Course Work Graduates

A to Z

Follow the links below for:

AAA People

Annual Report - Geomatics

For a detailed list of current research and information about the department see here

Anti-discrimination guidelines and contacts

It is unlawful and against University Policy to discriminate against or harass anyone on the basis of: age, disability, gender identity, industrial activity, marital, parental or carer status, physical features, political belief or activity, pregnancy or breastfeeding, race/ethnicity/nationality, sexuality/orientation, religious belief or activity, or sex. For advice and assistance anti-discrimination advisers can be contacted by phoning the Equal Opportunity Unit on 8344 4438 or consulting their website.

Associations

MUGS

All students enrolled in a Geomatic Engineering undergraduate or postgraduate degree are eligible to become MUGS members. Currently MUGS has over 250 members. Contact: mugs@ecr.mu.oz.au

University of Melbourne Postgraduates Association (UMPA)

The University of Melbourne's Postgraduate Students' Association supports the School of Graduate Studies and contributes to every aspect of operation within the Graduate Centre. The Association works toward improving resources for postgraduate students and ensuring quality in all programs, as well as enhancing the reputation of the University's postgraduate studies and research around the world. As a representative group for postgraduate students on various academic and administrative councils and committees, the Postgraduate Association ensures that students needs are being communicated. Through the Postgraduate Association, students are able to play an active role in policy development and are involved in initiating, developing and running many of the Centre's social and cultural programs

The Postgraduate Association resides in the west wing of the 1888 Building. 

Queries about the Association can be directed to the Chief Executive Officer on (03) 8344-8657 or via the web at: www.umpa.unimelb.edu.au

Award

The Melbourne School of Engineering requires authorisation from you before you can be awarded your qualification. An 'Award Declaration' form will need to be filled in and submitted to the Engineering Faculty so that you can graduate.

Please be aware that many of the courses offered in Geomatics have a progression pathway to a higher qualification. A student eligible for progression may be able to gain credit for some of the subjects already completed. However once you have taken out your award and graduated, you cannot have any of these subjects credited towards another qualification. If you are interested in applying for a further qualification please complete a 'Progression Application' form available from the Melbourne School of Engineering.

Casual Employment

Students interested in employment as tutors, demonstrators, and lab supervisors, should contact Prof. Ian Bishop.   Note that the regulations for most degrees, and for most scholarships, place limits upon the amount of outside work that may be undertaken.  Students should also be aware that casual work can be a drain on their time and a distraction from their study.  Nevertheless, teaching assistance is an important part of the academic apprenticeship, and postgraduate students are encouraged to undertake such duties.

Communication between postgrads

Postgraduate students are invited to attend the Monday morning Department meetings held each week in the Staff Room on the 4th Floor at 9.15 a.m.  Any immediate issues can be raised at this time.

Representatives for the postgraduate students meet regularly with academic staff to discuss more general postgraduate issues.  Such meetings will usually be advertised in advance by email.

Students may at any time seek appointments with the postgraduate coordinator (Professor Ian Bishop) or the Head of Department (Professor Ian Williamson,).  They are however, encouraged to discuss all problems first with their supervisor.

Computers

The Department has a large number of PCs and some Unix-based workstations. Students requiring access to other equipment should, in the first instance, discuss the need with their supervisor. Please note that Mihaela Capalnean (Ext 46833) is the IT Support Officer. Please discuss any computer problems with Mihaela.

Some PCs are available for all graduate students for general use in LIL. Specialist computers (i.e. some PCs, Intergraph and Silicon Graphics) are available for specific research. Access may have to be booked and the responsible academic advised. In all cases consult Mihaela as to the status of computers. She is responsible for the supervision of access to all computers.

Where a researcher or graduate student is funded by an externally funded research project which has allowance for computer resources, the provision of computer resources is the responsibility of the principal researcher who administers the grant. This may apply to Research Fellows, Research Assistants, PhD students and Masters students.

The Department will endeavor to provide all full-time research students with access to basic computer facilities on their desk (email and word processing). Since many PhD students are funded by grants which provide computers, these students are obviously already accommodated. Where no computer facilities are provided by other sources, computers will be allocated according to availability. Computers may be PCs of various vintages, although providing PCs of a reasonable standard will be a priority. Different students have different needs and students may make a case, through their supervisor, for special resources.

Students may use their own computers, however the Department cannot take responsibility for security or maintenance. In this case is also to be noted that it is the user responsibility to assure at all times that their own computers are not infected with any PC virus and that the Windows patches are applied regularly. If you bring your laptop and wish to have it connected to the network, the operating system must be in English otherwise it cannot be connected. The Department will not provide individual computers for part-time graduate students. It is assumed they will use the computers provided in the Department laboratories or provide their own.

