Handbook

This course is intended to develop the capability and requisite skills of an engineer to build a foundation of knowledge related to a particular industry-related problem. This foundation provides a basis on which to design a solution that is robust and safe, cost effective and appropriate to the end-user.
It is essential that this foundation reflects not only established thinking and practices but equally important, it should account for divergent and newly developing views as well as any limitations or weaknesses that underpin current understanding. The quality of the engineering solution is therefore a function of the quality and timing to complete this investigation; an investigation that forms part of a process known as research.
The course is structured in two parts:

• the preparatory work on the final year's major research project; and
• reporting on a series of seminar presentations by speakers from industry that will require some additional research on the seminar topic.

Both parts will run concurrently in the semester.
The first part of the course relates to activities involved with the planning phase of a research project.
The second part is structured as a series of industry seminars spread over the semester that are intended to broaden the student's knowledge and encompass topics relevant to a professional mining engineer. While some of the topics may be presented in earlier parts of the Mining Engineering Program, each seminar allows for a more in-depth analysis by the student. The seminars may involve a range of technical and non-technical issues, dealing with such diverse topics as environmental management, mines inspectorate and investigations, safety management, industrial relations, change management in organisations, leadership, research and development of technology and intellectual property.

On completion of the courses, a student should be capable of preparing: a briefing paper that accounts for the current understanding of issues pertinent to a defined topic;a report encompassing a critique of the current state of knowledge as well as information on other related issues; anda project management plan that outlines the objectives of a proposed research project; the tasks, activities and resources necessary to achieve that objective; a schedule of activities and milestones; a risk assessment; and, contingency plans.