MABY4300 Sustainability Assessment and Life-Cycle Analysis Emneplan

The course gives students an introduction to how consulting engineers in the field of building technology and structural engineering can actively contribute to the development of sustainable solutions in the construction industry of the future. Sustainable design, construction and operation requires more information, more calculations and assessment and a greater degree of interdisciplinary cooperation. Lectures and guest lectures provide the necessary knowledge for understanding climate and environmental issues.

Through the use of digital tools (BIM) and new ways of cooperating, knowledge and skills are applied to genuine, relevant problems. The students work in teams that assess and develop solutions on the basis of concrete projects from the construction industry. Cooperation with resource persons holding different roles in business and industry is a key element in the learning process.

No formal requirements over and above the admission requirements.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge:

The student:

·         has knowledge of the sustainability concept and is able to identify common environmental impacts from buildings and structures

·         has advanced knowledge of innovation theories and the drivers behind the development and implementation of sustainability assessments

·         has in-depth knowledge of life-cycle methodology, with the focus on system limits, service life and functional units

·         is capable of recommending relevant standards, guidelines and commercial methods for sustainability assessments and life-cycle analyses.

Skills:

The student is capable of:

·         comparing methods for assessing the environmental performance of building technology and structural engineering solutions

·         applying regulations, relevant standards, guidelines and commercial methods in the performance of sustainability assessments and life-cycle analyses of simple buildings and structures

·         planning and performing calculations and documentation of greenhouse gas emissions in a life-cycle perspective for a building

·         using BIM-based software for the collection, processing, sharing and presentation of relevant information in interdisciplinary assessments

·         choosing optimum building technology and structural engineering solutions based on sustainability and life-cycle assessments

General competence:

The student is capable of

·         analysing complexity and assessing the scope of possibility for design and construction to achieve sustainable solutions

·         cooperating in groups on a real, interdisciplinary task

·         presenting academic results and evaluations in a scholarly manner.

The teaching will consist of a combination of lectures, discussions, inspections of building projects and independent work on project assignments (in groups and individually). The students work in teams of 3-5 and are tasked with developing sustainable solutions. Practical use of BIM-based software will be used to collect information, for calculations and assessments, and to present solutions in written reports and oral presentations. To allow for specialisation in the topic, the students must prepare an individual in-depth report.

Four out of six individual knowledge tests must be passed.

Portfolio assessment subject to the following requirements:

• Project report prepared in groups of 2-5 students, approx. 20-30 pages.
• Individual in-depth report, approx. 10-15 pages.
• Oral/visual presentation of the project report and in-depth reports

Each student's work will be assessed together as a portfolio with one individual grade at the end of the semester, but all three parts that make up the portfolio must be assessed as 'pass' in order for the student to pass the course. Detailed guidelines for the project assignments (project and in-depth reports) and presentations will be published in Canvas.

The overall assessment cannot be appealed. Formal errors can be appealed. 

All aids are permitted. 

A grade scale with grades from A to E for pass (with A being the highest grade and E being the lowest pass grade) and F for fail is used in connection with the final assessment.

Two internal examiners. External examiners are used regularly.