Caricamento in corso...
Sustainability and Circular Economy
01DRUTR
A.A. 2024/25
Course Language
Inglese
Degree programme(s)
1st degree and Bachelor-level of the Bologna process in Civil And Environmental Engineering - Torino
Course structure
| Teaching | Hours |
|---|---|
| Lezioni | 40 |
| Esercitazioni in aula | 20 |
Lecturers
| Teacher | Status | SSD | h.Les | h.Ex | h.Lab | h.Tut | Years teaching |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zanetti Mariachiara | Professore Ordinario | CEAR-02/A | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Co-lectures
Context
| SSD | CFU | Activities | Area context | ICAR/03 ING-IND/29 |
5 1 |
B - Caratterizzanti F - Altre attività (art. 10) |
Ingegneria ambientale e del territorio Altre conoscenze utili per l'inserimento nel mondo del lavoro |
|---|
2024/25
The objective is to build on basic concepts of circular economy as they apply to natural resources with focus on minerals and energy, and related engineering projects towards the achievement of desired SDGs. The overarching framework for this course is sustainable engineering, i.e., the theory and practice of engineering within a complex, interconnected world that faces many economic, environmental and social challenges. The course provides knowledge, competences and skills necessary to understand and evaluate circular economy strategies and their socio-economic-environmental consequences.
The objective is to build on basic concepts of circular economy as they apply to waste and water with focus on raw materials and energy, and related engineering projects towards the achievement of desired SDGs. The overarching framework for this course is sustainable engineering, i.e., the theory and practice of engineering within a complex, interconnected world that faces many economic, environmental and social challenges. The course provides knowledge, competences and skills necessary to understand and evaluate circular economy strategies and their socio-economic-environmental consequences. In addition to theoretical insights, time is dedicated to practical examples that allow the student to realize the concepts learned in experiences of common life and in the context of future professional life. The use of practical examples is also aimed at stimulating reflection on how the adoption of engineering technologies can limit/reduce the raw materials consumption.
The students will be able to understand circular economy strategies and activities, as well as use basic sustainability assessment tools to evaluate the outcomes in terms of resource efficiency.
At the end of the course, the student is expected to understand how resources and engineering can contribute (positively or negatively) to sustainable development through a more circular economy.
He/she should be able to conduct a Material Flow Analysis and interpret the results using selected Circular Economy indicators.
The students will be able to understand circular economy strategies and activities, applied to waste and water as well as use basic sustainability assessment tools to evaluate the outcomes in terms of resource efficiency.
At the end of the course, the student is expected to understand how resources and engineering can contribute (positively or negatively) to sustainable development through a more circular economy.
He/she should be able to conduct a material flow and energy analysis and interpret the results using selected Circular Economy indicators.
In order to obtain an useful comprehension and a capacity to apply the transmitted information with the required competence, the student must know the necessary operative fundamentals concerning knowledge of chemistry and geology.
Introduction: Role of natural resources in the economy, in a circular economy and in a net-zero economy (0.5 cfu);
Circular Economy, definitions, basic concepts, strategies (0.5 cfu).
Circular Economy indicators, what they measure, what should be measured and what can be measured (0.5 cfu).
Circular Economy Action Plans of the EU in the context of the EU Green Deal (0.5 cfu).
Critical Raw Materials and the Circular Economy, EU policies on CE and on Raw Materials (0.5 cfu).
Sustainable Engineering and Sustainability Assessment tools (2 cfu).
Material Flow Analysis and basics of Life Cycle Thinking, Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (0,5 cfu).
Corporate Sustainability Management, Carbon Footprinting and Sustainability Reporting (0,5 cfu)
Product and Organisation Environmental Footprint (PEF and OEF) in the context of Greening the EU single market (0,5 cfu)
Introduction: Waste and water management according to EU regulations (0.5 credits);
Polluted soil and excavated soil and rocks regulations (0.5 credits).
Physical, biological and chemical treatments applied to waste and water for circular economy. Analysis of the main thermal treatment processes (incineration, gasification and pyrolysis). Analysis of the main thermal treatment output concerning bottom and fly ashes, char and APC – Air Pollution Control coming from the flue gas depuration line considering recovery perspectives (2 credits).
Examples applied to Municipal Solid Wastes, inerts wastes, photovoltaic panels, industrial minerals, wastewaters (2 credits).
Material flow and energy Analysis and basics of Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (1 credit).
The course is 60 hours long and it is organised as follows: about 40 hours are dedicated to lectures about fundamental and technical knowledge. During lectures students are often involved with questions and exercises carried out individually but discussed with the whole group of students to assess the comprehension of principles and theory. Around 10 hours are dedicated to computer lab individual assignments which are carried out by the students with the supervision of the professor and/or an expert assistant. This activity has the task of developing competence and deepening the understanding of fundamental principles and methods. Circa 10 hours are dedicated to seminars and practical lab with the additional presence of expert instructors from industry. The practical labs are carried out in teams using statistical data (ESTAT, UN-Comtrade, USGS, etc.) or real industry data and are aimed at developing ability and interpretation skills.
The course is 60 hours long and it is organised as follows: about 40 hours are dedicated to lectures about fundamental and technical knowledge. During lectures students are often involved with questions and exercises carried out individually but discussed with the whole group of students to assess the comprehension of principles and theory. This activity has the task of developing competence and deepening the understanding of fundamental principles and methods. About 20 hours are dedicated to seminars and practical lab with the additional presence of expert instructors from industry.
Material available on the web (portale della didattica): lecture slides, limited portions of reference books; scientific papers (tutorial and basic papers) as further readings, collection of exercises; homework assignments.
Material available on the web (portale della didattica): lecture slides, limited portions of reference books; scientific papers (tutorial and basic papers) as further readings, collection of exercises; homework assignments.
Modalità di esame: Prova scritta (in aula); Prova orale facoltativa;
Exam: Written test; Optional oral exam;
...
The exam is aimed at evaluating knowledge, competences and skills acquired during the course. The final examination consists of a written test (1,5 hours) made of open (essay) questions and short exercises (oral exam not allowed).
Gli studenti e le studentesse con disabilità o con Disturbi Specifici di Apprendimento (DSA), oltre alla segnalazione tramite procedura informatizzata, sono invitati a comunicare anche direttamente al/la docente titolare dell'insegnamento, con un preavviso non inferiore ad una settimana dall'avvio della sessione d'esame, gli strumenti compensativi concordati con l'Unità Special Needs, al fine di permettere al/la docente la declinazione più idonea in riferimento alla specifica tipologia di esame.
Exam: Written test; Optional oral exam;
Written test; Optional oral exam.
In order to verify the apprehension of the presented topics and the capacity to deal with practical applications, a traditional exam in written and oral form is used. In general to the student in the written exam two main arguments are proposed, and as concerns these arguments some questions concerning theoretical basis for the technologies or possibilities of application are asked in order to check the maturity level that has been obtained by students. The written exam lasts 75 minutes and the maximum mark is 30. The oral is facultative and consists in one question on the topics examined during the lectures. By means of the oral it is possible to add/decrease up to 3 points. The final evaluation is based on the apprehension capacity that has been demonstrated and on the demonstration of the acquired capacity to apply to specific practical cases .
In addition to the message sent by the online system, students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) are invited to directly inform the professor in charge of the course about the special arrangements for the exam that have been agreed with the Special Needs Unit. The professor has to be informed at least one week before the beginning of the examination session in order to provide students with the most suitable arrangements for each specific type of exam.