Syllabus 2008/2009 FMI640

Syllabus academic year 2008/2009
(Created 2008-07-17.)

ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY

FMI640

Higher education credits: 4,5. Grading scale: TH. Level: G1 (First level). Language of instruction: The course will be given in Swedish. Compulsory for: IBYA2, IBYI1, IBYV1. Course coordinator: Per Svenningsson, per.svenningsson@miljo.lth.se, Miljö- och energisystem. Assessment: The student must produce a short written report on the Work related training/study visit part of the course. Attendance at discussion seminars and study visits is mandatory. A minor group project is carried out, that must be presented orally and in writing, and the project report must fulfil basic formal criteria. A written exam must be passed, and the result of this exam decides the final grade of the course. Home page: http://www.miljo.lth.se.

Aim
After passing the course, the student should have gained an understanding of how societal activities affect the environment and how environmental problems can be mitigated, in particular from the perspective of the sectors of construction and infrastructure building. Also, the student should be encouraged to take part in a discussion regarding the particular responsibility of the engineer in relation to sustainable development.

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

Be able to identify and describe actual or potential environmental problems within the fields of construction and infrastructure building.
Be able to relate different environmental problems to the different phases of a construction or infrastructure project in a lifecycle perspective.
Be able to describe the basic societal framework of environmental protection, e.g., legislation and policy instruments.
Be able to describe how environmental protection can be organised and pursued in industry and organisations.
Be able to describe the scientific mechanisms behind certain important environmental problems.

Skills and abilities
For a passing grade the student must

Be able to write a well-structured short report with a correct language, and a satisfactory use of relevant sources.
Be able to independently gather and process information within the framework of a minor project work

Contents
The principles of the concept of sustainable development. The principles behind the emission and dispersion of pollutants. Important environmental problems related to the energy and resource needs of the modern society.

Environmental work/activities in industry: cases and principles. Fundamentals in environmental legislation.

Construction and infrastructure projects in a lifecycle perspective: materials and resource use; environmental and health risks relevant to materials use; waste handling; etc. The relative contribution of the construction/infrastructure sector to environmental problems.

Work related training means that the student spends one week on a construction site or attend study visits relevant for his/her study programme, taking part in and/or observes professional activities in infrastructure building.

Literature
Brandt, N & Gröndahl, F: Miljöeffekter. Kompendium i miljöskydd, del 4. Industriellt Miljöskydd KTH, Stockholm, 2000. ISBN 91-630-9297-2.
Scientific papers, statistics, case studies etc.
A list of additional literature is established each time the course is given.