Data & Decisions

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

Students are required to attend a three day teaching block at Dookie campus in the week prior to commencement of Semester 2 along with tutorials at the Parkville campus throughout the Semester.

170 hours

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 http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability or students can email disability-liaison@unimelb.edu.au

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

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.

• A 1000 word literature-based assignment due approximately Week 6 worth 20%
• A 1000 word project-based assignment due approximately Week 12 worth 30%
• A two-hour end-of-semester examination worth 50%

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

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

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music

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.

• Problem solving
• Data management
• Critical thinking
• Communication
• IT skills