TEK-2007 Engineering Design for Sustainability in the Arctic - 10 stp

Central concepts: Sustainable thinking, product lifecycle, waste, energy, environmental life cycle assessment, Arctic operational conditions.

This course aims to inspire sustainable thinking across the entire product life cycle. Each decision a designer makes may be replicated hundreds or thousands of times, and may shape the realities of those who engage with their creations. Engineers may contribute in creating sustainable products by focus on reducing negative consequences with respect to sustainability in the early product life cycle phases (concept, design, construction, installation, etc) through for example reducing energy usage in the manufacturing of components and energy usage in the use life cycle phase, and reduce waste creation in all phases, easy to maintain and operate product, finding cost effective design solutions, aesthetics, client priorities, etc.

This course will focus on sustainability in the design phase to reduce the negative effect a product may have on environment, and by training the engineers in assessing the sustainability problem, design tools and methods to reduce the impact the product may have on the environment and to create a sustainable future. Moreover, the course will provide you with knowledge and develop skills required to undertake an environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) in accordance with internationally recognized standards. Life cycle assessment is one of the key methodologies used to quantify the environmental impacts of a product or service over its full life cycle. 

Knowledge:

The student has...

• design for sustainability
• sustainability in the Arctic 
• engineering design process and product/production facilities life cycle
• relevant standards for life cycle assessment
• contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline
• the role of sustainability in the design process in the Arctic
• the effect of Arctic operational  conditions on design process and across the entire product life cycle
• research and development within the engineering discipline
• methods and regulations within the subject area

Skills:

The student is able to...

• establish engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving.
• fluently apply engineering techniques, tools and resources.
• apply systematic engineering synthesis and design processes.
• use and manage information professionally
• identify contextual factors affecting the engineering discipline in the Arctic.
• write engineering reports, present to small groups and communicate life cycle assessment studies

General competences:

The student is able to...

• apply a systematic approach to system redesign in terms of energy efficiency, water efficiency and transport efficiency.
• apply life cycle assessment modelling techniques in a decision-making context.
• model and evaluate the life cycle environmental impacts of material, product or service systems using contemporary life cycle assessment methods
• give examples of engineering innovation

The assessment is based on: 

• Group project assignment (account for 60 %)

• 4 hours written exam (account for 40 %)

Both project assignment and written exam must be passed. The grading scale is letters A - E, F - fail. 

The date for the exam can be changed. The final date will be announced at your faculty early in May and early in November.