Global Sustainable Engineering

Economic globalization is often mentioned as both an important opportunity and threat to business and industry today. However, knowledge and understanding about additional intrinsically linked phenomena is required to fully capitalize on the opportunities of globalization. The world's human population is expected to reach approximately 10 billion people by the year 2050. Concurrent with population growth and globalization the world is undergoing urbanization at an unprecedented rate. In 1900 only 10% of the less than 2 billion people lived in cities, whereas by 2050 projections suggest that 80% of 10 billion people will live in cities. Urbanization and globalization provide the greatest opportunity to improve the quality of life of more people, achieve the best value for investment in infrastructure, attenuate over consumption of resources and to produce the most efficient and sustainable public service systems. Moreover, fossil energy supply challenges, ecological degradation and rapid economic development in Asia require a paradigm shift to a new "sustainable" economic outlook. This course will provide a unique perspective for considering individual or institutional strategic plans with a triple bottom line approach.

CE59700

Credit Hours:

3

Learning Objective:

Global Sustainable Engineering is designed for professionals involved in design, manufacturing or financial aspects of their business. This course is constructed specifically for Mechanical Engineers, Industrial Engineers, Aeronautical Engineers and those involved in the Transportation or Energy sector. Anyone interested in applying Sustainability principles to product life cycles or business strategies would benefit from this course. Students completing this course will be able to identify strategic opportunities for change that are in congruence with globalization, urbanization and a future sustainable economy. Students will understand the scope and scale of human activity on global ecosystems and be able to integrate modifications to engineered systems that will reduce adverse environmental impacts, improve product quality and appeal to informed consumers.

Description:

Economic globalization is often mentioned as both an important opportunity and threat to business and industry today. However, knowledge and understanding about additional intrinsically linked phenomena is required to fully capitalize on the opportunities of globalization. The world's human population is expected to reach approximately 10 billion people by the year 2050. Concurrent with population growth and globalization the world is undergoing urbanization at an unprecedented rate. In 1900 only 10% of the less than 2 billion people lived in cities, whereas by 2050 projections suggest that 80% of 10 billion people will live in cities. Urbanization and globalization provide the greatest opportunity to improve the quality of life of more people, achieve the best value for investment in infrastructure, attenuate over consumption of resources and to produce the most efficient and sustainable public service systems. Moreover, fossil energy supply challenges, ecological degradation and rapid economic development in Asia require a paradigm shift to a new "sustainable" economic outlook. This course will provide a unique perspective for considering individual or institutional strategic plans with a triple bottom line approach.

Topics Covered:

Framing Sustainability; Impact of Industrialization on Ecosystem Function; Global Resource Utilization; Carrying Capacity and Population Growth; Land Use; Food Production Systems; Fossil & Renewable Energy Systems; Materials Ecology; Industrial Ecology; Carbon Footprints; Life Cycle Assessments, Urban Ecosystems; Achieving Sustainability.

Prerequisites:

Graduate standing.

Applied / Theory:

75 / 25

Web Address:

https://mycourses.purdue.edu/

Web Content:

Syllabus, grades, lecture notes, homework assignments, solutions, message board, and Hotseat

Homework:

Approximately five project assignments; submitted via Blackboard. One orientation assignment and five project assignments; submitted via Blackboard.

Projects:

The five project assignments will be open-ended problem based learning activities. They are designed to facilitate student synthesis of an interdisciplinary body of information and seek solutions for complex problems.

Exams:

One comprehensive un-timed open-book final reflection designed to facilitate course topics synthesis and bring the semester to closure.

Textbooks:

Official textbook information is now listed in the Schedule of Classes. NOTE: Textbook information is subject to be changed at any time at the discretion of the faculty member. If you have questions or concerns please contact the academic department.
Required--None. There is no textbook requirement. Readings from recent research and technical reports are used. In most cases PDF files will be provided by the instructor. There is no textbook requirement. Readings from recent research and technical reports are used. In most cases PDF files will be provided by the instructor.

Computer Requirements:

ProEd minimum computer requirements; course web will include documents provided by the instructor.

Other Requirements:

None.

ProEd Minimum Requirements:

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