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BSEN30360

Academic Year 2023/2024

Life Cycle Assessment (BSEN30360)

Subject:
Biosystems Engineering
College:
Engineering & Architecture
School:
Biosystems & Food Engineering
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Professor Nick Holden
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
Blended
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module introduces the principles and methods of life cycle thinking and life-cycle assessment (LCA) with specific reference to agriculture, food and energy systems using attributional LCA. The module will be based around the ISO 14040 methodology andILCD handbook. The module will focus on the four common stages of LCA: (i) definition of the Goal and Scope; (ii) Life Cycle Inventory Analysis; (iii) Life Cycle Impact Assessment and (iv) Interpretation. Case studies will consider LCA studies of agriculture, food and energy systems. Learning will be faciitated through completion of an example project that will be completed throughout the module.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

(1) Prepare a goal and scope statement for an LCA of a product or process;
(2) Organize and manipulate data sources to build an LCI in order to undertake an LCA of a product or process;
(3) Calculate a simple LCIA (for climate change impact) of a product or process; and
(4) Communicate LCA findings using ISO standard reporting and oral presentation.

Indicative Module Content:

Introduction to life cycle thinking, structure of an ISO standard life cycle assessment. The goal and scope, Life cycle inventory. Life cycle impact assessment. Interpretation and uncertainty. Example applications.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

47
Autonomous Student Learning

30
Lectures

24
Online Learning

24
Total

125

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
- Problem based assignments that build to a completed LCA project
- Directed reading
- Online lectures
- Online tutorials to progress through the LCA project

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

Experience using Excel or similar speadsheet software
Some knowledge of system modelling
Search strategies
Some knowledge of agriculture, food and energy systems


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
BSEN30420 - Environmental Footprint Method


 

Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment: Goal and Scope definition for LCA of chosen system Week 4 n/a Graded Yes

30

 Yes
Assignment: Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) of chosen system Week 7 n/a Graded No

20

 Yes
Assignment: Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) of chosen system Week 9 n/a Graded No

20

 Yes
Assignment: Final LCA report including Interpretation for chosen system Week 12 n/a Graded Yes

30

 Yes

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be provided using the VLE on each assessment as it is graded during the module.

Name Role
Dr Tamíris Da Costa Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
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