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Unit of Study FOR03105 - Fire Ecology and Management (2016)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Enrolment information

    There will be a three day compulsory residential workshop for all students that will be based from the Lismore campus. Please refer to the external residential timetable which can be found on the Environment, Science and Engineering Student Centre in MySCU.

Unit description

Examines principles of combustion and fire behaviour based on an understanding of meteorological events; the role of fire in ecosystem function; techniques of fire control including hazard reduction and other prescribed burning techniques; review of suppression strategies.

Unit content

The following topics will be considered, discussed or reviewed:

  • The role of fire in the ecology of Australia's forests;
  • The principles of fire behaviour, including the impacts of climate, topography, fuel loads and past management;
  • The principles of fire management, including hazard reduction, fire control and suppression; and
  • The principles of fire control policy and planning in NSW, communications and the human safety factor.

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Lismore Session 2 Session 2
Online Session 2 N/A

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 physical principles driving fire behaviour.
2 Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the ecological role of fire, particularly in forested ecosystems.
3 Analyse opposing fire management systems for their impact on ecological health and community safety.

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

  1. Understand the physical principles driving fire behaviour.
    • GA1:
  2. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the ecological role of fire, particularly in forested ecosystems.
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
    • GA7:
  3. Analyse opposing fire management systems for their impact on ecological health and community safety.
    • GA1:
    • GA7:

Teaching and assessment

Teaching method
Lecture on-site 2 hours (11 weeks)
Residential session 3 days
Assessment
Exam: closed book 50%
Report 30%
Seminar - each postgraduate selects an article from the literature and leads a one-hour discussion of it. There will a roster and students will be allowed to choose their day of presentation. 20%

Teaching method
Residential session 3 days
Structured online learning 2 hours  (11 weeks )
Assessment
Exam: closed book 50%
Report 30%
Seminar - each postgraduate selects an article from the literature and leads a one-hour discussion of it. There will a roster and students will be allowed to choose their day of presentation. 20%

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.