Students are required to exercise reasonable care to safeguard their computing accounts from break-in, and to protect the equipment in general from damage. Students who are detected attempting to crack the system or the accounts of other users will be dealt with according to the University’s disciplinary regulations. Students should appreciate that the equipment must be used collaboratively, and should refrain from activities that affect the ability of others to use the resources. What might seem like a harmless prank—sending forged mail, for example—can often have serious consequences. University policy is that computers and network equipment may only be used for University-related business. In particular, offensive screen images must not be copied, stored, or viewed on any Department computers.

Students should also be aware that software is subject to copyright, and that all software installed onto any of the systems, whether for public or private use, must be correctly licensed.

Problems with accounts, and usage of computers should in the first instance be taken up with Mihaela Capalnean (IT Support Officer). The IT Support Officer is the first ‘port of call’ for software and hardware problems, and a good way to contact Mihaela is by email (mihaela@unimelb.edu.au).

More information about the Departmental IT Policies and useful computer-related documents can be found on www.geom.unimelb.edu.au/it This webpage is updated regularly and maintained by Mihaela.

Please also review the Department's Internet Download policy.

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Copyright

Information about the University’s copyright guidelines can be found here. These guidelines should be strictly adhered to. 

Dispute Resolution

If a dispute arises between yourself and another person within in the Department you should contact the Postgraduate Co-ordinator, Prof Ian Bishop to discuss the matter.  If a dispute cannot be resolved at this level then the next step is to speak to the Head of Department.  Students should also seek advice from UMPA.

ECR Access

A 24 hour access card gives you access to ECR 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. The computer laboratories, are in the Old Engineering building. For further information visit: www.eng.unimelb.edu.au/courses/ugrad/resources/ecr_access.html

Email

Students will be given a free email account.  The central university student e-mail account is an important tool for all students during their university studies. It is used to send students official university information by Student Administration, faculties and departments and individual lecturers. 

You can set up your email here: accounts.unimelb.edu.au

It is better to use your University account than Hotmail, Yahoo etc because of file quotas. 

Please let our Systems Administrator know when you have activated your pgrad email account.  They can then add you to our Sunrise email address book which will enable you to receive important and useful emails from the Department. 

Enrolment

Coursework students enrol prior to commencement of semester one or semester two. Please contact the School Student Service Centre.

Enrolment Changes

From part time to full time or full time to part time:

Coursework students should send a letter of written request to theSchool Student Service Centre, endorsed by the supervisor/co-ordinator of the program and the Head of Department

Ethics

See website here.

Application Process:

Expedited Review of Low Risk Projects Involving Human Participants

Research that is deemed to be of low risk to participants and researchers may be approved by an expedited process. Your project must not present any more than minimal risk to participants, that is, not more than everyday risk. Participants would normally (but not always) be competent, independent adults.

You need to fill in the following form in the first instance to see if your application can be dealt with at the Departmental level – www.research.unimelb.edu.au/ethics/human/expedited/checklist.html

If you answer ‘no’ to all the questions on the expedited checklist form then you should complete this form: www.research.unimelb.edu.au/ethics/human/expedited/Expedited_Review_Form.doc  and pass it on to either Ian Bishop or Deborah Thomas. Both forms will be presented to a meeting of the DEHAG for their approval, and if approved, will be sent on to the University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) for their endorsement.  You will be notified of the outcome.

If you answer yes to some questions you will need to complete Form 1, found here www.research.unimelb.edu.au/ethics/human/procedures/procedure.html.  This form will need to be submitted directly the Human Research Ethics Committee for their consideration.  Advice on completing this form can be found here: www.research.unimelb.edu.au/ethics/human/application.html

Examples of completed forms and plain language statements can be found here: www.research.unimelb.edu.au/ethics/human/expedited/Expedited_Review_Form.doc

Procedures for requesting amendments can be found here:  www.research.unimelb.edu.au/ethics/human/requests.html

Research must not commence until written notification of ethics approval has been received by the researcher.

Equipment

See Computers.

Facilities

The Geomatics building includes a wide range of facilities.  There is a meeting room for groups of up to about 10 people in the ‘penthouse’ postgraduate accommodation.  The remainder of the building contains a number of tutorial rooms and first-class lecture theatres with full audio-visual facilities.  These can be booked for postgraduate student use, but semester-time usage is normally very high.  The administration of these rooms is through the central room bookings system, and so considerable lead time (at least a week) is normally required.  See the General Office for advice on bookings.  More conveniently, several meeting rooms are available for booking in the School of Graduate Studies (see section 3.16).

