MRI603

Unit Description and General Aims

The responsibility of a Railway Civil Engineer extends far beyond understanding and maintaining the track in the “permanent way”.

The construction of new track, and reconstruction of existing track, must be managed with insight and competence, particularly with regard to interfacing between the project, key stakeholders, and the public. It requires an appreciation of contracts and their administration, an ability to assess construction and geotechnical risks, and the specification of appropriate construction processes, just to name of few of these considerations.

Furthermore, the rail corridor, or right-of-way, also has within it various structures, such as electric overhead power, stations and platforms, and level crossings; consequently, there is also a need for the management of the construction and maintenance of these other elements.

This Unit thus aims to assist students to take charge and effectively discharge their various responsibilities in the management of construction activities of track and of non-track facilities within the rail corridor.

The more advanced issues discussed within this Unit are built on student knowledge of track and train related matters as covered in all the other Units provided in this Master’s program to date.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this Unit, students are expected to be able to:

1. Formulate effective leadership and management of railway-related construction projects by taking into account the many impacts which this work entails, such as the social and ethical responsibilities involved in these activities.

          Bloom’s Level 6

2. Evaluate the aspects of interpersonal team dynamics and their relevance to the management and execution of construction projects.

         Bloom’s Level 5

3. Judge the risks of geotechnical hazards in the rail corridor.

          Bloom’s Level 5

4. Produce and compile relevant information to determine appropriate construction strategies for a railway construction project.

           Bloom’s Level 6

Student assessment

Prescribed and Recommended readings

Required Textbook(s)

Construction Plan Study Notes by Rail Innovation Australia (RIA) [existing materials] and other information and materials on their website: http://www.railinnovation.com.au/

Reference Materials

A number of books, peer-reviewed journals, and websites as advised below:

• Esveld, C., Modern Railway Track 2nd ed. MRT Productions, Netherlands. 2011, ISBN 90-800324-3-3. . Available at http://www.esveld.com/MRT.html and https://www.amazon.co.uk/Modern-Railway-Coenraad-Esveld/dp/9080032433.
• Rory, B (2007) Project Management Techniques, College Edition, Burke Publishing, (ISBN 13: 978-0- 9582-7334-3)
• Hinze, J. W. (1998) Construction planning and scheduling, Prentice-Hall Inc, (ISBN 0-13-541301)
• Lock, D. (2007) Project Management 9th edition, Burlington, VT: Ashgate
• Mawdesley, M, Askew, W and O’Reilly, M (1997) Planning and controlling construction projects, Longman,UK (ISBN 0-582-23409-3)
• Simpson’s Meyer-Briggs Personality Evaluation at: http://www.slideshare.net/lntrullin/the-simpsons-myersbriggs-test
• “Who Moved My Cheese” – Dr Spencer Johnson
• Engineers Australia Code of Ethics and Values Exchange Website – engineersaustralia.values-exchange.com.
• Other materials to be advised during the lectures

Unit Content

One topic is delivered per contact week, with the exception of part-time 24-week units, where one topic is delivered every two weeks.

Topic 1

Personality Profile and Team Skills

1. Simpsons Myers Briggs Profile
2. Personality traits, team skills, complementary and compatible personalities
3. Introduction to light rail projects

Topic 2

Project Planning

1. Project planning, stakeholders
2. Types of construction contracts

Topic 3 and 4

Track Construction Methodologies

1. Manual track construction
2. In-track construction
3. Track panel laying
4. Slab track construction
5. Turnout construction

Topic 5 and 6

Construction Plans

1. Establishment and material logistics
2. Works execution and interface issues
3. Risk and contingency planning
4. Commissioning, testing, and acceptance
5. Construction costs
6. Design of junctions to existing railways, connection agreements, and rail system integration/compatibility

Topic 7,8 and 9

Civil Structures

1. Construction materials and types
2. Introduction to design of bridges and structures from a track construction perspective
3. Structural defects
4. Inspections
5. Maintenance of civil structures including tunnel construction options and economic considerations
6. Track maintenance overview/techniques and methods
7. Railway buildings – types and maintenance aspects

Topic 10 and 11

Geotechnical Risk

1. Introduction to geotechnical risk in the rail corridor
2. Identification of geotechnical hazards to rail operations
3. Assessment of geotechnical risk to rail operations

Topic 12

Project and Unit Review

In the final week students will have an opportunity to review the contents covered so far. Opportunity will be provided for a review of student work and to clarify any outstanding issues. Instructors/facilitators may choose to cover a specialised topic if applicable to that cohort.

Engineers Australia

The Australian Engineering Stage 1 Competency Standards for the Professional Engineer, approved as of 2013. This table is referenced in the mapping of graduate attributes to learning outcomes and via the learning outcomes to student assessment.

Software/Hardware Used

Software

• Software: N/A

• Version: N/A

•  Instructions: N/A

•  Additional resources or files: N/A

Hardware

• Hardware: N/A

Unit Changes Based on Student Feedback