UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

This is part 1 of the Design project available within the Master in Geotechnics for Offshore Wind Energy. Parts 1 of and 2 must be completed to satisfy the requirements of the unit. The project is a capstone experience in which students integrate and apply knowledge and skills acquired in earlier units to a substantial real-world offshore geotechnical design challenge. Students work in teams, typically with four to six members, and are supervised by an academic and/or industry mentor. Teams are responsible for managing their project as well as reporting against milestones and preparing the necessary design documentation. The academic objectives of the project are to lead students through a systematic geotechnical engineering design and synthesis process and to better prepare them for professional practice as offshore geotechnical design engineers. The focus of this unit is on teamwork skills and the design process.

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Semester 1	Online	Online flexible

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) apply engineering synthesis and design processes appropriate and relevant to offshore geotechnical engineering design; (2) seek out the requirements and associated resources to assess the scope, dimensions, scale of effort and indicative costs of a complex engineering project; (3) apply technical knowledge, appropriate tools and problem-solving skills to achieve a practical and technically sound geotechnical design that satisfies the client requirements; (4) apply project management tools and processes to the planning and execution of a design project; (5) conduct oneself in a professional manner; (6) critically analyse geotechnical site characterisation datasets to establish design inputs and quantify uncertainty; (7) critically review design outputs; (8) locate and evaluate relevant standards and technical literature; (9) use discourse conventions relevant to the discipline; (10) communicate clearly, effectively and appropriately using written, oral and visual means; and (11) contribute to and/or manage a complex engineering project activity, as a member and/or leader of an engineering team.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) oral presentation; (2) professional conduct; and (3) project deliverables. Further information is available in the unit outline.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Professor Christophe Gaudin

Unit rules

Prerequisites

Successful completion of

level 5 24 points Unit(s) 74550 Master in Geotechnics for Offshore Wind Energy

Co-requisites

OCEN5558 Design Project Part 2

Incompatibility

Enrolment in

Unit(s) OCEN5555 Research Project Part 1

Enrolment in

Unit(s) OCEN5556 Research Project Part 2

Approved quota: 25—quota places will be allocated according to allocations for the Master in Geotechnics for Offshore Wind Energy programme, noting that this unit is only offered within this programme. Quota places for the Master in Geotechnics for Offshore Wind Energy programme will be based on merit, gender equity and diversity criteria, as described in the Ranking and Admissions criteria.

Contact hours

1 hour per week