Course - Material Flow Analysis - TVM4160
Material Flow Analysis
About
About the course
Course content
The course provides an introduction into the analysis, evaluation, and design of the anthropogenic metabolism on various scales (companies, cities, countries, world). The students will learn how to use MFA in order to anticipate changes in resource demand and emissions, to interpret these changes in terms of consequences for the environment, resource security, employment, or geopolitical conditions, and to identify opportunities for changing the system in a desired direction. The methodological elements of the course include: i) terminology, system definition, and indicator selection; ii) mathematical representation of systems; iii) mathematical representation of uncertainty, sensitivity analysis, and data reconciliation; iv) dynamic modeling; v) introduction to and application of various software for MFA modeling. The methodology lectures are supplemented by background lectures, which include practical examples of MFAs. In the exercises, the students will employ the tools and methodologies in practical examples related to the main human activities (to nourish, to clean, to transport and communicate, to reside and work). The lectures will contain interactive elements with short discussions.
Learning outcome
At the end of the course, the students have acquired the necessary conceptual frameworks and practical skills in order to:
- explain the role of key substances and materials in todays societal metabolism and their potential interactions with the environment.
- define MFA systems that are adequate to reflect on practical problems and potential solutions (including potential side effects).
- identify key drivers of MFA systems, and to describe a system as a mathematical model in order to test the impact of data uncertainties and to develop simple scenarios (forecasting, backcasting, analyzing implications of possible interventions).
- point out and reflect on strengths, limitations, and specific areas of application of different MFAs (including other industrial ecology tools that build on them) and to interpret the results in terms of their policy implications (e.g., judge the effectiveness of different interventions).
Learning methods and activities
Lectures and exercises. The course will be taught in English. If there is a re-sit examination, the examination form may be changed from written to oral.
Compulsory assignments
- Assignments
Recommended previous knowledge
TVM4162 Industrial Ecology, or similar background, as well as basic mathematics (matrix algebra and differential equations); basic knowledge of MATLAB is useful.
Course materials
Various course materials will be used and distributed electronically (It's learning) during the semester.
Credit reductions
| Course code | Reduction | From |
|---|---|---|
| TEP4285 | 7.5 sp |
Subject areas
- Construction Engineering
- Architecture
- Rock Engineering
- Building and Material Technology
- Building Materials
- Building Technology
- Agricultural topics
- Materials and Processes
- Environmental and Resource Engineering
- Geology of Mineral Deposits
- Naturbruk
- Resource Geology
- Waste Management and Recycling Technologies
- Economics
- Technological subjects