MABY4700 Life Cycle Assessment for Built Environment Course description

The course gives students an introduction to how consulting engineers in the fields of building technology, structural engineering, transport infrastructure engineering, and smart water process and infrastructure engineering can actively contribute to the development of sustainable solutions in the construction industry of the future. Sustainable design and construction requires more information, calculations and assessment and a greater degree of interdisciplinary cooperation.

Language of instruction: English

None.

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, structures and infrastructures
• has knowledge of 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 different scenarios for assessing the environmental performance of civil engineering solutions
• applying regulations, relevant standards, guidelines and commercial methods in the performance of sustainability assessments and life-cycle analyses of buildings, structures and infrastructures
• performing calculations and documentation of greenhouse gas emissions in a life-cycle perspective for buildings, structures and infrastructures
• using BIM-based software for the collection, processing, sharing and presentation of relevant information in interdisciplinary assessments
• choosing appropriate civil engineering solutions based on sustainability and life-cycle assessments

General competence:

The student is capable of

• analyzing 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 physical and digital lectures, guest lectures, discussions, and inspection of building projects. Lectures provide the necessary knowledge for understanding climate and environmental issues, as well as life cycle approaches and systems thinking. Practical use of tools and software is taught to enable students to collect information, conduct calculations and assessments, and present solutions in written reports.

To accommodate guest lecturers and ensure the course progresses according to plan, designated øving sessions may, when necessary, be reallocated as lecture hours.

The students work on a project in teams of 2-4 and are tasked with developing sustainable solutions.

If lectures are delivered online, they may be recorded, and the recordings will be made available to students on Canvas.

The following coursework requirements must be approved in order for the student to take the exam:

Each student must complete an individual knowledge test with a minimum score of 75% in order to pass and be eligible to submit the project.

The knowledge test is assessed on a pass/fail basis and does not count towards the final grade, but passing it is a prerequisite for submitting the project.

If the knowledge test is not approved, the student will be given the opportunity to retake it within a specified deadline.

Exam Format: Project Report

Project report prepared in groups of 2-4 students, approximately 7500-12000 words.

The exam can be appealed.

All aids are permitted as long as rules for source referencing are followed.

Grade scale A-F.

One internal sensor.

External sensors are used regularly.

Haidar Hosamo