
• The second semester concentrates on the middle to final stages of research from the implementation of a research plan, to effectively interpreting and presenting results.

NOTE:
The MSD Minor Thesis requires two consecutive semesters of enrolment. Students can commence the Minor Thesis ( ABPL90396 MSD Minor Thesis Part 1) in either Semester 1 or 2 and must continue (ABPL90397 MSD Minor Thesis part 2) in the following semester. Upon successful completion of the MSD Minor Thesis, students will receive 25 points credit.

Further information on thesis supervisor availability and selection process is at https://edsc.unimelb.edu.au/graduate/subject-options/msd-studios/mup-studio

Please refer to ABPL90396 MSD Minor Thesis Part 1

The subject covers the essential science needed to understand the impacts of urbanisation on the environment, describes environmental policy and governance from the global to the local levels, and then provides case studies of environmental planning issues and responses. Topics such as urban water management, urban greening and urban biodiversity are presented and discussed in an integrated manner addressing policy, planning and implementation.

This subject explores the notion of resilience and its application to the planning, design and management of urban settlements at various scales. The notion of resilience is related to the capacity of systems to adapt to disruptions without them changing to entirely different states, which in the case of human settlements often results in catastrophic consequences for the inhabitants. The subject will explore approaches for enhancing existing settlements, as well as creating new ones, to be better prepared to confront future environmental changes, both predicted and unpredicted, as they occur, with a focus on changes associated with climate change, such as increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, as well as more gradual changes, such as rising sea levels. Students will explore ways of decreasing the vulnerability of urban settlements to these types of risks and while at the same time promoting sustainable development through planning and design interventions.

This subject prepares students for environmental management roles by providing them with the principles of how human impacts on the environment might be detected and managed. The principles will be placed within the legal and social contexts of environmental impact assessment. At the completion of the subject, students should understand three aspects: prediction of the kind of changes that might occur with human activities; the design and implementation of proper monitoring programs that can detect changes; and assessment of those changes. Additionally, a strong emphasis is placed on the practical implementation of principles.

This subject explores the principles of ecological systems. It will introduce basic ecological concepts and fundamental ecological systems, and their applications in landscape design. It will include plants and biomes, soils and water, spatial geometries, emergence, resilience, and the ecological performance of designs in relation to design speculations.

Green infrastructure is the network of natural and designed vegetation elements within our cities and towns, in both public and private domains. Green infrastructure includes traditional green elements such as urban parks, gardens and trees, as well as newer green roofs, green walls and rain garden technologies. Green infrastructure provides a number of significant economic, social and environmental benefits and is an effective means of helping to adapt our buildings, communities and cities to future climate change conditions. In this subject students will gain insights into aspects of planning, design and management of green-infrastructure . The use of green infrastructure as ‘living architecture’ and the design considerations involved will be discussed. At the building scale, this will include an understanding of the improved energy efficiencies provided by green infrastructure and their role in building star energy rating systems. At the neighbourhood and landscape scale, the role and function of different green infrastructure technologies and systems will be discussed, including roles in ameliorating urban climates, improving urban water retention, use and quality providing more liveable urban communities for people and wildlife.

Formerly FOOD90026

This subject examines the politics of the global food system, and will focus on the policies, structures, power relations and political debates surrounding the production, distribution and consumption of food. The impacts of food production and consumption on food security, health, the environment, animal welfare, and the livelihoods of producers, will be critically explored. Key theoretical frameworks and concepts for understanding the dominant paradigms and dynamics of the food system will be discussed and evaluated. Integrated policies and strategies for creating more sustainable and equitable food systems, and alternative paradigms and practices of production, distribution and consumption, will also be critically examined. This subject will primarily draw on theories and methodologies from the sociology and politics of food and agriculture, food policy, and the political economy and political ecology of food.

