Environmental Decision Tools

Code:

L.EA025

Acronym:

FDA

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Natural Sciences - Environmental Science

Instance: 2024/2025 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	https://moodle2324.up.pt/course/view.php?id=5800
Responsible unit:	Environment and Bioengineering Section
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Environmental Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L.EA	48	Syllabus	3	-	6	52	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Background: the environmental engineer needs to make use of scientific tools in order to assess the impact associated to products, services and functions. Several analytical and procedures tools exists and are supporting the environmental decision making. Several currently used tools to assess impacts regarding the use of natural resources, the emission of pollution and the costs associated to the options used to mitigate pollution are presented to the students. More specifically, regarding the the tools objectives, methods, the strong and weak points, the results obtained and tools limitations.

Specific aims: knowledge in environmental decision tools together with the ability of using them in the design of solutions to solve environmental problems and in the forecast and prevention of those problems, including counterproductive effects in any environmental domain. The students apply the tools to current activities or products throughout the assignments.

Other aims include, the analysis with uncertainty, the solution and recommendation, the hypothesis formulation, systems thinking and the holistical approach is trained, prioritization and focus tradeoffs, judgment and balance in resolution. Develop personal and interrelationship skills through group assignments, reporting and oral communication.

 

Learning outcomes and competences

 Learning outcomes: students at the end shall be able to:

i) recognise and compare the specificities of the different tools and are able to applied them in order to assess specific environmental problems,

ii) distinguish between tools and identify the advantages of a simultaneous utilization of tools, 

iii) be capable of using the tools in the design, implementation and operation of environmental systems.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Previous knowledge: basic courses in environmental management of air pollution, water pollution and wastes management and natural resources conservation. Also in decision methods.

Program

Introduction to environmental decision support tools The various analytical tools for environmental decision: life cycle assessment, cost-effectiveness analysis, sensitivity analysis, environmental performance evaluation, material and substance flow analysis, ecological footprint, water footprint and carbon footprint.

Tools typology: comparative analysis. Tool selection depending on the objective and field of study; methodology; tool result or “product”; strengths and weaknesses and examples. Use of tools in the assessment of environmental problems.

Mandatory literature

Williams E. Rees, Mathis Wackernagel, Phil Testemale; Our Ecological Footprint: Reducing Human Impact on the Earth , New Society Publishers , 1998. ISBN: 978-0865713123
Wrisberg, Nicoline 340; Analytical tools for environmental design and management in a systems perspective. ISBN: 0-4020-0626-8
Finnveden, G., Moberg, A., 2005. Environmental systems analysis tools an overview. Journal of Cleaner Production 13 1165-1173.
Baumann, Henrikke; The hitch hiker.s guide to LCA. ISBN: 91-44-02364-2

Complementary Bibliography

• ISO 14040 (2006): Environmental management – Life Cycle Assessment – Principles and Framework., ISO, 2006

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical-practical tutorial classes: presentation of the syllabus. Whenever possible, the syllabus will be illustrated with examples of case studies. Theoretical-practical classes: carrying out work with oral presentation and discussion. The practical work focuses on the tools used to assess environmental problems, one of the assignments including the identification of solutions that can help an infomed environmental decision making.

keywords

Natural sciences > Environmental science
Technological sciences > Engineering

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	50,00
Trabalho escrito	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Elaboração de relatório/dissertação/tese	56,00
Estudo autónomo	50,00
Frequência das aulas	56,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Presence in classes in agreement with FEUP Rules: Students shall exceed the number of absences corresponding to 25% of TP (theoretical-practical) classes.

According to General Evaluation Rules of FEUP.

Comments:
- Students have to reach a minimum grade of 10 out of 20 in the final exam.

The grade for the practical component (CF1) is only kept for the purposes of calculating the student's final grade, in cases where the grade for the practical component has been obtained up to a maximum of the last two academic years preceding the current academic year.

For example, for the academic year 24/25, practical component grades prior to 22/23 are not taken into account when calculating the final grade for the current academic year.

Calculation formula of final grade

Practical assignments (FG1) and final exam (FG2).

Final Grade (FG) will be based on the grade of both components (FG=0.5FG1+0.5FG2).

FG1 = (Assignment 1 – 40%) + (Assignment 2 – 60%)

FG2= Grade of the exam

Examinations or Special Assignments

Practical assignments (FG1) and final exam (FG2).

Final Grade (FG) will be based on the grade of both components (FG=0.4FG1+0.6FG2).

FG1 = (Assignment 1)

FG2= Exam grade

Each students have to reach a minimum grade of 10 out of 20 in both the final exam and the assignment.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Practical assignments (FG1) and final exam (FG2).

Final Grade (FG) will be based on the grade of both components (FG=0.4FG1+0.6FG2).

FG1 = (Assignment 1)

FG2= Exam grade

Each students have to reach a minimum grade of 10 out of 20 in both the final exam and the assignment.

Classification improvement

Students can only improve the grade of the final exam and not the continuous assessment component (assignments). Students have to attend an exam at the appropriate season to improve their grades.
The grade for the practical component (FG1) is taken into account in the final assessment when this is carried out during the appeal period (época de recurso).

Observations

The grade for the practical component (CF1) is only kept for the purposes of calculating the student's final grade, in cases where the grade for the practical component has been obtained up to a maximum of the last two academic years preceding the current academic year.

For example, for the academic year 24/25, practical component grades prior to 22/23 are not taken into account when calculating the final grade for the current academic year.