Methods for sustainability assessment
10.0 ECTS creditsModule I Environmental assessment:
(a) Materials Flow Analysis (MFA)
1. Analysis, evaluation and design of anthropogenic systems (companies, cities, countries, the world)
2. Use materials flow analysis to:
- predict changes in the system regarding demand and emissions
- interpret changes regarding the consequences for the environment, resource protection, employment rate or geopolitical conditions
- identify possibilities to change systems in the desired direction
3. Terminologies, system definition, choice of indicators, vulnerability analysis, data harmonisation, dynamic modelling
4. MFA as precursor to Environmental Impact Assessment
b) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
1. Modelling of different environmental effects of products and services (for example climate change, toxicity, land use)
2. Use of different methods for environmental impact assessment
Module II Socioeconomic analysis:
(a) Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA)
1. Cost categories, income categories, current value calculations, discounts and their importance
2. Differences in setting repayment periods pertaining to projects based on current value, introducing environment costs to integrate environmental and economic aspects in decision-making
(b) Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA)
1. Introduction to S-LCA methodology
2. Criteria and indicators
3. Case studies in the literature
Module III Group project:
Students apply the theories of the first two modules and work in groups with an assigned project. Project content can be adjusted to departmental research, industrial examples, or the students' own choices.
(a) Materials Flow Analysis (MFA)
1. Analysis, evaluation and design of anthropogenic systems (companies, cities, countries, the world)
2. Use materials flow analysis to:
- predict changes in the system regarding demand and emissions
- interpret changes regarding the consequences for the environment, resource protection, employment rate or geopolitical conditions
- identify possibilities to change systems in the desired direction
3. Terminologies, system definition, choice of indicators, vulnerability analysis, data harmonisation, dynamic modelling
4. MFA as precursor to Environmental Impact Assessment
b) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
1. Modelling of different environmental effects of products and services (for example climate change, toxicity, land use)
2. Use of different methods for environmental impact assessment
Module II Socioeconomic analysis:
(a) Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA)
1. Cost categories, income categories, current value calculations, discounts and their importance
2. Differences in setting repayment periods pertaining to projects based on current value, introducing environment costs to integrate environmental and economic aspects in decision-making
(b) Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA)
1. Introduction to S-LCA methodology
2. Criteria and indicators
3. Case studies in the literature
Module III Group project:
Students apply the theories of the first two modules and work in groups with an assigned project. Project content can be adjusted to departmental research, industrial examples, or the students' own choices.
Progressive specialisation:
A1N (has only first‐cycle course/s as entry requirements)
Education level:
Master's level
Admission requirements:
Registered for Energy and Environmental Systems Analysis, 30 ECTS credits, in the Master of Science programme in Energy and Environmental Engineering, or registered for Life Cycle Assessment, 7.5 ECTS credits, in the Master of Science programme in Industrial Engineering and Management, plus upper secondary level Swedish 3 or Swedish as a second language 3 and English 6, or equivalent
Selection:
Selection is usually based on your grade point average from upper secondary school or the number of credit points from previous university studies, or both.
This course is included in the following programme
- Master of Science in Energy and Environmental Engineering (studied during year 4)
- Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management (studied during year 3)
- Master of Science in Engineering, Degree Programme in Environmental and Energy Engineering (studied during year 1)