The topics and debates covered include:

• Food policy and governance at the global, national and local levels
• Food security, food sovereignty and the Global Food Crisis
• Global trading relations, free trade and fair trade
• Environmental impacts and sustainable forms of food production and consumption
• Animal production, factory farms and animal welfare
• Supermarkets and alternative retailing and distribution networks
• Agricultural paradigms and technologies: chemical-industrial agriculture, genetically modified foods, organic agriculture and agroecology
• Corporate concentration within and across sectors of the food system
• Competition for food and land: animal feed, biofuels and land-grabbing
• Food processing, food marketing, dietary advice and health
• Local and urban food production and planning
• Alternative paradigms and networks of food production, distribution and consumption

This subject explores different understandings and expressions of social exclusion and inclusion in the city; what these contested concepts mean for urban planning; and how professional practice can respond to fashion inclusive cities. Case studies, working policy and theoretical perspectives are used to highlight key features of planning for inclusive cities, including for specific population groups like youth, aboriginals, the disabled, older persons, refugees and women. Students will examine the lived experience of disadvantage in the city, analyse urban issues through different theoretical lenses and study relevant urban policy and project responses to promote inclusive cities.

In recent years, there has been a greatly increased interest in the impacts of the built environment on health and wellbeing. At present, spatial inequalities in regards to access to jobs, affordable housing, social services, and healthy food results in a greater burden of disease for particular social groups and in particular geographic areas. Many of the health problems in cities today, including obesity, violence, and depression, are linked to poor residential and recreational environments, lack of access to jobs and social services, and low social cohesion. Urban decision-makers like planners and designers influence physical, social, natural, cultural, and economic environments. They therefore have a key role in ‘planning health in’, rather than ‘planning health out’, of communities.
This subject will provide a local and international background into current policies and practices related to pursuing health and well-being objectives as a central part of urban planning work. It will cover: the influence of planning over key health determinants, international good practice, the current legislative framework, and Health Impact Assessment. A strong skills focus will ensure that planners, designers and other professionals are able to assess existing sites, plans, and policies from a health perspective.

This subject explores the histories not only of particular cities but also more broadly the historical development of spatial and social features of cities. Elements developed over time in both Australian and international urban areas are countenanced with a view to understanding how these have worked and might continue to work – through adaptation, reinvigoration, or refinement – in the urban context. The central question of the appeal and value of the city in the past and present is at the forefront. Understanding of city culture and the quality of the urban fabric over time is emphasised.

50% of the assessment of this course comes from a creative work produced individually by students which reflects on, and engages with, themes explored in the course: cities, creativity, society, history, urbanity, and culture.

Please note that this subject is only available to students admitted into a course at the Melbourne School of Design.

Demographic ageing is creating a shift in how to think and define homes, cities and public spaces. This subject explores feasible and sustainable approaches to keep the older segment of the population physically and socially active. Innovative changes in design can lead to significant advancements in service delivery, transportation models and homes that allow people to age in place. In addition, design principles for dementia and palliative care are a few of the many concepts that help minimise stress on people as they age and their families. Students will explore these topics and develop their own ideas about the way design can optimise the ageing process for comfort, security and overall well-being.

This subject develops the skills to understand and assess the social impacts of development, including international development projects, resource management, and proposed infrastructure or new policies. We do this in two ways: by looking at how to assess the impacts of proposed projects, and through evaluation techniques for existing developments or projects. In each case we develop practical skills and interdisciplinary techniques to appraise and evaluate impacts. These techniques draw from anthropology, development studies, and the policy sciences, and move beyond simple summative assessments and financial accounting. We consider the social and environmental contexts in which any form of appraisal is embedded, and the capacities of different actors (from the state to NGOs and community groups) to avert or mitigate negative impacts through learning, negotiation, and citizen participation. Examples, some presented by guest speakers, are drawn from Australia, Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia. At the completion of the subject students will have developed the conceptual skills to understand the impacts of development; be familiar with the range of methodologies and techniques used in impact assessment; understand development evaluation; and will be able to apply this in critical evaluation of the impact of projects and programmes.

The subject introduces key concepts of Social Policy designed to provide a foundation for future inquiry. Students will be introduced to key historical concepts and theories that are foundational to the understanding of a social contract to provide social policy to citizens. The course then identifies cross-national approaches to social policy and the gaps in theoretical understandings of social policy. Finally, students are introduced to innovative approaches to social policy with many hands-on activities. The course provides a broad overview of the past, present and future of Social Policy.

