CQUniversity Unit Profile

BLAR13047 - Construction Economics 1

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All details in this unit profile for BLAR13047 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.

General Information

Overview

As you study this unit, your overall aim is to: understand macro economics, the markets and their dimensions, World and local economies and policy instruments; fully understand the effect of supply, demand prices and stocks; and become familiar with procedures, principles and methods of project costing, bills of quantities and life cycle analysis.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate

Unit Level: Level 3

Credit Points: 6

Student Contribution Band: 8

Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

There are no requisites for this unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2026

Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Website

This unit has a website, within the Moodle system, which is available two weeks before the start of term. It is important that you visit your Moodle site throughout the term. Please visit Moodle for more information.

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Regional Campuses

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville

Metropolitan Campuses

Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment

Weighting: 30%

2. Written Assessment

Weighting: 35%

3. Written Assessment

Weighting: 35%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

CQUniversity Policies

All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.

You may wish to view these policies:

Grades and Results Policy
Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
Review of Grade Procedure
Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure

This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Student

Feedback

The lecturer should provide more guidance/instructions on where to access resources related to each assignment.

Recommendation

The resources are in Moodle, and the lecturer will provide guidance/instructions in the tutorials.

Feedback from Student

Feedback

The unit/lecturer should consider using Microsoft Teams to provide faster and more effective support for student queries, similar to practices adopted in other units.

Recommendation

Microsoft Teams will be adopted as an additional communication and collaboration platform. It will be used to facilitate real-time interaction, Q&A sessions, group discussions, and quick clarifications to enhance overall student engagement and satisfaction.

Unit Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

Describe the various activities, and marketplace relationships that exist in the national economy
Explain the need for economic policy and the ability for policy to resolve economic problems
Describe the impact of supply and demand on the construction industry
Describe the basic requirements, procedures and benefits of building lifecycle costing and project cost estimating
Have an understanding of how computer based estimating tools can assist the preparation of project costing, estimating and administration

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes

N/A Level

Introductory Level

Intermediate Level

Graduate Level

Professional Level

Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks	Learning Outcomes
	1	2	3	4	5
1 - Written Assessment - 30%
2 - Written Assessment - 35%
3 - Written Assessment - 35%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes	Learning Outcomes
	1	2	3	4	5
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - First Nations Knowledges
11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks	Graduate Attributes
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
1 - Written Assessment - 30%
2 - Written Assessment - 35%
3 - Written Assessment - 35%

Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Construction Economics: A New Approach

Edition: 5th (2022)
Authors: Danny Myers
Taylor & Francis Ltd
ISBN: 9781032262611
Binding: Paperback

Supplementary

Basic Building Economics

(1999)
Authors: J. Sierra
Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors
ISBN: 1876389036
Binding: Paperback

Supplementary

Construction Industry Specifications

Edition: 1st (1995)
Authors: David. Standen
The Royal Australian Institute of Architects
ISBN: 9780909825300
Binding: Paperback

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:

CQUniversity Student Email
Internet
Unit Website (Moodle)
Endnote
MS Office or equivalent software
Webcam and microphone/headset
MS Teams

Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts

Pushpitha Kalutara Unit Coordinator
p.kalutara@cqu.edu.au

Chapter

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week

Begin Date: 08 Jun 2026

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

A3 Due: Exam Week Monday (8 June 2026) 11:45 pm AEST

Vacation/Exam Week

Begin Date: 15 Jun 2026

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title

Task Description

Assessment 1 relates to the learning outcomes 1 to 3. They are:

Describe the various activities, and marketplace relationships that exist in the national economy
Explain the need for economic policy and the ability for policy to resolve economic problems
Describe the impact of supply and demand on the construction industry

The assessment questions cover aspects of structural changes in the economy (Global and Local) and the economic policy. The assessment length is approximately 2000 words (+-10%). In answering the questions, you need to research on relevant case studies, examples, diagrams and visuals.

AI ASSESSMENT SCALE - AI PLANNING - You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.

Assessment Due Date

Week 5 Tuesday (7 Apr 2026) 11:45 pm AEST

Submitted via Turnitin

Return Date to Students

Vacation Week Tuesday (21 Apr 2026)

Within two weeks of the submission.

