Course-PM

BOM280 Sustainable development for civil engineers lp3 VT25 (7.5 hp)

Course is offered by the department of Architecture and Civil Engineering

Contact details

Examiner: Jesper Knutsson (jesper.knutsson@chalmers.se)

Teacher: Sebastien Rauch (sebastien.rauch@chalmers.se)

Course purpose

The course will provide in-depth knowledge and understanding of the sustainability challenges that society and the built environment are facing, as well as knowledge of the ongoing sustainability issues, as well as the frameworks within which this work is carried out and the specific challenges that arise when there are conflicting goals, so-called wicked problems.

The student should be able to critically examine and evaluate the political, ethical and economic conditions that form the basis for how sustainability work is formulated and carried out. Furthermore, the student will gain an understanding of how politics, science and engineering applications interact in different types of solutions to sustainability problems. The problem formulation and analysis in the course is based on the Local, National and Global Sustainable Development Goals and other important international policy frameworks. Furthermore, the sustainability problem is analyzed from different socioeconomic contexts, including developing countries.

Schedule

TimeEditLinks to an external site.

Course literature

The literature in the couse comprise of a mix of resources, from website, report, scientific literature and book chapters. All literature are available either direct access to online resources or as downloadable files from canval.

Week	Reading Materials
1	SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – United Nations (2015) (UN SDGs) (website)
2	1. Pahl-Wostl, C. (2007) – Transitions towards adaptive management of water facing climate and global change, 21(1), 49-62. 2. Case Study: Integrated Water Management in Singapore – PUB Singapore (website) 3. Case Study: Copenhagen’s Cloudburst Management Plan (Report)
3	None
4	Romano, O., & Akhmouch, A. (2019) - Water Governance in Cities: Current Trends and Future Challenges.Water, 11(3), 500. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11030500 Wamsler, C., & Brink, E. (2014) - Planning for Climatic Extremes and Variability: A Review of Swedish Municipalities’ Adaptation Responses. Sustainability, 6(3), 1359-1385. https://doi.org/10.3390/su6031359
5	None
6	1. Kemi, Adeye  (2014) – Chapters 7-9 in Water Efficiency in Buildings: Theory and Practice. 2. US EPA – WaterSense at Work (EPA WaterSense).
7	None
8	none

 

Course design

The couse “Sustainability for civil engineers” focuses on the challenges in identifying and negotiating sustainability goals and pathways. In the course we will adapt role playing and use the water sector as a playing field to explore challenges and solutions that are applicable to any field. You will learn about sustainable water management, but the reflections and assignments will encourage you to generalized the knowledge and skills that you acquire throughout the couse.

Week	Topic
1	Introduction	Gives an overview of the course objectives, structure, and learning goals. We will talk about how the course is organized and pedagogic goals. Introduction to roles.
2	Water and Sustainable Stormwater Management	This week focuses on the foundational principles of water management within urban environments, emphasizing sustainability and the challenges posed by urbanization, pollution, and water scarcity. It also introduces sustainable stormwater management as a critical component of urban water systems. We will explore global frameworks such as SDG 6 and learn about adaptive management strategies for addressing climate and global change impacts on water systems. Through case studies of Singapore and Copenhagen, they will examine integrated water management and innovative stormwater solutions, such as cloudburst plans and green infrastructure, highlighting how cities adapt to water challenges.
3	Supervised groupwork	Groupwork introduction
4	Urban Water Governance and Climate Resilience	This week focus on interplay between policy frameworks, governance structures, and climate resilience strategies in sustainable water management. It emphasizes the importance of regulatory and institutional frameworks in shaping effective responses to water challenges.
5	Unsupervised group session	Not mandatory
6	Water-Efficient Building Design and Technologies	This week centers on the role of innovative building systems and technologies in reducing water consumption and enhancing sustainability at the building scale. It highlights the trade-offs and benefits of implementing water-efficient solutions. We will learn about practical solutions such as greywater recycling, rainwater harvesting, and smart water systems through a combination of lecture and a role-playing debate. The debate challenges students to consider stakeholder perspectives, including cost-effectiveness, technical feasibility, and regulatory compliance.
7	Supervised groupwork
8	Presentations & Reflections	Concludes the course with group presentations. Reflects on the learning experience, the challenges of integrating stakeholder perspectives, and the application of engineering and sustainability principles in real-world contexts.

