Course syllabus adopted 2024-02-13 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).
Overview
- Swedish nameLivscykelteknik
- CodeBOM251
- Credits7.5 Credits
- OwnerMPSEB
- Education cycleSecond-cycle
- Main field of studyArchitecture and Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- ThemeEnvironment 5 c
- DepartmentARCHITECTURE AND CIVIL ENGINEERING
- GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail
Course round 1
- Teaching language English
- Application code 22129
- Block schedule
- Open for exchange studentsYes
Credit distribution
Module | Sp1 | Sp2 | Sp3 | Sp4 | Summer | Not Sp | Examination dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0124 Project 5 c Grading: TH | 0 c | 0 c | 5 c | 0 c | 0 c | 0 c | |
| 0224 Examination 2.5 c Grading: TH | 0 c | 0 c | 2.5 c | 0 c | 0 c | 0 c |
In programmes
- MPDCM - DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT, MSC PROGR, Year 1 (compulsory elective)
- MPDCM - DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT, MSC PROGR, Year 2 (compulsory elective)
- MPSEB - STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND BUILDING TECHNOLOGY, MSC PROGR, Year 1 (compulsory elective)
- MPSEB - STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND BUILDING TECHNOLOGY, MSC PROGR, Year 2 (compulsory elective)
Examiner
Holger Wallbaum- Assistant Head of Department, Architecture and Civil Engineering
Eligibility
General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.
Specific entry requirements
English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.
Course specific prerequisites
Advanced knowledge in building physics, building technology, building materials, different types of infrastructure planning and design, construction management.Aim
The master course aims to provide in-depth knowledge on the concepts of Life Cycle Engineering and sustainable design in the built environment. The focus is on buildings and roads infrastructures in different climate zones, regulative frameworks and social-economic circumstances. The overall purpose of the course is to acquaint students with state-of-the-art knowledge for their future professional role as civil engineers, road engineers, planer, consultants, contractors and similar.
The main goal of this course is to deepen and broaden already existing skills in applying simultaneously theories, methodologies and tools related to Life Cycle Engineering and sustainable building and infrastructure design.
Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)
- Understand the challenges of a sustainable life cycle engineering design and develop strategies and argumentations to overcome the identified obstacles at each of the life cycle stages.
- Define a sustainability matrix for a case study (building/infrastructure) by formulating: environmental, economic and social minimum standards and envisioned goals for a specified geographical setup.
- Conduct an Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the building/infrastructure on collected information, previous knowledge and skills and available supporting documents using the tools and methods provided in the course.
- Conduct other life cycle engineering methods such as Life Cycle Cost Assessment (LCCA) and Social Life Cycle Analysis (SLCA).
- Understand underlying construction regulations and other documents for a sustainable life cycle engineering design, for example Construction Products Regulation (CPR).
- Understand underlying available approaches and tools supporting the design of more sustainable buildings/infrastructures, for example the product category rules (PCR).
Content
The course is based on a practical case study of a building/infrastructure (e.g. a building, wall, bridge, road etc.) in a specific temporal and geographical setup. Students will work on these case studies throughout the course on which the principles of a Life Cycle Engineering and Sustainable Design will be applied.
The course explores the key aspects of Life Cycle Engineering in the Build Environment including Sustainability Assessment, Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Life Cycle Costing (LCCA) and Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA) with a focus on the application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
The course is organized around the following themes:
- Introduction to the Principles of Life Cycle Engineering and sustainable building and infrastructure design.
- Definition of a sustainability matrix for a case study.
- Assessment of the environmental impact of different life cycle stages and components of a case study.
- Identification of significant issues and recommendations from a sustainability perspective for a case study.
At the end of the course, the results of the case study are summarized in a written report as well as presented in an oral presentation to the class.
Organisation
Students work in teams and most of the time self-reliantly. Key-topics are introduced and developed through lectures, online content and self-study input. Additional input will be provided through lectures by external experts. Furthermore, each student team will give in-depth feedback on their project work in supervision meetings with the teachers. The work per team is presented orally to the teachers and classmates as well as handed-in in a written report at the end of the course.
Access will be provided to the LCA software SimaPro and the ecoinvent database.
Literature
Textbooks:
- Henrikke Bauman, Anne-Marie Tillman. The hitchhiker's guide to LCA
- Walter Klöpffer, Birgit Grahl. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): A Guide to Best Practice
- Scott Matthews, Chris Hendrickson, Deanna Matthews. Life cycle assessment: quantitative approaches for decision that matter. http://www.lcatextbook.com/
Supplementary Literature:
- Gregor Wernet, Christian Bauer, Bernhard Steubing, Jürgen Reinhard, Emilia Moreno-Ruiz, Bo Weidema. The ecoinvent database version 3 (part I): overview and methodology.
- JRC. International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Handbook
Relevant Standards and Regulations:
- ISO 14040:2006: Environmental management -- Life cycle assessment -- Principles and framework
- ISO 14044:2006: Environmental management - Life cycle assessment - Requirements and guidelines
- SS-EN 15643:2010-2012: Sustainability of construction works - Sustainability assessment of buildings
- SS-EN 15978:2011: Sustainability of construction works - Assessment of environmental performance of buildings - Calculation method
- SS-EN 16309:2014 + A1:2014: Sustainability of construction works - Assessment of social performance of buildings - Calculation methods
- SS-EN 16627:2015: Sustainability of construction works - Assessment of economic performance of buildings - Calculation methods
- SS-EN 15941:2012: Sustainability of construction works - Environmental product declarations - Methodology and data for generic data
- SS-EN 15942:2011: Sustainability of construction works - Environmental product declarations - Communication format business-to-business
- SS-EN ISO 14025:2010: Environmental standards and declarations - Type III environmental declarations - Principles and procedures
- SO/TS 14067: Greenhouse gases - Carbon footprint of products - Requirements and guidelines for quantification and communication
- SS-EN 15804:2012+A1:2013: Sustainability of construction works - Environmental product declarations - Core rules for the product category of construction products
Examination including compulsory elements
The examination is composed of three parts assessing both the group and the individual performance separately.
Group performance:
1. The final presentation in the last week of the course
2. The written report handed in at the end of the course
Individual Performance:
3. A written exam
The final grade for the course will be made up from the points received for the written group report (max. 100 points) and the written individual exam (max. 100 points). The report and the exam will each make up half of your final grade (max. 100 points, where 80-100 points will be a 5, 65-79 points will be a 4, 50-64 points will be a 3, 0-49 will be failed). The final presentation in the last week of the course will be evaluated with pass / fail. However, note that you need to pass all three examination parts on their own as well to receive a passing final grade for the course. The following grades will be used: failed, 3, 4, 5.
The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.