Weighting

30%

Assessment Criteria

Presentation and layout—includes demonstrated ability to prepare a professional technical report as part of the audit process, use of grammar, the selection of typeface, written and general appearance of the document or assignment, attention to detail and quality of arrangement with regard to page numbering, headings, margins, footnotes and similar details to provide a professional document presentation.

Content—includes the accuracy and relevance of the information supplied in relation to the set task, using an ‘easy to read’ language style.

References—includes the use of the Harvard Referencing System to reference information, data, tables or images used when preparing a response to the set task.

Referencing Style

Harvard (author-date)

Submission

Online

Submission Instructions

Submit your file via the Assessment block of the Moodle page of the unit

Learning Outcomes Assessed

Describe the various activities, and marketplace relationships that exist in the national economy
Explain the need for economic policy and the ability for policy to resolve economic problems
Describe the impact of supply and demand on the construction industry

Graduate Attributes

Communication
Problem Solving
Critical Thinking
Information Literacy
Information Technology Competence

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title

Task Description

Assessment 2 relates to the learning outcomes 3 and 4. They are:

3. Describe the impact of supply and demand on the construction industry

4. Describe the basic requirements, procedures and benefits of building lifecycle costing and project cost estimating

The assessment questions cover aspects of supply and demand of the economy. Aspects of life cycle analysis, cost analysis and source data for cost analysis calculations are also covered. The assessment length is approximately 2000 words (+-10%). In answering the questions, you need to research on relevant case studies, examples, diagrams and visuals.

AI ASSESSMENT SCALE - AI PLANNING - You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.

Assessment Due Date

Week 9 Monday (11 May 2026) 11:45 pm AEST

Submitted via Turnitin

Return Date to Students

Week 11 Monday (25 May 2026)

Within two weeks of the submission.

Weighting

35%

Assessment Criteria

Content—includes the accuracy and relevance of the information supplied in relation to the set task, using an ‘easy to read’ language style.

References—includes the use of the Harvard Referencing System to reference information, data, tables or images used when preparing a response to the set task.

Referencing Style

Harvard (author-date)

Submission

Online

Submission Instructions

Submit your file via the Assessment block of the Moodle page of the unit

Learning Outcomes Assessed

Describe the impact of supply and demand on the construction industry
Describe the basic requirements, procedures and benefits of building lifecycle costing and project cost estimating

Graduate Attributes

Communication
Problem Solving
Critical Thinking
Information Literacy
Information Technology Competence

3 Written Assessment

Assessment Title

Task Description

Assessment 3 relates to learning outcomes 4 and 5. They are:

4. Describe the basic requirements, procedures and benefits of building lifecycle costing and project cost estimating
5. Have an understanding of how computer based estimating tools can assist the preparation of project costing, estimating and administration

The assessment questions cover aspects of quantity calculations to suit specific projects, procedures and key practices for the compilation of estimates and the impact of estimating software on the estimation methodologies. The assessment length is approximately 2000 words (+-10%). In answering the questions, you need to research on relevant case studies, examples, diagrams and visuals.

AI ASSESSMENT SCALE - AI PLANNING - You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.

Assessment Due Date

Exam Week Monday (8 June 2026) 11:45 pm AEST

Submited via Turnitin

Return Date to Students

Vacation/Exam Week Friday (19 June 2026)

Within two weeks of the submission (23/06/2025) but before the certification of grades

Weighting

35%

Minimum mark or grade

To succeed in this unit, you must achieve 45% in assessment 3 (15.75 out of 35)

Assessment Criteria

Presentation and layout—includes demonstrated ability to prepare a professional technical report as part of the audit process, use of grammar, the selection of typeface, written and general appearance of the document or assignment, attention to detail and quality of arrangement with regard to page numbering, headings, margins, footnotes and similar details to provide a professional document presentation.

Content—includes the accuracy and relevance of the information supplied in relation to the set task, using an ‘easy to read’ language style.

References—includes the use of the Harvard Referencing System to reference information, data, tables or images used when preparing a response to the set task.

Referencing Style

Harvard (author-date)

Submission

Online

Submission Instructions

Submit your file via the Assessment block of the Moodle page of the unit

Learning Outcomes Assessed

Describe the basic requirements, procedures and benefits of building lifecycle costing and project cost estimating
Have an understanding of how computer based estimating tools can assist the preparation of project costing, estimating and administration

Graduate Attributes

Communication
Problem Solving
Critical Thinking
Information Literacy
Information Technology Competence

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.