Together with Civil 771, this course is one of the two ‘broader based’ courses in the Transportation Engineering Postgraduate Programme. This course provides the critical knowledge necessary for the understanding and application of evaluation techniques for transport projects within an economic framework. It is appropriate for all transportation professionals unless they have had prior transport economics experience and have a detailed understanding of the economic evaluation methods used for transportation projects within NZ.
It should be noted that this course requires familiarity with basic statistical and mathematical techniques. Participants should be numerate and should have a good working knowledge of the functions available with spreadsheets such as Excel as part of the course relies on statistical analysis such as Multiple Regression Analysis. It will be assumed that all students enrolled will have these skills as they will not be taught within Civil 770.
The aim of the course is to provide participants with the necessary academic and practical skills to undertake a well-reasoned economic analysis of a range of transport projects including large scale transportation projects where there may be a number of feasible alternatives.
As this is a Level 9 course 30% of the grade being assessed will be via independent work (e.g. individual project, research essay, etc.), this work must demonstrate an application of highly specialised knowledge. Given this requirement, all students are to submit a one (1) page economic research proposal on a topic of their own choice.