Course syllabus for Environmental and resource analysis for a sustainable built environment

Course syllabus adopted 2023-02-06 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameMiljö- och resursanalys för hållbar samhällsbyggnad
  • CodeENM165
  • Credits6 Credits
  • OwnerTKSAM
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyCivil and Environmental Engineering
  • ThemeEnvironment 6 c
  • DepartmentTECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 58127
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0116 Examination 4 c
Grading: TH		0 c0 c4 c0 c0 c0 c
0216 Written and oral assignments 2 c
Grading: UG		0 c0 c2 c0 c0 c0 c

In programmes

Examiner

Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first 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

The same as for the programme that owns the course.
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

A pass grade in the following courses (or courses that are equivalent with regards to learning outcomes) fulfills the entry requirements :
Buildings functions and design (BOM205), Urban space and functions (BOM210), Building materials (BOM195).

Aim

The aim of the course is that the students in their future professions should be able to make fundamental sustainability assessments and take part in decision-making that contributes to sustainable development. The student should be able to relate to ecological, economic, and social perspectives, and be able to take a stance in sustainability issues in private as well as professionally.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  1. account for the fundamentals of the concept sustainable development and different interpretations of it, and apply these to the built environment
  2. apply systems thinking and basic environmental systems analysis in assessment, planning and design in sustainable development issues of the built environment 
  3. describe how the technical systems in society contribute to the large environmental challenges of our time, how these negative impacts can be mitigated, and how society can be adapted to unavoidable changes 
  4. describe and apply societal strategies captured in legislation and objectives for sustainable development with relevance for the built environment 
  5. describe key actors in the built environment and how these can promote sustainable development within their respective sectors 
  6. analyze sustainability challenges in the built environment from different perspectives and thus spot and handle tradeoffs and goal conflicts between various interests
  7. account and argue for his/her own perception of sustainable development

Content

This course approaches sustainability from a few different angles, mostly from a purely scientific/technical perspective, i e with somewhat greater focus on the environment than on the other dimensions of sustainable development, but also from a social science perspective. In the course, we want to show the most important aspects of how human activities affect the environment, and especially emphasize how and by use of what tools a Chalmers graduate can contribute to sustainable development. The course supplies the fundamentals of sustainable development and systems thinking needed for deepening and further development at master's level and/or in professional life.

Organisation

The course consists of two main parts. The first one, corresponding to 4 hp, consists of lectures and supervised small group exercises that potentially give bonus points. This part of the course is examined through a written exam and graded (U, 3, 4, 5). The second part of the course, corresponding to 2 hp, consists of an individually written assignment where the students choose their subject depending on program and (likely) future profession. However, all students write on some aspect(s) of sustainable development of the built environment and applies obtained knowledge and skills from the course and the programme on a concrete case. The assignment is assessed by use of rubrics and graded (U, G).

The course is furthermore organized into three themes that are all handled both at a general level, and specifically in the built environment context. 

Theme 1, Sustainable development: interpretations of the concept, sustainability objectives and ethics. The exercises focus on understanding of the concept and on situations in e.g. physical planning where goal conflicts can be expected. 

Theme 2, Environmental problems: direct causes and effects of environmental l problems. The exercises focus on environmental systems analysis tools for assessment and monitoring, and on possible technical solutions to the problems. 

Theme 3, Societal transition to sustainable development: transition strategies and the rolls that various actors within the built environment play in these. The exercises focus on applications of circular economy, policy instruments and participatory processes.

The course is based on problem based learning with teacher-student interactions in all learning activities, but specifically so in the exercises and the individual writing assignment. The exercises and the writing assignment take actual sustainability challenges in the built environment as point of departure. 

The course is given by the division of Environmental Systems Analysis with support from Communication and Learning in Science. Guest lectures are given in both parts of the course for inspiration and sector specific perspectives.

Literature

Gröndahl och Svanström Hållbar utveckling – en introduktion för ingenjörer. Stockholm: Liber AB, latest edition.

Examination including compulsory elements

Written examination in course week 5 and an individual writing assignment.

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.