FOR40170
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Academic Year 2025/2026
Forest Planning & Optimisation (FOR40170)
Subject: : Forestry
College: : Health & Agricultural Sciences
School: : Agriculture & Food Science
Level: : 4 (Masters)
Credits: : 5
Module Coordinator: : Dr Amanda Sosa
Trimester: : Spring
Mode of Delivery: : On Campus
Internship Module: : No
How will I be graded? : Letter grades
Curricular information is subject to change.
This module Indicative Module Description\ This is a level 4 module designed for stage 4 BAgrSc (Forestry) students. It introduces the students to the concepts of forest (management) planning, including principles of decision-making and applications of decision-making techniques to forestry problems. The students are exposed to a range of decision-making techniques, focusing on operational research methodologies that are widely used in forestry applications. These include, linear, mixed integer and goal programming, dynamic programming, network analysis techniques, equipment replacement appraisals, break-even analysis and project planning and evaluation techniques. The module focuses on the application of these techniques to forestry related problems and a wide range of example problems are introduced and worked out. The concepts of problem formulation, model building, model solving, the translation of the model solution to the original problem, and sensitivity analysis are all examined\ \ \
About this Module
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What will I learn?
Learning Outcomes:
Apply specific problem solving techniques to answer specific forest management planning questions. Evaluate a given forest management planning problem and select the proper modelling and solution techniques. Formulate a forest planning problem based on information provided, evaluate the problem, select and apply the proper modelling and solution techniques, and formulate the model solution in terms of the original problem.
Indicative Module Content:
decision-making techniques, focusing on operational research methodologies that are widely used in forestry applications. These include, linear, mixed integer and goal programming, dynamic programming, network analysis techniques, equipment replacement appraisals, break-even analysis and project planning and evaluation techniques.
How will I learn?
Student Effort Hours:
| Student Effort Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Autonomous Student Learning | 75 |
| Lectures | 12 |
| Tutorial | 24 |
| --- | --- |
| Total | 111 |
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Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures will be delivered face to face.
Am I eligible to take this module?
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Not applicable to this module.
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Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module. \ \
How will I be assessed?
Assessment Strategy
| Description | Timing | Component Scale | Must Pass Component | % of Final Grade | In Module Component Repeat Offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment(Including Essay): Assignment 1: Problem Formulation. Objective: Understanding forest planning problems and translating them mathematically. | Week 4 | Standard conversion grade scale 40% | No | 20 | No |
| Assignment(Including Essay): Assignment 2: Linear Programming Objective: Formulate, design and develop a LP model | Week 8 | Standard conversion grade scale 40% | No | 20 | No |
| Assignment(Including Essay): Assignment 3. Network Analysis Objective: To build a network and assess the critical path of a planning problem | Week 10 | Standard conversion grade scale 40% | No | 20 | No |
| Exam (Open Book): This end of trimester exam will constitute 40% of the total marks. The exam consist of a series of questions and exercises. | Week 14 | Standard conversion grade scale 40% | No | 40 | No |
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Carry forward of passed components
Yes
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What happens if I fail?
| Resit In | Terminal Exam |
|---|---|
| Autumn | No |
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. \
Assessment feedback
Feedback Strategy/Strategies
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment\
How will my Feedback be Delivered?
Not yet recorded.
When is this module offered?
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
| Spring | Lecture | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 | Mon 12:00 - 12:50 |
| Spring | Lecture | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 | Wed 13:00 - 14:50 |