Changes made since the last occasion

The content and pedagogical approach of the course have been completely reworked since last occasion. There is new literature and learning is focused around exploratory discussions and problem formulations.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student should be able to: 

1. Account for the fundamental sustainability challenges in society and the built environment, and describe ongoing work and frameworks in the field of sustainability.
2. Explain the connections between politics, science, and engineering in the development of sustainable solutions for the built environment sector.
3. Apply knowledge in sustainable development to identify and evaluate realistic/innovative solutions to specific sustainability problems in the built environment sector.
4. Critically analyze the political, ethical and economic aspects that affect the formulation and implementation of sustainability work in the built environment sector.
5. Integrate knowledge from different areas to formulate strategies, policies and approaches to meet sustainability challenges in the built environment sector.
6. Critically evaluate different sustainability strategies and measures based on their long-term effectiveness and ethical consequences, and be able to argue for and against different approaches based on a wide range of criteria. 

Examination form

The final grade is based 50% on the individual assignment and 50% on the group work, including presentation and feedback. The final grade will be reported as fail, 3, 4 or 5. Instructions for hand in assignments are given below.

Individual assignment: Integrative Reflection on Weekly Themes and Role-Based Challenges

Objective

The aim of this assignment is for you to critically reflect on the key themes covered during the course and integrate insights gained from the lectures, discussions, and activities. You will reflect upon your assigned role and its challenges, applying a systems perspective to evaluate water management solutions in urban sustainability. This report allows you to synthesize your learning from the entire course.

Assignment Overview

At the end of the course, you will submit an integrative reflection report that:

1. Summarizes key insights from the 3 weeks of lectures, readings, and activities.
2. Reflects on the challenges, conflicts, and priorities faced in your assigned role during the course.
3. Critically evaluates how different aspects of water management contribute to sustainable urban development.

This assignment should highlight how the course content relates to your role and demonstrate your ability to connect concepts across the weekly themes. For this reason it is important that you make continuous notes throughout the course. It is recommended that you set aside time to work on the report each week.

Structure of the Report

Your report should be a synthesized reflection, integrating knowledge from all seven weeks. Follow this structure:

Introduction (Approx. 300 words)

• Introduce the purpose of your report.
• Briefly describe your assigned role (e.g., Municipal Environmental Administrator, Property Developer, etc.) and its relevance to water management and urban sustainability.
• Outline the key areas (weeks/themes) you will discuss in the report.

Integration of Weekly Themes (~1,000 words)

Reflect on each of the weekly themes and their connection to sustainable water management in urban environments. Your discussion should focus on the following:

1. Key Insights and Lessons Learned:
• Summarize the main takeaways from each week’s content (lectures, readings, activities).
• Relate these insights to real-world challenges in urban water management.
2. Role-Based Reflection:
• Reflect on the weekly themes from the perspective of your assigned role.
• Describe the challenges and conflicts you encountered during role-playing discussions or activities.
• Discuss how your role’s priorities influenced decisions related to water management.
3. Connections Across Themes:
• Identify connections between the weekly topics.
• For example: How do policies and governance (Week 2) influence stormwater management (Week 3) or integrated urban water management (Week 6)?
• Discuss the engineering, political, ethical, and economic considerations that emerged during the course.

Critical Analysis and Reflections (~1000 words)

• Critically evaluate the role of engineering solutions in sustainable water management.
• Discuss the trade-offs and conflicts you observed during the course (e.g., between environmental goals and budget constraints).
• Reflect on the systems perspective: How do different roles and priorities need to collaborate to achieve sustainable urban development?
• Discuss what you found most challenging and thought-provoking about working within your assigned role.
• Use the learning outcomes of the course as a guideline to your analysis and reflection.

 Conclusion (~300 words)

• Summarize the key lessons learned throughout the course.
• Reflect on the importance of integrating different perspectives (policy, engineering, economics, and ethics) in urban water management.
• Conclude with how the course has influenced your understanding of sustainability in the built environment.

Formatting and Submission Guidelines

• Length: Maximum 2500 words
• Format:
• Font: 11 or 12-point
• Line spacing: Single or 1.15
• Margins: 2.5 cm (1 inch) on all sides
• File Type: Submit as a PDF or docx.

Groupwork : Developing a Sustainable Water Management Plan for an Urban Development

Objective

This groupwork report challenges you to apply engineering knowledge, sustainability principles, and multi-stakeholder perspectives to develop a comprehensive plan for a hypothetical urban development. The report should address water management solutions while also considering broader sustainability challenges such as energy use, land use, social equity, and climate resilience. Through role-playing, you will explore how different stakeholders influence and are affected by urban sustainability decisions. This report is designed to help you achieve the course learning goals by integrating technical, political, ethical, and economic dimensions of sustainability.

