ENFO410-25W (C) Whole Year 2025

Forest Engineering Research

30 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 17 February 2025
End Date: Sunday, 9 November 2025
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 16 March 2025
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 24 August 2025

Description

Research methods and a major research project focussed on the application of engineering principles to the solution of a forest engineering problem. Project management principles, productivity study techniques and ergonomics will be taught within the scope of the course. Research methods will include effective literature review, research design, data collection, analyses and reporting. Topic to be established in class with industry and student input.

Being able to develop new information through applied research is critical to being successful in the field of forest engineering. With few established standards and protocols to cover all of the various aspects it becomes vitally important to be able to interpret, and where required develop, a range of methods and protocols to come up with innovative solutions to address real problems. This course provides the students the opportunity to develop and carry out their own research project, while working with the NZ Forest Industry at large. All of the major steps associated with carrying out such a project are covered in the course. Throughout the year examples of recently completed research work is presented and discussed, either directly from the literature or through presentations from leading researchers.

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to independently complete a research project in forest engineering, including:

Be familiar with existing forest engineering research programmes; (Washington Accord WA1; UC EEI3)
Be familiar with time studies and their applications;(WA1; EEI3)
Have a comprehensive understanding, and be able to synthesise, relevant forest engineering literature; (WA12; EEI3)
Be able to develop a detailed research work plan and demonstrate project management skills;(WA1, 2, 4, 6, 9; EEI1, 2, 3)
Be able to obtain, interpret and analyse research data on a complex real world problem; (WA4, 9, 11, 12; EEI1, 3, 5)and
Be able to generate, write and publish a detailed research report. (WA6, 11, EEI 2, 3, 5)

This course is based on the successful completion of a research project. The research project is new and will require the student to analyse and generate solutions to a complex and unpredictable problem. To achieve this the student is required to demonstrate project development, literature review, statistical analyses, report writing and presentation skills. Although a strong focus is on the final research output in terms of the report and presentation, the student is assessed throughout the year on the major milestones associated with successfully completing a research project.  

The projects are being developed in conjunction with, monitored by, and presented back to, industry representatives. As such the course ensures the application of the research project results is immediate and relevant. The students must demonstrate research skills and knowledge applied and integrated into this professional context.

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award

Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.

Employable, innovative and enterprising

Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.

Prerequisites

Subject to approval of the Director of Studies, Forest Engineering.

Timetable 2025

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lab A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Thursday 14:00 - 16:00 Forestry 150
17 Feb - 6 Apr
28 Apr - 1 Jun
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct

Course Coordinator

Rien Visser

Lecturer

Trevor Best

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Participation 10%
The Goal review 5%
Critical Research Paper Review 5%
Research Work Plan and Literature Review 10%
Group Project 15%
Draft Research Report 5%
Final Research Report 40%
Final Project Presentation 10%

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $2,706.00

International fee $12,747.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see School of Forestry .

All ENFO410 Occurrences

  • ENFO410-25W (C) Whole Year 2025