About the course This course
will introduce students to the fundamental concepts related to interaction of
industrial and environmental/ecological systems, sustainability challenges
facing the current generation, and systems-based approaches required to create
sustainable solutions for society. Students will understand the concepts and
the scientific method as it applies to a systems-based, trans-disciplinary approach to sustainability, and will be
prepared to identify problems in sustainability and formulate appropriate
solutions based on scientific research, applied science, social and economic
issues. The basic concepts of life cycle assessment (LCA) will be discussed,
along with life cycle inventory (LCI) and life cycle impact assessment (LCIA)
including the social and economic dimensions. The application of life cycle
assessment methodology using appropriate case studies will be presented.
Pre-requisites: Environmental Sciences, Introduction to
Environmental Engineering
Industry support – list of companies/industry that will
recognize/value this online course
Larsen and Turbo, Tata Group of Industries
2765 students have enrolled already!!
Course instructor
Brajesh Kr. Dubey is Associate Professor in the Division of Environmental Engineering and Management at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, India. Dr. Dubey has more than a decade of research, teaching, training and industrial outreach experience in the areas of Integrated Solid and Hazardous Waste Management, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Sustainable Engineering. He has collaborated with UN agencies, World Bank, National Science foundation, Ontario Ministry of Environment and Auckland Regional Council on various projects including that in the area of LCA. He has been resource person for LCA and delivered lectures at several universities in USA, Canada, New Zealand, China and India. He has also conducted training programs in the Integrated Waste Management areas including that for Electronics Waste. Dr. Dubey has authored/co-authored more than 160 publications in his area of expertise and have presented at several national and international conferences.
Course Layout:
Week 1: An Introduction to Sustainability Concepts and Life Cycle Analysis (Introduction, Material flow and waste management, What it all means for an engineer? Water energy and food nexus)
Week 2: Risk and Life Cycle Framework for Sustainability (Introduction, Risk, Environmental Risk Assessment, Example Chemicals and Health Effects, Character of Environmental Problems)
Week 3: Environmental Data Collection and LCA Methodology (Environmental Data Collection Issues, Statistical Analysis of Environmental Data, Common Analytical Instruments, Overview of LCA Methodology - Goal Definition, Life Cycle Inventory, Life Cycle Impact Assessment, Life Cycle Interpretation, LCA Software tools)
Week 4: Life Cycle Assessment – Detailed Methodology and ISO Framework (Detailed Example on LCA Comparisons, LCA Benefits and Drawbacks, Historical Development and LCA Steps from ISO Framework)
Week 5: Life Cycle Inventory and Impact Assessments (Unit Processes and System Boundary Data Quality, Procedure for Life Cycle Impact Assessment, LCIA in Practice with Examples, Interpretation of LCIA Results)
Week 6: Factors for Good LCA Study (ISO Terminologies, LCA Steps Recap, Chemical Release and Fate and Transport, and Green Sustainable Materials)
Week 7: Design for Sustainability (Environmental Design for Sustainability: Economic, Environmental Indicators, Social Performance Indicators, Sustainable Engineering Design Principles and Environmental Cost Analysis)
Week 8: Case Studies (e.g., Odour Removal for Organics Treatment Plant, Comparison of Hand Drying Methods, Biofuels for Transportation, Kerosene Lamp vs. Solar Lamp, Bioplastic etc.).
Certification exam: 1. The exam is optional for a fee. 2.
Date and Time of Exams: April 28 (Saturday) and April 29 (Sunday) :
Morning session 9am to 12 noon; 3.
Exam for this course will be available in one session on both 28 and 29
April. 4. Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations. 5.
The online registration form has to be filled and the certification
exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the
exam registration form is published.
Certificates: • Final score will be calculated as : 25% assignment score + 75% final exam score. • 25% assignment score is calculated as 25% of average of 8 weeks course: Best 6 out of 8 assignments. •
E-Certificate will be given to those who register and write the exam
and score greater than or equal to 40% final score. Certificate will
have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the
breakup. It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT KHARAGPUR. It will be
e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.
