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Unit of Study FOR03082 - Forest Modelling and Management (2017)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Enrolment information

    This unit is offered in a 7 week Study period. The unit will have a heavier work load per week. Please refer to the SCU Unit webpages for further information prior to enrolling. This unit will include a 1 week compulsory residential that will be held on the Lismore campus. Please refer to http://scu.edu.au/timetables for further information on timetables

Unit description

Develops the skills needed to estimate the sustainable harvest from a forest or other natural resource, to use simulation modelling in a decision support framework, in the context of forest management and environmental planning. Students will complete the design and implementation of a simulation model as part of major assignment that will prepare them for oversight of environmental management projects.

Unit content

  1. Context of modelling and prediction in management planning.
  2. Interplay between people, institutions, plans and models in resource management.
  3. Modelling approaches, languages and tools.
  4. Introduction to the Visual Modelling Environment, Simile.
  5. Basic concepts of modelling in system dynamics approaches.
  6. Individual-based modelling.
  7. Population-based modelling.
  8. Advanced modelling techniques.
  9. Testing and presenting models.

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Lismore Study Period 5 Study Period 5

Learning outcomes and graduate attributes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

GA1: Intellectual rigour, GA2: Creativity, GA3: Ethical practice, GA4: Knowledge of a discipline, GA5: Lifelong learning, GA6: Communication and social skills, GA7: Cultural competence
Learning outcome count Learning outcome description GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 Understand the role of simulation modelling in forest management and environmental planning
2 Identify forest and environmental issues that simulation modelling can help to resolve
3 Design and implement a suitable modelling approach for a specified environmental context
4 Gather and synthesise relevant information and calibrate a model for a practical application
5 Complete simulations, document outcomes, and present & discuss findings
6 Identify model limitations and define research needed to strengthen model

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. Understand the role of simulation modelling in forest management and environmental planning
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  2. Identify forest and environmental issues that simulation modelling can help to resolve
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  3. Design and implement a suitable modelling approach for a specified environmental context
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  4. Gather and synthesise relevant information and calibrate a model for a practical application
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  5. Complete simulations, document outcomes, and present & discuss findings
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA6:
  6. Identify model limitations and define research needed to strengthen model
    • GA1:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.