Postgraduate office allocations are handled by Nghiem Tran, in consultation with the supervisor of each student.  Nghiem also handles office/building keys and new students should, upon arrival, present themselves to him to arrange these housekeeping details.  A deposit is required for all keys issued; this will be returned in full when students return their keys at the completion of their studies.

Faxing

There is a facsimile machine in the office that may be used with your supervisor’s permission.  The fax number is 03-9347-2916.  See the staff in the office if you wish to send a fax. 

Geomatics Postgraduate Society (GPS) 

All postgraduate students enrolled within the Geomatics Department are automatically members of the GPS. This postgraduate group aims to (i) enhance the academic and professional life of Geomatics postgraduate students; (ii) encourage social interaction of students within the department and (iii) provide academic support to fellow postgraduates and thus foster communication of research ideas and collaborations. In collabloration with RMIT, the group hosts the annual postgraduate conference ASPIRE. In addition, GPS runs a variety of sporting competitions on Friday afternoons and organises several social activities throughout the year.

For more information visit their website or contact the GPS Secretary, Anna Boin: a.boin2@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au

Grievances

The University of Melbourne Postgraduate Association can also offer advice about a range of issues. For further information visit: www.umpa.unimelb.edu.au/advice

Health and Safety

As a postgraduate student you will receive SafetyMAP training as part of your induction process and will become familiar with emergency procedures in the Department of Geomatics. 

In addition, the Faculty’s Environment, Health & Safety Manual can be viewed online at: www.geom.unimelb.edu.au/about/safety.html

Students are also required to complete an ‘After Hours Person or Equipment Form’ at the commencement of their candidature.  Please download form from here [pdf]

Induction

Upon arrival students will undergo an induction into the Department.  Students will be issued with a work space (if required) keys to the postgraduate area (a deposit of $50 will be required) a swipe card for access to the building, a Health and Safety tour, introductions to the IT person and Postgraduate Administrator and a PIN number for Photocopy access

Intellectual Property Rights

The following Web address gives the full interpretation of Intellectual Property. A copy of the Statute is attached. www.research.unimelb.edu.au/ridg/ip/studentinfo

Internet Download Policy

The Department's Policy on Internet charges encourages responsible use of the University/Departmental resources.

The Department is charged by the Information Services for the use of the Internet, based on the volume of data received. Data received from the Internet includes emails from outside the University, documents read via an Internet browser, materials downloaded from websites etc. The current price scale for data is as follows:

• Direct International Commodity $22.50 per Gigabyte
• International Advanced Research (through The Australian Academic and Research Network (AARNet Pty Ltd)) $22.50 per Gigabyte
• Australian Domestic $22.50 per Gigabyte
• AARNET $22.50 per Gigabyte
• AARNET Mirrors of International sites $15.00 per Gigabyte
• Victorian Regional Network (VRN) Free
• Melbourne Uni Free

Additional notes:

1. Consistently 70% to 80% of the cost is of International traffic.
2. It is possible to obtain the cost breakdown and information about the type of data downloaded by individual PC users. Therefore, whenever there is an anomaly in usage cost, the cause can be tracked down to individual users.

Guidelines:

The Department endeavours to provide the Internet facility as an efficient tool for teaching/study/research/work for staff and postgraduate students.
These guidelines aim to assist staff and students in the responsible use of the service.

1. Keep the use of Internet strictly study/research/work related. There will be financial penalties imposed for any abuse.
   Low volume personal use for reading an overseas newspaper, finding a telephone number etc is unlikely to become an issue. However, any streaming audio or video or any non-academic multimedia content: games, music, video clips, movies etc are definitely forbidden. Procedures are being put in place such that high volume use will be immediately identified. In such cases, the Department can check the individual web sites which have been accessed.
2. Keep the downloading local where you can. Many companies now have Australian sites that users may not be aware of.
   For example, you should use www.google.com.au instead of www.google.com, as it is cheaper to browse locally and the information is also more relevant.
   If you need to download large amounts of data for your research and are concerned about the limit, please ask the IT staff for assistance and guidance.
3. Do not change or remove the “proxy settings” in any of the browsers installed on the computers.
4. Make sure that you have the Department or the University website as the home page. The defaults www.netscape.com or http://ninemsn.com.au cost money every time you start up your browser.
5. The Department’s Management and IT staff will continue to conduct an on-going campaign to raise users’ awareness on the issue. These guidelines form part of staff and postgraduate induction. Usage will continue to be monitored in the interest of curtailing costs.

