Overview

This unit provides a basis for understanding the built environment and the factors impacting on the sustainability of communities. It will focus on concepts related to ecological sustainable development, the planning of urban environments including statutory controls, the relationship of environmental health to the promotion of a sustainable community and the management of disasters and emergencies, encompassing planning, response and recovery.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Discuss the principles of ecologically sustainable development and the application to the built environment
  • Articulate the history and concept of the built environment including the legislative and strategic control of urban environments
  • Examine the health issues related to housing and accommodation and how they are managed
  • Evaluate the environmental hazards arising from the built environment including noise, air, ventilation and waste disposal
  • Examine selected sanitary engineering principles and the ways in which they can be employed to resolve particular problems
  • Articulate the principles of emergency management, including the identification and response to public health issues

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Live Online
Lecture		 2.00  12 weeks  24
On Campus
Class		 1.00  12 weeks  12
Specified Activities 
Various		 5.00  12 weeks  60
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning		 4.50  12 weeks  54
TOTAL     150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assignment 1 Individual  30 - 40%  1,2 
Examination Individual  30 - 40%  3,4,5,6
Online Quiz Individual  15 - 30%  1,2

Content

  • Key concepts of sustainable development, including ecological footprint, triple bottom line, health impacts assessment, healthy cities and key global polices. 
  • History of the built environment, land use planning processes and strategies and their application to environmental health.
  • Air, water, noise sources of exposure, pollutants of concern, monitoring and control.
  • Health issues related to housing and accommodation and statutory controls pertinent to public health protection.
  • Waste water disposal theory: Standards of installation, application and supervision. Codes of practice installation standards, regulatory control emergency water supplies, water tanks.
  • Emergency Management, Prevention, Preparedness, Response, Recovery, hazard identification, public health response.

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.