Mar 29, 2024  
2023-2024 Graduate Academic Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Graduate Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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CVE 6881 - Life Cycle Assessment of Building and Infrastructure Systems

3 lecture hours 0 lab hours 3 credits
Course Description
Life cycle assessment and costing allow the engineer to effectively model both the environmental and economic impacts of a building or infrastructure system. Integrating social impact scores into the life cycle assessment model also allows social impacts to be quantified.  In total, a project can be assessed based upon all three aspects of the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) paradigm. (prereq: none)
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  • Understand the basic elements required when performing an ISO 14040 compliant Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA)
  • Understand the basic elements of the Economic Input Output (EIO) method for quantifying environmental life cycle impacts
  • Perform a Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) on a building or infrastructure system
  • Perform a Life Cycle Impacts Assessment (LCIA) on a building or infrastructure system
  • Identify and quantify social impacts of a building or infrastructure system project
  • Perform a Life Cycle Cost Assessment on a building or infrastructure project, accounting for uncertainties associated with future costs and discount rates
  • Synthesize LCIA, LCC, and social impact score techniques to create a model for comparing TBL outcomes of two or more projects

Prerequisites by Topic
  • None

Course Topics
  • Introduction to the ISO 14040 Life Cycle Assessment protocols and methodology
  • Introduction to the Economic Input Output (EIO) method
  • Review of life cycle cost modeling using the net present value technique
  • Strategies for quantifying uncertainties in the life cycle cost modelling of green building and infrastructure projects
  • How LCA is incorporated into common green rating systems such as LEED, Green Globes, and Envision
  • Social Impact scores and the Triple Bottom Line (TBL)
  • Introduction to the OpenLCA software package for LCIA modelling
  • Building and infrastructure case studies of life cycle assessment and life cycle cost modeling

Coordinator
Dr. Deborah Jackman, P.E.



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