Note: For the general policy on Usage of University computing and Network facilities, please refer to the document found at www.unimelb.edu.au/ExecServ/Statutes/r81r7.pdf or to the web publishing Guideline found at www.unimelb.edu.au/ExtRels/web.

Keys

Upon enrolment you will be issued with keys that will enable you to access the relevant postgraduate areas. A deposit of $50 is required. The money will be refunded upon the return of the keys at the end of your candidature.

Kitchen

There is a large ‘central’ tea-room on the fourth floor for use by staff and postgraduate students, as well as  tea/coffee alcoves in the ‘penthouse’and the postgraduate accommodation area on the 4th Floor next to Theatre C2.   All facilities are available free of charge.

Learning Skills Unit

LSU advisers are available to assist postgraduate students with a range of issues related to postgraduate study, such as:

• thesis planning
• structure
• editing
• reading for research
• time management
• motivation

Postgraduate students may bring in sections of theses for comments on academic style and structure. An individual appointment can be made to see an adviser for study related issues.

To make an appointment either call in to the LSU, or telephone our reception on 83440930. You can book an appointment up to 2 weeks in advance, but please note that there is a limit to the number of appointments allowed per semester

Further information available from www.services.unimelb.edu.au/llsu

Leave of Absence

Course work students must submit a letter of request, endorsed by both the candidate's supervisor/coordinator and the Head of Department. The letter must be lodged with the Faculty Postgraduate officer. Normally up to 12 months effective full time candidature may be allowed for a good reason.

Library Facilities

All publications in the University library system may be searched from the on-line catalogue accessible from Department terminals or access the catalogue via the web at: www.lib.unimelb.edu.au

A comprehensive list of Geomatics-related library holdings (with library Call Numbers) is distributed to staff and students twice each year, and is accessible on the web at: www.geom.unimelb.edu.au/research/catalogue.html

The library system provides traditional services including loans, reference, and local inter-library loans.  These are available without charge to enrolled students and staff of the University of Melbourne for purposes of teaching, study and research.  (There may be a charge for special services, such as printing full-text from online collections.)   Overseas interlibrary loans will require a supervisor’s signature to identify the University account which is to be charged.  The library also participates in the CAVAL Reciprocal Borrowing Program, and you may enrol as borrower (by getting a CAVAL card) at other participating libraries in Victoria.  Your student card gives you access to all the local resources. The libraries are committed to excellent service.  At the start of each semester the Engineering Library runs introductory courses on the use of library facilities, including CD-Roms.  If you have not had such an introduction, make sure you arrange to be part of it next time. 

To view the Information Skills Classes available and to book online go to: www.lib.unimelb.edu.au/cgi-bin/libclass

On-line Subject Material

www.geom.unimelb.edu.au/ugrad/online.html

Parking

Students are not entitled to daytime parking permits unless there have medical reasons.  (Even some staff are not entitled to parking; and those that are pay over $600 a year for the privilege.) However, after-hours parking is permitted and students may purchase a yearly after-hours parking permit from the Traffic Office in the Old Geology Building, Ground Floor (See attached Map of the University). Contact the University Traffic Office (ext.  47113)

Photocopying Facilities

Postgraduate students will be issued with a PIN for the photocopier (on the 4th Floor) upon commencement of their degree (see the staff in the office).  Students will be given 500 free copies per semester. Excessive amounts of use may result in the supervisor or student being asked to account for usage.

To make overhead projector transparencies, contact the office staff.  Note: use of the wrong film in the copier can cause major damage.  Please do not use any films other than those issued by the office; and make it perfectly clear when you are asking that you will be using the film in the copier. 

The University has an official policy dealing with photocopying and copyright.  A copy of the document can be found at: www.unimelb.edu.au/copyright/students.html

Printing

The Department has a wide range of computer printing facilities and students should see the IT Support Officer (Mihaela Capalnean) regarding printing problems.

Prizes

Commencing in 2003 the Omnilink company have generously agreed to support an annual prize for the best post-graduate coursework student (Masters, Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate). The prize will be awarded to the student who averages the highest mark in their best four approved subjects (level 4, 5 and 6 subjects only) over the previous twelve months. As the presentation will be made at the annual student dinner in September it is not possible to include results for the second semester. Therefore results of second semester 2002 and first semester 2003 will be used. Part time students will be eligible. Research students who have completed some coursework are ineligible.

