Course syllabus

Människan i extrema miljöer
Humans in Extreme Environments

TFRC70, 7,5 credits, G1 (First Cycle)

Valid for: Single courses at LTH spring 2024
Faculty: Faculty of Engineering, LTH
Decided by: PLED C/D
Date of Decision: 2023-04-18

General Information

Depth of study relative to the degree requirements: First cycle, has only upper-secondary level entry requirements.
Language of instruction: The course will be given in English

Aim

The general aim of the course is to provide basic and in-depth knowledge about the effects on human wellbeing, health and performance associated with exposure to environmental extremes, as well as related prevention and protection. The aim is related to the challenges in UN sustainable goals, particularly goal 3: good health and well-being; goal 8: decent work and economic growth; goal 13: climate action.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

• be able to describe risks associated with human stay in extreme environment during work,outdoor llife, adventure tourism and extreme sports;
• be able to describe the decisive factors that affect human health, work capacity, comfort and living conditions in extreme environments;
• e able to describe human physical capacities and limitations to adapt to extreme environments, e.g. heat, cold, cold water, fire, high altitude, outer space.

Competences and skills
For a passing grade the student must

• be able to use different evaluation methods and criteria for selecting strategies to reduce or eliminate the effects of extreme environments;
• be able to use prediction models for describing the interaction between humans and environment to evaluate the effect and give advice on protection;
• be able to apply relevant measuring methods for assessment of the extreme environment effects on human;
• be able to evaluate the risks in extreme environments and recommend appropriate clothing and equipment;
• independently and critically interpret scientifical literature and its relevance in the subject area.

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

• reflect about his/her personal development and the need of further knowledge in the subject area.

 

Contents

The course provides knowledge and understanding within chosen topics related to human physiology and the influence of of the physical environment on human well-being, health and performance. The topics contain the following

• Introduction to environmental exposure and limits of human performance
• Physical work and human performance
• Human heat balance and heat exchange with the environment
• Cold and hot environments
• Exposure to fire and toxic environments
• Cold water and diving
• High altitude and hypoxic environment
• Space environment
• Survival
• Preventive and protective measures
• Clothing and personal protective equipment
• Methods for risk assessment and simulation
• International standards

The theoretical parts of the course are supplemented with a small project in a group and three laboratory exercises: 1) maximum/sub-max oxygen uptake capacity test (VO2 uptake), 2) exercise in a warm environment, 3) exercise in a cold environment.

Examination details

Grading scale: UG - (U,G) - (Fail, Pass)
Assessment: The examination includes participation in three laboratory exercises in groups, oral and written presentation of project work in groups, as well as an individual written exam.

The examiner, in consultation with Disability Support Services, may deviate from the regular form of examination in order to provide a permanently disabled student with a form of examination equivalent to that of a student without a disability.

Admission

Admission requirements:

• General entry requirements

Reading list

• Ingvar Holmér: Human performance in extreme environments. Department of Design Sciences, Lunds tekniska högskola, 2009. Compendium.
• Prevent: Personlig skyddsutrustning. Prevent, Stockholm, Sverige, 2008, ISBN: 978-91-7365-027-4.
• Gunga H.-C.: Human Physiology in Extreme Environments. Elsevier, 2015, ISBN: 978-0-12-386947-0. Recommended complementary reading.
• Auerbach P.S.: Wilderness medicine. Mosby, Elsevier, ISBN: 978-0-323-03228-5. Recommended complementary reading.
• Åstrand, P-O., Rohdahl, K., Dahl, H., Strömme, S.: Textbook of work physiology: Physiological bases of exercise. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, ISBN: 0-7360-0140-9. Recommended complementary reading.
• Selection of published articles. Selected articles on specific lecture topics.

Contact and other information

Course administrator: Lena Leveen, lena.leveen@certec.lth.se
Course coordinator: Chuansi Gao, chuansi.gao@design.lth.se
Examinator: Chuansi Gao, chuansi.gao@design.lth.se
Course homepage: https://www.eat.lth.se/kurser/maenniskan-i-extrema-miljoeer/
Further information: If the number of course participants are less than 12 persons, then the course may be cancelled.