This subject investigates the concept of the global city region as a source of issues that require new approaches by planning decision-makers. It does so by establishing the way that global city regions can be identified, how they are shaped by economic and social forces, and in turn how their planning agenda requires new and innovative ideas and approaches.

The subject draws upon international experience in the development of the concept and in the illustration of the outcomes, but at critical stages the subject will refer to Australian examples. Successful learning in the subject will involve an effort to get to know and understand the character and planning issues confronting metropolitan areas that experience global city development forces and students are encouraged to read widely about cities, drawing where possible on web pages of planning agencies to capture recent policy debate.

Urbanization can be a generative force of our time. For the first time in human history, more people live in cities and towns than in rural areas. Around 56 percent of the world’s population is urbanized (2017 figures) and the United Nations predicts that between now and 2050, an additional 2.5 billion people will be born in or move to cities. This opens new and exciting opportunities for social mobility and economic productivity. Citizens and visitors alike in urban areas now have greater access to education, health, employment and transport. However, while cities and towns are recognized as engines of national economic growth and centres of innovation, poorly planned and mismanaged urbanization can further reinforce the already present wicked challenges of poverty, informality, affordable housing, climate change, and inequity.

For instance, it is estimated that one in every seven people (i.e. more than 1 billion people) live in slums and unplanned settlements around the world - lacking affordable and secure housing and basic services such as clean water supply and sanitation. The UN estimates that 227 million people moved out of slum conditions from 2000-2010 yet the number of people living in slums continues to grow. It is projected that by 2030 two billion persons will live in slums.

There is a widening participation of actors and agencies - governments, the private sector, civil society and poor communities themselves becoming crucial players in improving and upgrading existing settlements. Moreover, there is an increasing number of initiatives across sectors to better plan for and accommodate the urban poor’s right to the city, to create better cities for all.

This subject has four underlying themes, namely:

• To explain the process of urbanization, the importance of housing, and policies that give rise to slum formation and the persistence of slums.
• To make use of practice-oriented research, employs case studies from around the globe to explore government-led, community-led, and community/local government partnership approaches to slum upgrading and the delivery of land and provision of basic services in the context of urban governance.
• To examine cross-cutting topics that underwrite inclusive and sustainable, well-managed cities, including regulatory frameworks, security of tenure, housing finance, land use and transport interaction and linkages, and affordable house designs.
• Analyse emerging ‘best-practice’ over the years and the roles of institutions in influencing and/or formulating national urbanization, housing and slum upgrading policies.

Many Asia-Pacific cities have undergone rapid urban development and change as they have become integrated into the global economy. The character of that integration has changed over time; at the same time social and political aspirations have been expressed in new demands for services and housing. This course will explore the urban planning implications of these changes in a city. It begins with a review of the global and local forces that have generated change in Asia-Pacific cities. This section will isolate key features for further investigation. These selected features will then be explored in ten days in the selected Pacific Asian city through a series of lectures, field inspections and field work. A third part of the course, involving seminar discussion, will be followed by report writing on planning issues in the selected city.

Approximates costs to students

This subject has international fieldwork component. Students will be required to cover travel (airfare), accommodation and food costs, estimated at $3500 per person.

This subject was formerly called Transportation, Land Use and Urban Form

This subject examines the linkages between transport systems and the growth and form of urban regions. It introduces the theories linking transport systems to the urban footprint, and reviews some empirical analysis of those theories. The subject also traces the evolution of theories connecting transport and land use as they have evolved over time. The timeline of this subject begins in the 1950s and extends to the present.

This subject also introduces some of the tools used to evaluate and manage land use and transport systems, introduces strategies for integrated transport and land use planning, and examines empirical evaluations of these strategies. Major debates in the topic area are addressed. The subject develops students’ ability to apply and critically analyse the theories, tools, and strategies used in transport and land use planning, and to propose alternatives and innovations to those strategies.

This subject is taught in a seminar format. The format will include two hours of weekly guided discussion during which students are expected to have prepared to discuss several readings. There is also a one-hour lecture in which major skills-based topics are explained. These include accessibility modeling, the four-step transport model, and benefit-cost analysis.

This subject explores skills required for transport planners who wish to improve the economic, environmental and social performance of urban transport systems. It draws on international experience and research to articulate the principles and practical techniques in two key areas:

• Public transport planning and network design; and
• The preparation of regional multi-modal transport plans.

