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Study Land Planning and Development at Otago

Creating the spaces where people live and work

Built environments play a significant role in how we function as groups of people – suburbs, towns, cities, societies.  Additionally, there is growing concern about how we respond to the natural environments within which all human activity takes place.

Land and land use decisions have cultural, social, legal, economic and ecosystem implications and this BSc degree offers a broad perspective on these issues.

While it may be noticeable if our built environments are poorly designed, through studying this degree, you will recognise the attributes of excellence in planning and urban development.

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Why study Land Planning and Development?

Land planning, land administration and the process of land subdivision have significant impacts on the layout and function of human and natural landscapes. These activities influence the way land is used, patterns of residential development and assessments of the economic potential of land. For some, land also has an important cultural value.

This degree provides an excellent foundation for those wanting a career in planning, land development and resource management, especially in relation to the subdivision and administration of land. It differs from other New Zealand planning degrees in that it emphasises engineering design and land administration, from Pākehā and Māori perspectives, as well as covering essential aspects of New Zealand legislation that relate to land development. It encompasses the practical aspects of planning and planning law.

Career opportunities

This is a foundation degree for a career in aspects of surveying that relate to land development. This can lead to work in local government and private practice with surveyors, planners, land developers and urban designers.

Note:

Students wishing to become recognised as fully qualified professional planners have the option to undertake the two year Master of Planning (MPlan) at Otago, leading to membership of the NZ Planning Institute.

Land Planning and Development at Otago

What will I study?

100-level

If you wish to complete the BSc in Land Planning and Development, you must take the following papers:

  • MATH 130 Fundamentals of Modern Mathematics I
  • SURV 120 Surveying and Spatial Science
  • SURV 130 People, Place and the Built Environment
  • ENGL 228 Writing for the Professions

200-level

200-level papers include civil engineering, urban design, geographic information systems, land administration, land tenure and planning.

300-level

Papers at 300-level and above include Resource Management Act processes and offers experience in designing residential subdivisions in concept and detailed layout phases.

Students can add papers from other degree programmes (such as Geography, Economics or Surveying) to complement their programme of study.

How will I study?

Land Planning and Development is a practical course as well as an academic one. You will have lectures, tutorials and workshops using computer software and Computer Aided Draughting packages, and Geographic Information Systems data gathering and analysis (including communicating spatial information).

You will also undertake engineering labs, infrastructure inspections, site visits to view landscape and construction examples and a one week hands on field course at the end of the academic year.

Combining Landing Planning and Development with other areas of study

The Land Planning and Development major lends itself to combining with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Geography, Business / Management, Environment and Society or Environmental Management. These compatible subjects are available as minors within the Science degree structure, allowing you to pursue a coherent line of study through to an advanced level, within the three- year degree.

You could also combine Land Planning and Development with a second major e.g., Geography or Geographic Information Systems, if you have a passion for a second area of endeavour.

Background required

A background in both human and physical geography is desirable, high standards of literacy and numeracy skills, an enquiring and critical mind and a strong interest in land and the legal, ecological, economic and social environment.

Requirements

Land Planning and Development as a minor subject for a BA, MusB, BPA, BTheol, BSc, BCom, BEntr, BHealSc, BACom, BASc or BComSc degree

Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree

LevelPapersPoints
100-level

SURV 130 People, Place and the Built Environment

MATH 130 Fundamentals of Modern Mathematics 1

18

18

200-level

Any two of:
SURV 203 Land Development Engineering 1
SURV 204 Land Development Engineering 2
SURV 205 Statutory Planning 1
SURV 206 Land Tenure 1

36

300-level

Any one of
SURV 303 Urban Design 1
SURV 304 Land Development Engineering 3
SURV 306 Land Tenure 2
SURV 455 Statutory Planning 3