Instructions

1. Group Roles and Context

• Each group represents a multi-stakeholder team responsible for planning a new sustainable urban development.
• Roles include:
• Municipal Environmental Administrator
• Municipal Water & Sewage Authority
• Sustainable Architect & Landscape Architect
• Property Developer
• Sustainable Building Systems Consultant
• Urban Planner
• Community Representative
• Your team’s task is to develop an integrated plan that addresses:
• Water Management: Stormwater, wastewater, and potable water systems.
• Broader Sustainability Challenges: Energy use, climate resilience, land use, and social equity.
• Stakeholder Perspectives: Different goals, challenges, and conflicts faced by various stakeholders.

2. Structure of the Report

Introduction (~300 words)

• Describe the hypothetical urban development (size, location, population, and key features).
• Identify the main sustainability challenges and water management issues in the context of your development.
• Briefly outline the roles of the different stakeholders involved.

Water Management Plan (~1,000 words)

Develop a technical and holistic water management plan that includes:

1. Stormwater Management
• Propose solutions such as permeable pavements, bioswales, rain gardens, retention ponds, and green roofs.
• Provide engineering justifications and explain how these solutions contribute to sustainability.
2. Wastewater Treatment
• Suggest decentralized treatment systems, greywater recycling, or advanced wastewater treatment technologies.
• Explain the feasibility, sustainability benefits, and potential challenges.
3. Potable Water Supply
• Discuss solutions like rainwater harvesting, water-efficient fixtures, and smart water systems.
• Justify your choices with technical details and sustainability considerations.

If needed, include diagrams, schematics, or models to support your technical solutions.

Broader Sustainability Challenges (~1,000 words)

Address the following general sustainability challenges in your urban development plan:

1. Energy Efficiency
• Propose energy-efficient infrastructure and renewable energy solutions.
• Explain how these support the water management plan and overall sustainability goals.
2. Climate Resilience
• Describe strategies to protect the development from climate risks like flooding, heatwaves, and droughts.
• Integrate green infrastructure and adaptive design principles.
3. Social Equity and Livability
• Ensure the development is inclusive and benefits all community members.
• Discuss equitable access to water resources, green spaces, and amenities.
4. Land Use and Urban Design
• Develop strategies for mixed-use development, walkability, and preserving natural ecosystems.
• Explain how land use planning supports water management and sustainability.

Stakeholder Perspectives (~700 words)

Each role (stakeholder) provides a short section (~100-200 words each) reflecting on the proposed plan:

• Describe your role’s priorities, challenges, and goals within the project.
• Identify any conflicts or compromises necessary to achieve a balanced, sustainable solution.
• Explain how the final plan addresses your role’s concerns and contributes to broader sustainability goals.

Policy and Governance (~500 words)

• Discuss the relevant policies, regulations, and governance frameworks influencing your plan.
• Propose policy recommendations to support the successful implementation of your water management and sustainability strategies.
• Highlight how governance structures can help balance competing interests and achieve long-term sustainability goals.

Conclusion and Reflections (~300 words)

• Summarize the key components of your water management and sustainability plan.
• Reflect on the collaborative process, the challenges faced during group discussions, and the compromises made.
• Discuss how integrating different stakeholder perspectives influenced the final plan and what insights you gained about sustainable urban development.

3. Report Requirements

• Length: 4,000–5,000 words (excluding references and figures).
• Format:
• Font: Times New Roman, 12-point
• Line spacing: 1.5
• Margins: 2.5 cm (1 inch) on all sides
• File Type: Submit as a PDF.
• References: Use at least 10 academic or professional sources (journal articles, technical reports, case studies), may include course reading material.
• Figures: Include diagrams, tables, and illustrations to support your technical solutions and analyses.

4. Group Presentation

• Prepare a 10 to 15-minute presentation summarizing your report.
• Each role should briefly present their perspective and contributions.
• Use visuals (e.g., diagrams, slides) to support your presentation.

Assessment Criteria

Criteria	Description	Weight
Engineering Solutions	Feasibility, creativity, and technical accuracy of water management solutions. Clear engineering justifications with diagrams/models.	25%
Broader Sustainability Challenges	Depth and integration of solutions addressing energy, climate resilience, equity, and land use. Ability to connect these challenges to water management.	25%
Stakeholder Perspectives	Insightful reflection on each role’s priorities, challenges, and compromises. Demonstrates understanding of stakeholder dynamics and conflicts.	15%
Policy and Governance	Understanding of relevant policies and regulations. Quality of policy recommendations and governance insights.	15%
Clarity and Structure	Logical organization, clear language, appropriate formatting. Effective use of diagrams and visuals to support content.	10%
Use of References	Quality and integration of sources. Proper citation style and depth of research.	10%