The Environment and Sustainable Engineering Systems

Engineering

Course Code (Undergraduate): 050270

Course Code (Postgraduate): 2050136

48 Contact Hours

7.5 ECTS points Credit Points

Course Description

This course aims at helping students learn to implement elements of sustainable engineering designs which do not compromise the natural environment. Sustainable engineering takes environmental engineering concepts to the next level by looking at the interactions between technical, ecological, social and economic systems. Students will examine the processes and materials used in the life cycle of typical engineering designs. Societal influences and their impact on designs will also be explored. Other areas of assessment will include the impacts on the environment, the economy and society as a whole.

Ethical obligations and duties in professional practice are reinforced throughout the course. Case studies are drawn from the fields of electrical, chemical, mechanical, electronic and civil engineering.

Timetable

Schedule and Topics

1. Introduction to sustainable engineering
2. Professional duties and ethics
3. Applying sustainability to the engineering design
4. Tools of the design process and management of design
5. IEA framework
6. Model for an impact strategy
7. Developing data: Information systems, Indicators and indices and Data analysis
8. Energy, Water resources and Waste management
9. Economics of Sustainable Systems
10. Design for total control
11. Communication for engineerings
12. Drivers of sustainability in design
13. Strategic sustainable design
14. Future directions and developments

Assessments

Class participation (20%);
In-class exercises (40%) ;
Group project (20%) and group presentation (20%).

Prerequisite

This course is open to engineering students from all different fields of engineering. It provides the essential concept upon which students should plan and practice sustainable engineering designs.

Reference Books

Johnson, A. and Gibson, A. (2014). Sustainability in engineering design. Waltham, MA: Academic Press.
Chang, N. (2011). Systems analysis for sustainable engineering. New York: McGraw-Hill Professional.
Supplementary readings and handouts will be distributed during class.