Research in Progress

For a detailed list of Research in progress please visit: www.geom.unimelb.edu.au/research/postgrad_res.html

Resources for Coursework Students

Resources available for Postgraduate Coursework Students: www.geom.unimelb.edu.au/postgrad/pdf/Resources-for-cw-students.pdf [pdf]

Results

The University of Melbourne has an online system where a student can obtain their subject and course related results via the internet.

The University of Melbourne - Student Results Service is located at: sis.unimelb.edu.au/cgi-bin/results.pl

History of Results

Use this service to order a free report of your results history (including all subjects completed in previous years). The report will be sent via email to your central University mail account which you are allocated on enrolment.

University of Melbourne - History of Results website is located at: sis.unimelb.edu.au/cgi-bin/full-results.pl

Security

Unfortunately, thefts of personal belongings and Department equipment do occur in the building.  There is also a risk of arson, which could destroy large amounts of research effort and resources.  In order to minimise these undesirable events, all members of the Department are requested to observe a few simple precautions:

• Keep all room doors locked when the room is not occupied by a person who is in a position to observe the entry from all doors of casual or unauthorised visitors.  It is particularly important to ensure at lunch time that all office doors into corridors are left locked.
• Never prop open building doors, or leave doors unlocked, to ‘let in friends'.  Similarly, do not let into the building people who purport to be ‘the friends of Fred or Helen'.
• Question all strangers you see in the building, particularly after 5 p.m. and at the weekend.  If you notice unusual activities in the Department outside office hours ring the Security Office, extension 46666 (24 hours).  Students should avoid confrontational situations with unwanted ‘guests', as this is the job of the Security Office.  Students may also call this number to arrange an after-hours ‘escort' to parked cars or tram stops.
• Regularly check over the contents of your office.  If any unexpected disappearance of equipment is observed, report the matter immediately to your supervisor or another staff member.  Prompt reporting of theft is necessary for insurance reasons.
• When leaving your office at the end of the day, turn off the lights and lock all doors.  When leaving the building after normal hours, if the outside door has been locked, make sure that it closes properly after you.
• An “After Hours Building Access Log Book” is kept in the Land Information Lab and you are asked to signed in and out when working on weekends or late at night.  You should also phone Security on 46666 to inform them that you are working ‘out of hours'
• Alcohol may not be brought into the Department without the express permission of the Head of Department (or their Deputy). 

Seminars

Postgraduate and Staff Research Seminars are held every Thursday (during Semester) at 1.15 in C1.  Stephan Winter is the seminar co-ordinator (winter@unimelb.edu.au)  Attendance is not compulsory but is expected and advised.

Special Consideration

An online form for application for Special Consideration is available from the Student Information System (SIS) website here. Please note that the details on the form MUST be validated at the Faculty of Engineering office and supporting documents, such as medical certificates, have to be lodged at the Faculty of Engineering office.

Application forms for Special Consideration are NOT available from the Faculty office.

Grounds for Special Consideration

Special Consideration is available to you when:

1. at any time, your work during the academic year has to a substantial degree been hampered by illness or other cause; or
2. you have been prevented by illness or other cause from preparing or presenting for all or part of a component of assessment; or
3. you were to a substantial degree adversely affected by illness or other cause during the performance of a component of assessment.

An application will be considered by examiner provided that:

• Your Application was lodged within the time limits (see section 2)
• The circumstances were beyond your control
• The illness or other cause substantially hampered your performance.

Except in unusual circumstances, acute problems - that is, problems involving no more than three (3) consecutive days, or a total of five (5) days, within the teaching period of a semester - are not considered sufficient grounds for Special Consideration.

Note: In the case of illness, medical evidence, or a statutory declaration, is required.

If you are physically capable of sitting an examination, you will be expected to do so even though your studies may have been interrupted.

For further details here

Stationery

Students are required to supply their own stationery items.  Students may not, for any purposes, use University letterhead paper.  Any letters needing letterhead must come from the relevant staff member (eg. supervisor of Department Manager).

Unwanted printer paper should be recycled, and cartons are placed near most of the printers for this purpose.  Students are also encouraged to use the reverse side of such paper for notes.

Subject grades

Find out about subject grades and assessment here

Theses@library

This site provides links to local, national and international sites for theses which is regularly updated

dozer.infodiv.unimelb.edu.au/SuRe/subject/php?subject=Theses

Thesis Presentation

Statutes on thesis presentation

The Statutes of Theses Presentation are given here [pdf]
The following are covered:

• Submission of theses
• Certification of theses by candidates
• Subject matter of theses
• Examination of theses
• Theses to be deposited in the Library

Thesis Printing

The Department will only print off one original of a thesis (double-sided). Students are responsible for printing multiple copies externally.