| Effective Term: | 2025/08 |
| Institute / School : | Institute of Innovation, Science & Sustainability |
| Unit Title: | Geotechnical Engineering 1 |
| Unit ID: | ENGRG2102 |
| Credit Points: | 15.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | (ENGRG1002) |
| Co-requisite(s): | Nil |
| Exclusion(s): | (ENGIN2204) |
| ASCED: | 030900 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
Geotechnical Engineering 1 primarily delves into soil mechanics, addressing the essential elements of soil mechanical behavior, including composition, classification, compaction, permeability, settlement and shear strength. Beyond gaining a comprehensive understanding of the mechanical properties of soils and their relevance to various civil engineering projects, this unit equips students with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to design safe, resilient and sustainable geo-structures in their future geotechnical engineering units. |
| Grade Scheme: | Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF) |
| Work Experience Indicator: |
| No work experience |
| Placement Component: No |
| Supplementary Assessment:Yes |
| Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment |
| Course Level: |
| Level of Unit in Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | | | | | | | Intermediate | | |  | | | | | Advanced | | | | | | |
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| Learning Outcomes: |
| Knowledge: |
| K1. | Recognize the importance of geotechnical engineering in the broader civil engineering discipline |
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| K2. | Recognize the fundamental principles of soil mechanics |
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| K3. | Explain soil compaction and ground improvement techniques |
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| K4. | Explain soil compressibility and shear strength |
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| Skills: |
| S1. | Classify and examine soils for various civil engineering applications |
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| S2. | Explain the effective stress concept and its influence on soil behavior |
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| S3. | Interpret laboratory data to determine soil physical and mechanical properties |
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| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| A1. | Solve a range of geotechnical problems involving water flow, soil settlement/consolidation and soil strength |
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| A2. | Measure basic soil properties in the laboratory for soil classification purposes |
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| A3. | Produce reports of geotechnical designs and laboratory test results at a professional standard |
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| Unit Content: |
Topics may include:
1. Geological Processes and Soil Formation
2. Soil Classification for Engineering Purposes
3. Soil as a Three-Phase System — Phase Relationships
4. Ground Improvement and Soil Compaction
5. Stresses and Strains in Soils, and the Effective Stress Concept
6. Permeability of Soils
7. Compressibility and Settlement of Soils
8. Shear Strength of Soils |
| Graduate Attributes: |
| Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.
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| FED TASK and descriptor | Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit | | Level | FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal | Students will demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate, inter-act and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display skills in-person and/or online in: • Using effective verbal and non-verbal communication • Listening for meaning and influencing via active listening • Showing empathy for others • Negotiating and demonstrating conflict resolution skills • Working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams. | Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines | FEDTASK 2
Leadership | Students will demonstrate the ability to apply professional skills and behaviours in leading others. Students will be required to display skills in: • Creating a collegial environment • Showing self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect • Inspiring and convincing others • Making informed decisions • Displaying initiative | Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor | FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity | Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically • Evaluating ideas, concepts and information • Considering alternative perspectives to refine ideas • Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts • Forming creative solutions in problem solving. | Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines | FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy | Students will demonstrate the ability to work fluently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in: • Finding, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information • Collating, managing, accessing and using digital data securely • Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media • Contributing actively to digital teams and working groups • Participating in and benefiting from digital learning opportunities. | Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines | FEDTASK 5
Sustainable and Ethical Mindset | Students will demonstrate the ability to consider and assess the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in: • Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in global economic environmental and societal contexts • Committing to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen • Evaluating ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses • Embracing lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others • Implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life. | N/A - Not Applicable |
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| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | | 1. | K1, K2, K3, K4, S1, S2, A1, A2 | (A) Participation in all learning activities, including attendance and participation in lectures and tutorials, exercises, recommended and supplementary readings, and/or other activities. (B) Undertake problem-solving of engineering problems relevant to geotechnical engineering in both invigilated and non-invigilated settings. | Assessed Tutorials; Quizzes; Assignments; Tests | 40% - 60% | | 2. | K3, K4, S1, S2, S3, A1 | Relates fundamental knowledge of geotechnical engineering (specifically soil mechanics) to observations in a controlled environment and/or to solve design-based problems. | Reports; Presentation | 10% - 30% | | 3. | K4, S3, A2, A3 | Undertake an experiment relevant to soil mechanics. | Laboratory Report | 10% - 30% |
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