18

Total 90

SURV papers

Paper Code Year Title Points Teaching period
SURV120 2024 Surveying and Spatial Science 18 Semester 1, Semester 2
SURV130 2024 People, Place and the Built Environment 18 Semester 2
SURV201 2024 Surveying Methods 1 18 Semester 1
SURV202 2024 Surveying Mathematics 18 Semester 2
SURV203 2024 Land Development Engineering 1 18 Semester 1
SURV204 2024 Land Development Engineering 2 18 Semester 2
SURV205 2024 Statutory Land Planning 1 18 Semester 2
SURV206 2024 Land Tenure 1 18 Semester 2
SURV220 2024 Geographic Information Science 18 Semester 1
SURV298 2024 Introductory Field Camp 0 1st Non standard period
SURV301 2024 Surveying Methods 2 18 1st Non standard period
SURV302 2024 Geodetic Reference Systems and Network Analysis 18 Semester 1
SURV303 2024 Urban Design 1 18 Semester 1
SURV304 2024 Land Development Engineering 3 18 Semester 2
SURV306 2024 Land Tenure 2 18 Semester 2
SURV307 2024 Cadastral Surveying 2 18 Semester 2
SURV309 2024 Introduction to Remote Sensing Technologies 18 Semester 1
SURV319 2024 Spatial Algorithms and Programming 18 Semester 1
SURV322 2024 Hydrographic Surveying 18 Semester 1
SURV329 2024 Selected Topics in Surveying 1 18 Semester 1, Semester 2
SURV399 2024 Third Year Field Course 0 1st Non standard period
SURV411 2024 Advanced Spatial Analysis and Modelling 18 Semester 2
SURV412 2024 Geovisualisation and Cartography 18 Not offered in 2024
SURV413 2024 Resource Mapping and Image Processing 18 Semester 2
SURV450 2024 Professional Practice 18 Semester 2
SURV451 2024 Surveying Methods 3 18 Not offered, expected to be offered in 2025
SURV452 2024 Hydrographic Surveying 2 18 Not offered, expected to be offered in 2025
SURV453 2024 Urban Design 2 18 Semester 2
SURV455 2024 Statutory Planning B 18 Semester 1
SURV456 2024 Land Tenure 3 18 Not offered in 2024
SURV457 2024 Cadastral Surveying 3 18 Semester 1
SURV458 2024 Marine Law and the Environment 18 Not offered in 2024
SURV459 2024 Engineering Surveying 18 Semester 2
SURV462 2024 Hydrographic Field Design and Voyage 18 Not offered in 2024
SURV463 2024 Advanced Practical Techniques in Hydrography 18 Not offered in 2024
SURV465 2024 Land Development Management 18 Semester 1
SURV469 2024 Selected Topics in Surveying 2 18 Semester 1, Semester 2
SURV470 2024 Professional Project 18 Semester 1, Semester 2
SURV473 2024 Special Topic 36 Not offered in 2024
SURV474 2024 Special Topic 36 Not offered in 2024
SURV480 2024 Research Project 36 Full Year, 1st Non standard period
SURV499 2024 Vacation Employment 0 Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year
SURV509 2024 Introduction to Remote Sensing Technologies 20 Semester 1
SURV511 2024 Advanced Spatial Analysis and Modelling 20 Semester 2
SURV512 2024 Geovisualisation and Cartography 20 Not offered in 2024
SURV513 2024 Resource Mapping and Image Processing 20 Semester 2
SURV519 2024 Spatial Algorithms and Programming 20 Semester 1
SURV551 2024 Advanced Surveying Methods 20 Not offered, expected to be offered in 2025
SURV552 2024 Advanced Hydrographic Surveying 20 Not offered, expected to be offered in 2025
SURV553 2024 Advanced Urban Design 20 Semester 2
SURV555 2024 Advanced Statutory Planning 20 Semester 1
SURV556 2024 Advanced Land Tenure 20 Not offered in 2024
SURV557 2024 Advanced Cadastral Surveying 20 Semester 1
SURV558 2024 Advanced Marine Law and the Environment 20 Semester 1
SURV559 2024 Advanced Engineering Surveying 20 Semester 2
SURV562 2024 Hydrographic Field Design and Voyage 20 Not offered in 2024
SURV563 2024 Advanced Practical Techniques in Hydrography 20 Not offered in 2024
SURV565 2024 Advanced Land Development Management 20 Semester 1
SURV569 2024 Advanced Topics in Surveying 20 Semester 1, Semester 2
SURV573 2024 Special Topic 40 Not offered in 2024
SURV574 2024 Special Topic 40 Not offered in 2024
SURV575 2024 Special Topic 40 Not offered in 2024
SURV580 2024 Research project 40 Full Year, 1st Non standard period
SURV590 2024 Dissertation 60 Full Year, 1st Non standard period

More information

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Department of Surveying

Email  surveying@otago.ac.nz
Web  otago.ac.nz/surveying

Studying at Otago

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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2024 Calendar and supplementary material.

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