Data & Decisions

Subject MAST10002 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 1 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

Semester 2, Dookie - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable

Block teaching at Dookie campus

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 40 hours of contact during block sessions
Total Time Commitment: 100 hours
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements: It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. This course requires all students to enrol in subjects where they must actively and safely contribute to field excursions and laboratory activities. Students who feel their disability will impact on meeting this requirement are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Subject Coordinator and Disability Liaison Unit (8344 7068 or DLU-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au).

Coordinator

Dr Graham Brodie

Contact

Melbourne School of Land & Environment Student Centre
Ground Floor, Land & Food Resources (building 142)

Enquiries
Phone: 13 MELB (13 6352)
Email: 13MELB@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

The collection and evaluation of technical information is essential for farm planning, precision agriculture, post harvest storage, product processing, transport, and marketing of commodities and processed goods. Success depends upon the selection of appropriate tools for the measurement, collection, storage and retrieval of data as well as techniques for evaluating this information and putting it into context.

Subject content:
• measurement of parameters
• determination of accuracy
• understanding spatial and temporal information
• determining data reliability
• methods of data collection, storage and retrieval
• principles of data-logging
• analysis of data in order to reduce its complexity and achieve simpler outcomes
• presentation and evaluation of data for decision-support
• understanding the role of technical information in analysis and decision making, including triple-bottom-line assessment and maintenance of the balance between resource utilization and conservation

Objectives:

This subject aims to introduce students to agricultural system analysis, focusing on the acquisition and interpretation of appropriate data to make informed decisions about agricultural system management.
Assessment: This subject will be assessed by project based assignments (50%) and a 3-hour examination (50%).
Prescribed Texts:

None.
Recommended Texts:

Brodie, G. I. 2009, Ingenious Devices and Systems:Engineering for Landscape Managers, Saarbruecken, Germany: VDM Verlag.
Breadth Options:

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills: Problem solving, Data management, Critical thinking, Communication, IT skills
Related Course(s): Bachelor of Agriculture

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