University of Technology Sydney

49107 Urban Stormwater Design

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Engineering: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Postgraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 120 credit points of completed study in Must have completed at least Bachelor's Honours Embedded owned by FEIT OR 120 credit points of completed study in Must have completed at least Bachelor's Combined Honours owned by FEIT OR 120 credit points of completed study in Must have completed at least Bachelor's Combined Honours co-owned by FEIT
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.

Description

This subject aims to teach students to design property, street pipe and trunk drainage systems, urban drainage structures such as culverts, water sensitive urban design (WSUD) and on-site detention systems (OSD) systems. A further objective is to familiarise students with methods of urban drainage design set out in recent manuals, with an emphasis on flood protection and integration with stormwater quality enhancement.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. Apply principles and methods of hydraulics and hydrology to urban stormwater systems. (D.1)
2. Design urban drainage systems and structures such as culverts, OSD systems and street pipe drainage systems using Australian design standards and best practice guides, with an emphasis on flood protection. (B.1, C.1)
3. Conceptualise and design urban stormwater systems that reduce pollution using principles of water sensitive urban design. (B.1 C.1)

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

  • Socially Responsible: FEIT graduates identify, engage, and influence stakeholders, and apply expert judgment establishing and managing constraints, conflicts and uncertainties within a hazards and risk framework to define system requirements and interactivity. (B.1)
  • Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design thinking and decision-making methodologies in new contexts or to novel problems, to explore, test, analyse and synthesise complex ideas, theories or concepts. (C.1)
  • Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply theoretical, conceptual, software and physical tools and advanced discipline knowledge to research, evaluate and predict future performance of systems characterised by complexity. (D.1)

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies

This subject contributes to the development of the following Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies:

  • 1.3. In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline.
  • 1.6. Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of sustainable engineering practice in the specific discipline.
  • 2.2. Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources.
  • 2.3. Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes.

Teaching and learning strategies

All block class sessions for this subject will now be conducted online. The subject coordinator and teaching staff in the subject will facilitate these block class sessions via Zoom. Consultation sessions for the subject will also be hosted via Zoom where students may request individual feedback.

In preparation for the block classes, students should watch the introductory video on Canvas. Students should reflect on the issues raised and the questions posted on Canvas related to the video. Students should participate in the Canvas discussion board. The discussion is moderated by the subject coordinator, affording the opportunity to provide feedback on students' reflections, and answer and direct further learning.

The workshops are interactive in all aspects of the course of instruction, which will include the use of PowerPoint presentations and videos. Students are expected to actively take part in class discussion to, in part, help build their communication skills as well as consolidate concepts of stormwater design. The workshops will have a practical bias. Students are expected to read the indicated materials and answer the associated online questions before the workshops so that the workshops can focus on problem solving activities individually or in small groups and addressing any gaps in understanding.

All relevant workshop material including notes, videos, reference material, design handbooks, tutorials, online questions, assessment tasks, etc. will be placed on Canvas. Learning materials have a practical focus that aims to be relevant to professional engineering practice. Some of the workshops and tutorials may be given by guest lecturers with industry expertise to link the subject to professional engineering practice.

There will also be computer laboratory tutorial sessions held at UTS (one each block) which will be interactive and focused on problem solving in a group environment. Feedback will be delivered on both group and individual basis.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Assignment 1 (Report)

Intent:

In this assessment task, students will apply theoretical concepts and design methods to a practical situation with respect to property drainage and on-site detention

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1 and 2

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

B.1, C.1 and D.1

Type: Report
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 25%
Length:

No more than 10 pages in length including any diagrams.

Assessment task 2: Assignment 2 (Report)

Intent:

In this assessment task, students apply theoretical concepts and design methods to a practical situation with respect to a street

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1 and 2

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

B.1, C.1 and D.1

Type: Report
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 25%
Length:

No more than 10 pages in length including any diagrams.

Assessment task 3: Assignment 3 (Report)

Intent:

In this assessment task, students apply theoretical concepts and design methods to a practical situation with respect to 2D modelling or modelling bridges or other hydraulic structures

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1 and 2

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

B.1, C.1 and D.1

Type: Report
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 25%
Length:

No more than 10 pages in length including any diagrams.

Assessment task 4: Assignment 4 (Report)

Intent:

In this assessment task, students apply theoretical concepts and design methods to a practical situation with respect to water senstive urban design

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

3

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

B.1 and C.1

Type: Report
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 25%
Length:

No more than 10 pages in length including any diagrams.

Minimum requirements

In order to pass the subject, a student must achieve an overall mark of 50% or more.

Required texts

Essential notes and papers are on UTS Canvas.

References

Engineers Australia, 'Australian Rainfall and Runoff, A Guide to Flood Estimation', Institution of Engineers Australia, Canberra , 2003.

Queensland Urban Drainage Manual (QUDM Jones, N et al 1992);

Argue J, 1987, 'Storm Drainage Design in Small Urban Catchments: A Handbook for Australian Practice', Special Report No.34, Australian Road Research Board, Vermont South, Victoria

AUSTROADS, 1994,'Waterway Design, A Guide to the Hydraulic Design of Bridges, Culverts and Floodways', Sydney

Henderson F M, 1966, 'Open Channel Flow, Macmillan, New York

Hunt, J S (ed), 1992, 'Urban Erosion and Sediment Control', Revised Edition, NSW Department of Conservation and Land Management

Morse McVey and Associates for NSW Department of Housing, 1993, 'Soil and Water Management for Urban Development', Sydney

New South Wales Government , 1986, 'Floodplain Development Manual', Sydney, December

New South Wales Government, 1990, 'Coastline Management Manual', Sydney, September

New South Wales Government, 1992 'Estuary Management Manual', Sydney, October

O'Loughlin G, 1994, 'Notes on Engineering Hydrology', School of Civil Engineering, University of Technology, Sydney

Other resources

A considerable amount of information is available from other government bodies, as documents and from their websites, for example:

Department of Natural Resources (DIPNR) http://www.dipnr.nsw.gov.au

Sydney Water Corporation: www.sydneywater.com.au

Sydney Catchment Authority: http://www.sca.nsw.gov.au