CAE 4881 - Sustainability and Resilience

3 lecture hours 0 lab hours 3 credits

Course Description
This course introduces concepts of environmental science and principles of sustainability and resilience, in the context of infrastructure systems and the built environment. Major environmental drivers of the need for more sustainable design such as climate change, ozone depletion, biodiversity losses, and others are presented. Societal and political factors influencing adoption of sustainable practices are discussed and the concept of the Triple Bottom Line is explored. The significance of various sustainability rating systems such as the Envision rating system is explored. Techniques for improving the sustainability and resilience of the built environment, including energy and water conservation strategies, appropriate site selection, appropriate materials use, and project management techniques to minimize environmental impacts are presented. Basic Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) techniques and software tools are introduced in order to provide the student with a framework for objectively determining which design alternatives are the most sustainable. (prereq: CHM 1010, junior standing) (quarter system prereq: CH 200, junior standing)
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Classify and describe the environmental impacts that result from human activity and which drive the need for sustainable design
Describe the basic methodology of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and discuss why LCA represents the best methodology for quantifiably evaluating which of several design options is most sustainable
Quantify and calculate using the TRACI environmental impacts model the carbon footprint (in terms of CO2 equivalents), and ozone depletion, eutrophication, acidification, resource depletion, and human toxicity impacts caused by industrial and construction activities
Use the Triple Bottom Line paradigm for assessing sustainability
Evaluate Life Cycle Cost (LCC) analysis and Social Impact Scores (along with LCA) for determining the most sustainable design option for a project
Describe specific design and construction techniques for minimizing energy use, water use, and material impacts for a project, and to ensure resilience of an infrastructure project
Describe how various construction project management approaches can impact the sustainability of a project
Describe the basic elements of the Envision Sustainable Infrastructure Framework and be able to discuss how each element of the Envision framework supports one or more of the fundamental drivers of sustainability and resilience

Prerequisites by Topic

Understanding of the distinction between inorganic and organic chemicals, since both impact the environment, but in different ways and by differing mechanisms
Energy analysis of engineering systems
Fluid flow characterizations in both open and closed channel flows

Course Topics

Environmental impacts caused by human activity
Terms and definitions associated with the discipline of sustainable design; the evolution of the global environmental movement
Introduction to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
The Triple Bottom Line (TBL) paradigm and a decision-making framework for including environmental factors, cost factors, and social factors into project design and construction decisions
Project siting decisions and their impact on sustainability
Design and construction techniques for minimizing energy use, water use, and material impacts of a project
Project management approaches for minimizing negative environmental impacts
Resilience-what it is and how to design for it
Introduction to the Envision Sustainable Infrastructure Framework
Infrastructure case studies

Coordinator
Dr. Deborah Jackman, P.E.

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CAE 4881 - Sustainability and Resilience