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Unit Summary
Unit type
UG Coursework Unit
Credit points
12
AQF level
Level of learning
Intermediate
Former School/College
Unit aim
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 basic 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.
Learning outcomes
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 | GA2 | GA3 | GA4 | GA5 | GA6 | GA7 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Understand the physical principles driving fire behaviour. | |||||||
| 2 | Demonstrate a broad and coherent understanding of the ecological role of fire, particularly in forested ecosystems in Australia. | |||||||
| 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:
-
Understand the physical principles driving fire behaviour.
- GA1:
- GA3:
- GA7:
-
Demonstrate a broad and coherent understanding of the ecological role of fire, particularly in forested ecosystems in Australia.
- GA1:
- GA7:
-
Analyse opposing fire management systems for their impact on ecological health and community safety.
- GA1:
- GA3:
- GA7:
Prescribed texts
- Griffiths, T. , 2001, Forests of Ash: an environmental history, Cambridge University Press , Cambridge. ISBN: 0521012341 .