This subject includes a half-day field trip involving use of public transport services in a chosen suburban region of Melbourne. This trip will be undertaken in small groups in week 3 and is a hurdle requirement. Students will require a valid Myki card, and the cost will not exceed a daily ticket in Zone 1.

AIMS

The aim of this course is to provide students with an introduction to urban traffic engineering and transport planning principles. General theory as well as analytical techniques for solving common transport engineering problems is presented.

The key theme in this course is how to improve the sustainability of transport systems. This includes understanding and predicting travel demand. This course emphasizes techniques for modelling and evaluating schemes based on environmental, health and social outcomes. Behavioural choice modelling methods are used to predict demand for public transport and non-motorised transport modes.

CVEN90048 Transport Systems provides a transport-specific learning experience that relates to, builds-on, and extends from the skills and competencies developed via the following Civil Engineering subjects: CVEN90043 Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering and CVEN90045 Engineering Project Implementation.

INDICATIVE CONTENT

Topics covered include:

• Introduction to Transport Systems
• Traffic Flow Theory
• Traffic Control Devices
• Unsignalised Intersection Capacity Analysis
• Travel Surveys
• Sustainability
• Traffic Survey Methods
• Public Transport
• Transport Network Models
• Road Safety
• Signalised Intersection Capacity and Timing
• Freeway Management
• Geometric Design of Roads

This subject has been integrated with the Skills Towards Employment Program (STEP) and contains activities that can assist in the completion of the Engineering Practice Hurdle (EPH).

This subject explores the politics of transport planning in cities and regions. It examines recent examples of transport planning in Australian cities and globally with a particular emphasis on how patterns of mobility and automobility have come to influence transport planning decisions. A dilemma is exposed between the political-economy and social desires to maintain automobile-dependency and the challenges this presents for ecological sustainability and social equity in the contemporary city and region. Urban transport politics brings to the foreground the changing roles of the public and private sector in the funding, construction, maintenance and operation of urban transport networks and the implications this has for the city and its people.

The subject examines a series of case studies that showcase the politics of transportation planning. Case examples will enable students to explore in-depth recent examples that showcase the changing political, economic and governance landscape shaping transportation planning. This includes such case studies as: contested tollway and light rail projects in Australian cities and internationally, the rise of car-sharing platforms and the anticipated roll-out of autonomous vehicles.

The subject is delivered in seminar form with readings, lectures (occasional guest lectures) and presentations from students. Students are encouraged to bring their ideas and views into class discussions

AIMS

There is a need for civil engineers to increase their knowledge and skills in freight systems since they are actively involved in the planning, design, construction, maintenance and management of a range of freight infrastructure such as roads, bridges and ports. Civil engineers require expertise in freight systems to reduce the social and environmental costs from freight including safety, noise and emissions. Training in freight systems also provides opportunities for freight networks to become more productive and efficient increasing economic benefits for society.

Freight infrastructure allows the freight system to operate, facilitating vital components of our economy, including production, distribution and trade.

The purpose of the freight system relates to its role in providing a service for the economy. Freight transport is a derived demand; it does not exist for its own sake. The primary demand is for the consumption of goods where there is spatial separation. Goods are generally stored, processed and consumed at different locations. There is a need for goods to move to increase their value for producers, manufacturers and consumers. Freight can be considered as the economy in motion. Goods are transported as part of the economic activities of production, manufacturing and consumption.

INDICATIVE CONTENT

Freight networks provide a service for producers and manufacturers allowing access to markets for the consumption of goods. The benefit of goods being transported relates to their increased value at their trip destination. Reduced transport operation costs leads to lower production and distribution costs that creates opportunities for lower priced goods.

This subject introduces the concepts of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and its application in landscape architecture, urban planning and development. It will:

• introduce the origin and development of GIS respect to landscape architecture, urban planning and development;
• introduce basic GIS concepts, data structure, data format, and data management;
• introduce fundamental GIS operations such as digitising, overlay analysis, spatial analysis, hydrological analysis, 3D analysis, etc.;
• address key issues of applying GIS in planning, design and development, such as landscape capacity and suitability analysis, urban heat island analysis, water sensitive urban design, property management, etc.;
• place how GIS will facilitate site analysis, inform decision making and improve efficiency and productivity in planning, design and development.

