Industrial Ecology

3 credits · Undergraduate Programs

The philosophy behind the concept of Industrial Ecology is the focus on the understanding of interactions between technical, economic, social, and ecological systems and processes. The course aims at presenting the developments in research and application in the field of Industrial Ecology and discussing its role in strategic sustainable development both at the local and global scale with a focus on urban and industrial systems. This course equips students with systems perspective of understanding the implications of the decisions they make at different levels in practicing their profession and acting as consumers. Emphasis is given to understanding how environmental assessment and improvements are carried out with support from systems analytical methods such as material flow analysis, risk analysis, life cycle analysis, energy analysis, cost benefit analysis, and eco-efficiency analysis. Prerequisite(s): Sustainable Systems Engineering 463.