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AL2181 Environmental System Analysis and Decision-making 7.5 credits

Miljösystemanalys och beslutsfattande

Environmental systems analysis deals with analysis and assessment of the dependence and influence of socio-technical systems on ecosystems. It aims at supporting decision-making towards sustainable behaviour in different domains and levels of social action. This course deals with different decision-making situations with (in) direct relations to environment and sustainable development that engineers face in their work. Moreover, the course, which takes on an applied focus, deals with questions as for how to analyze and assess consequences of technical, economic and social activities, and how to improve environmental decision-making in companies and other organisations.

  • Education cycle

    Second cycle

  • Main field of study

    Environmental Engineering
    Mechanical Engineering

  • Grading scale

    A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Course offerings

Autumn 18 for programme students

Intended learning outcomes

After the course, the student should be able to

  • Describe how a specific environmental decision situation may be characterized with respect to (a) the decision level on a seven-leveled scale, including the global level, the international region level, the national level, the provincial level, the municipal level, the corporate/organizational level and the individual/household level, (b) who is the key decision maker, (c) who are the main stakeholders to be involved in the decision.
  • Describe the main characteristics (procedure, type of results, strengths and weaknesses, main applicability) of the most important environmental systems analysis tools, including MFA (Material Flow Analysis), SFA (Substance Flow Analysis), LCA (Life Cycle Assessment), LCC (Life Cycle Costing), EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment), SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment) and CBA (Cost-Benefit Analysis).
  • Describe and explain what types of development trends may be expected in the area of environmental systems analysis.
  • Explain and analyze how a specific environmental systems analysis tool or a combined use of two or several tools may contribute to an improved decision-making in a specific decision situation.
  • Demonstrate an ability to cooperate in a group task work and together with other students produce a joint report of good quality with respect to formal issues, facts content and analysis.

Course main content

Decision-making theory and environmental decision-making; Systems theory, systems thinking and systems analysis.

Environmental systems analysis, environmental assessment, evaluation.

Tools for environmental systems analysis strategic environmental assessment (environmental impact assessment, life-cycle assessment, material flow analysis, cost-benefit analysis, technology assessment, integrated assessment, position analysis.

Eligibility

At least 150 academic credits (ECTS) in a program of engineering, or natural science or course MJ1502 or MJ1500 or MJ2611 or MJ2652 or MJ2651 or Mj2627 or corresponding knowledge including documented profieciency in english B or equivalent.

Literature

Selected scientific publications offered at the Bilda course home page.

Examination

  • NÄR1 - Attendance, 0.5, grading scale: P, F
  • PRO2 - Project, 3.5, grading scale: P, F
  • TEN2 - Examination, 3.5, grading scale: P, F

Requirements for final grade

Active participation during lectures (75 %; NÄR1; 0.5 cr), Written exam (TEN1; 3.0 cr), Project work, including active participation in 2 Seminars (PRO2; 4.0 cr)

Offered by

ABE/Sustainability and Environmental Engineering

Examiner

Miguel Mendonca Reis Brandao <miguel.brandao@abe.kth.se>

Version

Course syllabus valid from: Autumn 2014.
Examination information valid from: Spring 2017.