The subject will be delivered through lectures/guest lectures, lab tutorials, workshops and practical sessions synthesising dominant themes in this fields of using GIS as tool to achieve sustainable design and ecological landscape planning.

SUBJECT NOTE : In 2021, this subject is taught online and on campus (dual delivery) . To allow for this the student needs the following:

Software Requirement: ESRI ArcGIS 10.7 will be used. Students can request ArcGIS 10.7 via the online chat service 'Ask a librarian' https://library.unimelb.edu.au/contact_the_library#chat (available during library opening hours). Students will be provided license code and instructions for download and installing the software on their own computer.

Hardware Requirement: ESRI has recommended hardware requirements. Specification of hardware requirements can be found at (https://desktop.arcgis.com/en/system-requirements/10.7/arcgis-desktop-system-requirements.htm)

Urban Informatics is the study of cities using digital data, information, knowledge and models to understand trends, complexities and inform the formulation and evaluation of sustainable urban futures.

This subject aims to arm the student with the necessary fundamental concepts and practical understanding of the rise of the Smart City and how urban informatics can assist in evidenced-based and collaborative decision-making.

The new science of cities (Batty, 2013) is driven by the deluge of data that enables the mapping of the Smart City and new geographies that can be explored, analysed and synthesized. Planners, geographers, urban designers, landscape architects, spatial scientists and other disciplines interest in the urban settlements require a deeper knowledge of digital data and how to access, interrogate, visualize and synthesis such data to realise the vision of the smart and sustainable city.

This subject utilises the Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network (AURIN) portal as an e-learning resource for exploring what is possible in emerging in the new discipline of urban informatics. Students will also be exposed to a range of other complementary digital environments including open data repositories, urban modelling and visualisation tools and open source geospatial information technologies.

This subject explores contemporary theories and modes of critique relating to the design of the urban public realm. Emphasis is on how urban physical form responds to the economic, cultural, political, social, aesthetic and natural forces of an urbanised area. Assignments and class papers require students to critically engage with a broad range of theoretical positions, and relate them to local conditions.

This subject provides an introduction to quantitative data analysis for the social sciences, focusing on the data and techniques commonly used in analysis of cities. It develops understanding and skill in the use of the collection, interpretation, analysis, and representation of information.

The subject is presented in two parts. Part 1 introduces common demographic and economic data available from secondary sources, including Census data. Students learn the fundamentals of data analysis, including how to define units of analysis, develop appropriate quasi-experimental designs, and construct reliable and valid indicators. Students also learn techniques for analysing and interpreting population data, as well as population forecasting techniques.

Part 2 provides an introduction to basic statistical analysis of small-sample and large-sample data. Topics include descriptive statistics, confidence intervals and power, hypothesis testing, measures of association, and an introduction to regression techniques

The subject concerns housing issues.The provision of housing is presented as a complex system of interplay between construction, finance, real estate and bureaucracy (and others). It considers the challenge of providing good homes to all all within the context of consistent under-supply over decades and a policy preference for private sector delivery.

This subject has four components

1. The structure of housing provision. The roles and interplay between parts of the housing system including how markets work; the roles of developers, financiers, consumers and government; how the housing market works; supply, demand, role of property developers and the role of banks (including the growth of financialisation).
2. The contribution of housing form and planning for housing to the workings of cities.
3. The implications of market failure for certain population groups.
4. Low-income housing policy (e.g. social housing).

A series of case studies conducted in different countries or different c cities, over two intensive weeks (either the Japan/ Hong Kong stretch or the China stretch). Case studies are to be carried out in groups. They will cover a range of property, construction and infrastructure topics including project inception, project finance, project valuation and appraisal, urban planning policies and permits, project procurement and delivery, construction planning and management, construction technology and services, construction methods and equipment, construction and leasing contracts, and associated legal matters.

Candidates are required to arrange and pay for their own travel, accommodation and incidentals. The travel cost would be about AUD 3000 (AUD 1500 for travel and AUD 1500 for accommodation, food and local travel - for either of the countries). One preferred / recommended budget accommodation option in each of the cities will be provided.

