Course syllabus for Sustainable transportation

Course syllabus adopted 2021-02-26 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameHållbara transporter
  • CodeTEK465
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPSES
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyEnergy and Environmental Systems and Technology, Industrial Engineering and Management, Mechanical Engineering
  • DepartmentTECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 39134
  • Maximum participants90 (at least 10% of the seats are reserved for exchange students)
  • Block schedule
  • Open for exchange studentsYes

Credit distribution

0113 Written and oral assignments 7.5 c
Grading: TH
7.5 c0 c0 c0 c0 c0 c

In programmes

Examiner

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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

Engineering/technical BSc degree

Aim

This course studies technological measures and political initiatives to reduce the environmental impacts of the transport sector. Alternative fuels and innovative vehicle technology, which are a necessity if a sustainable transport sector is to be achieved, are likely to have significant negative side effects and challenges, e.g. competition to food production, resource availability and land-use impacts. The aim of the course is to provide an understanding of the character and scale of the problem and the challenges of potential solutions.

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

After completion of this course, the student should be able to:
- Explain the unsustainable impacts of the transport sector - Analyse the potential and challenges of alternative fuels and innovative vehicle technology for the road transport sector - Analyse the potential and challenges of alternative transport modes - Analyse the potential and challenges of transport policy measures

Content

The course takes a holistic perspective on the transport system including passenger and freight transport, urban and inter-urban transport, as well as developed and developing countries. The lectures in the course include: 1) Unsustainable impacts of different transport modes, e.g. passenger cars, trucks, rail, sea and air transport. 2) Alternative fuels and innovative vehicle technology, e.g. bio fuels, hybrid and electric vehicles, hydrogen and fuel cells, etc. 3) Transport policy initiatives, e.g. congestion charges, regulations, etc. The course is related to 'ITR362 - Sustainable Logistics', which focuses on freight transport and logistics.  The courses are complementary but can be read separately as well. 

Organisation

The course has three main components: 1) background and expert lectures 2) seminars, 3) a case study. The background lectures give a basic understanding of the topics covered in the course complemented by lectures by specialists from industry/policy/research institutes/etc. providing insights on a specific issue. The seminars are used to stimulate debate and strengthening the understanding of the potential and challenges of transport technology and policy measures. The case study is group assignments and are used to apply the developed knowledge on a practical example. 

Literature

A collection of journal articles and extracts from various publications. An updated literature list is announced on the course web page before the course starts.

Examination including compulsory elements

In order to better integrate the lectures with the examination and to increase student-student interaction, this course has continuous examination during the reading period consisting of smaller mid-term exams, home examination reports and case study hand-ins (approximately 1 hand-in every week). Both the mid-term exams, home examination reports and case study hand-ins contribute to final course marks. Attendance in some lectures and seminars is compulsory. The organisation and examination of the course requires regular attendance and active participation. 

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.