Module Aims and Learning Outcomes: Engineering and Sustainable Development

This module will develop the theme of the role and responsibility of the engineer within society and enable the student to place sustainable development within the context of professional engineering practice. To support the successful professional practice, as defined by the Engineering Council, engineers need social literacy and an appreciation of the wider issues in sustainable development which are the focus of this module.

1 - You will be able to critically define aspects of sustainable development pertinent to engineering practice,

2 - You will be able to critically appraise data obtained through a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

3 - You will be able to apply ethical judgement to demanding situations at the interface between society and technology. Personal Values Attributes:

4 - You will be able to recognise professional obligations to society and the environment.

You will work in a group for this component of assignment on LCA study. The group work involves planning, specifying goal and scope, obtaining data and doing the inventory analysis. The interpretation and critical discussion of findings along with discussion on data and ethical/social issue should be your individual work, please take note of the marks allocation for the division of group and individual marks.

Using the LCA software SimaPro, conduct a short Life Cycle Assessment following the four step approach outlined in ISO14040 standards on an allocated scenario. Each group will be allocated a scenario to develop during the assessment during the timetabled workshop sessions

Present your results in a short report which will define your inputs and assumptions with an evaluation of conclusions reached, their impact and potential limitations of the 'EcoAudit' analysis approach. You should include both the available data for the item itself and also the subsequent use. This will require you to make some assumptions, you may use assumptions within public sources and/or your own experience as a guide.

The following items will be made available on the eLP module site: Student copy of the CES EduPack software CES Edupack support tutorial and guide material.

An example exercise and solution The allocated renewable energy component will be made available during the classes in addition workshopfacilities may be called upon during the initial investigation.

Additional Information for Task 2

You are required to consider a product and to carry out an EcoAudit of the original and modified product or artefact.

You are expected to consider alternative material types (note not material grades) and may make and state  assumptions for any parameters not given.

Consider in your discussion the output from the EduPack EcoAudit and additional factors relating to  sustainable material choices informed by the full contents of each material's database within the software. Make suggestions as to the whole life energy impact.

Assignment Files and Links:

Tutorial files and exercises are on the eLP and the CES EduPack is available for download from the 'NTAPPS' drive on Faculty open access and lab PCs.

Your submission for task 2 – The report must not be more than 7 pages including all graphs, tables and charts. All work will be submitted electronically as a .pdf file.

Brief background on identification of processes (only 3 processes) - 8 marks (group work)

Goal & Scope, assumptions etc - 6 marks (group work)

LCA Inventory Analysis - 23 marks (group work)

Interpretation of results and critical analysis - 20 marks (individual work)

Critical analysis on social/ethical dimension on the topic of your group presentation

Selection and presentation of data through the application of software

Justification of assumptions and discussion of conflicts and limitations

The University has several policies for assessment. The following information, which is available to you

from the link below, provides guidance on these policies, including relevant procedures and forms.

(1) Assessment Regulations and Policies

(a) Assessment Regulations for Taught Awards

(b) Group Work Assessments Policy

(c) Moderation Policy

(d) Retention of Assessed Work Policy

(e) Word Limits Policy

(2) Assessment Feedback

(a) Anonymous Marking Policy

(3) Late Submission of Work and Extension Requests

(4) Personal Extenuating Circumstances

(5) Technical Extenuating Circumstances

(6) Student Complaints and Appeals

(7) Academic Misconduct

(8) Student Disability and Unforeseen Medical Circumstances