Note: This subject includes a pre-teaching period. During the pre-teaching period students are expected to complete the course readings, review the lectures and any other course preparation as outlined on the LMS. The LMS will become available at the commencement of the pre-teaching dates.

As the real estate market becomes increasingly international, it is necessary to understand how specific national markets operate and how they relate to one another within an international system. With globalisation, capital flows with increasing ease between national economies, and many real estate market actors - users, investors, developers and financiers - now search for opportunities across national boundaries. Real estate services, such as agency or research, have become international in order to serve these requirements.

At the global level, the institutional environment of real estate is extremely diverse. There are wide national differences in the economic, political, social and legal contexts within which real estate markets operate. Variations in planning control, landlord and tenant law, methods of valuation, professional education, and the symbolic significance of landed property represent important examples, and there are many others. Real estate market analysis therefore has to translate between different systems, both literally in terms of working language and metaphorically in terms of differences in business practice and culture.

This subject is intended to provide a comprehensive analysis of international real estate markets examining the rationale for their existence and development, its links to economic change, international financial diversification and institutional adaptation. The subject also examines the role of, and changes in, business culture to provide an understanding of the behaviour of real estate markets. The subject allows comparison over time of real estate markets in different countries, showing differences in market characteristics and changes thereof. The entry of international companies and their role in market development is also examined.

This subject sets out the key mechanisms by which land use planning can reduce the risks associated with human settlements located in bushfire prone areas. It begins with an overview of bushfire as a natural hazard that occurs in particular landscapes, and the ways that human settlements interact with these to result in spatial and locally particular risk outcomes.

The ways that urban planning mechanisms can influence risk levels in bushfire prone areas are explored. First principles of planning intervention techniques are set out, followed by a detailed explanation of relevant elements of Victorian planning processes. Current regulatory approaches suitable for the treatment of bushfire risk in Victoria are a core learning outcome for the subject, in parallel with developing understandings of the inter-relations between building, planning, response and land management agencies related to bushfire risk reduction.

This subject covers the fundamentals of how domestic buildings respond to bushfire in a planned environment context. Working from the science fundamentals through to the policy and legislation frameworks that tackle bushfire risk mitigation through to building design. With successful completion of the course, students will be well equipped to judge and implement design solutions within the scope of Victorian building regulations relating to bushfire risk management.

Building behavior in bushfires requires some critical background knowledge in order to be effectively taught, with pre-requisite subjects Patterns and Processes of Landscape Fire and Bushfire Urban Planning. An improved understanding of the broader range of values that are inevitably considered in bushfire urban design will be better addressed in this subject when the subject Bushfire Planning and Management is completed prior to beginning this subject.

This subject explores the notion of resilience and its application to the planning, design and management of urban settlements at various scales. The notion of resilience is related to the capacity of systems to adapt to disruptions without them changing to entirely different states, which in the case of human settlements often results in catastrophic consequences for the inhabitants. The subject will explore approaches for enhancing existing settlements, as well as creating new ones, to be better prepared to confront future environmental changes, both predicted and unpredicted, as they occur, with a focus on changes associated with climate change, such as increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, as well as more gradual changes, such as rising sea levels. Students will explore ways of decreasing the vulnerability of urban settlements to these types of risks and while at the same time promoting sustainable development through planning and design interventions.

The course covers the fundamentals of fire behaviour and the key drivers. Students will examine the importance of the key factors affecting fire behaviour including fuels, weather, topography and ignitions. Methodologies for measuring fuels, fuel moisture, and weather will be examined through theoretical and practical approaches. Using these skills, students will learn computer and manual approaches for predicting the extent and intensity of landscape fires in a range of ecosystems. Students will apply the knowledge of fire patterns to examine how prescribed burning might be used for land management and the fundamentals of wildfire suppression strategies and tactics. Finally, we will assess the potential changes to fire patterns under global climate change.

The course covers the fundamentals of setting and achieving bushfire management objectives for ecological and fire protection purposes in natural ecosystems. It covers the contents of a fire management plan, setting objectives, developing fire prescriptions, undertaking monitoring and evaluation of the management process, and review.