PhD programmes - Science and Technology
Home > Life Cycle Assessment for the built environment: theory, methods, and applications

Life Cycle Assessment for the built environment: theory, methods, and applications

Lecturer: Gianluca Maracchini (UNITN/DICAM)

Timetable: 7 - 16 May 2024 - the course will be offered in a blended format.

Program: 

Tuesday May 7 -  9:30-12:30 - room 1H
Thursday May 9 - 9:30-12:30 - room 1H
Tuesday May 14 - 9:30-12:30 - room 1H
Wednesday May 15 - 9:30-13:30 - room 1B
Thursday May 16 - 9:30-12:30 - room 1D

Background. Globally, buildings are responsible for approximately one-third of total energy consumption and account for nearly 40% of CO2 emissions. In recent decades, this substantial environmental impact has driven increased attention from researchers, policymakers, and industry specialists towards the sustainability of buildings. Introduced thirty years ago, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a rigorous methodology that evaluates the cumulative environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product or service whose application has been also expanded within the domain of building engineering and architecture. In this field, LCA is pivotal for selecting sustainable building materials and facilitating building energy-efficient retrofits and design, while ensuring the avoidance of superficial environmental claims, otherwise known as "greenwashing", establishing a framework for evidenced-based environmental sustainability strategies. Recently, LCA has also been used for assessing the environmental repercussions of damages to buildings from natural disasters - particularly as climate change elevates the frequency and severity of such events. This approach aids in benchmarking building designs, materials, and technologies, ensuring informed decision-making from a holistic point of view.

Aim and description of the course. Building on the most recent research on LCA, the course offers PhD students a foundational and advanced understanding of the LCA approach, specifically applied to the built environment. Participants will also explore advanced LCA methods to ensure the robustness and reliability of environmental assessments. The course will feature presentations from LCA specialists and will culminate in a collaborative student-led presentation, where they will put forth a research proposal on LCA specific to their respective scientific fields. The course adopts a multidisciplinary approach, welcoming enrollment from PhD students across all engineering and architectural disciplines, as well as individuals eager to explore the environmental sustainability of buildings and constructions.

Course Structure:

  • Introduction to Sustainability and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
  • Main phases of LCA methodology
  • Phases of Building Life Cycle
  • Advanced Tools, Techniques, and Methodologies in LCA
  • Practical Applications and Case Studies
  • Development of Scientific Literature Analysis and/or Paper Proposal tailored to the PhD student’s respective scientific fields.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, the PhD students will be able to:

  • Understand the evolution, principles, and significance of LCA in sustainable building practices.
  • Comprehend the different phases of a building life cycle and how LCA is employed in each phase.
  • Gain proficiency in various LCA tools and methods for building and architectural projects.
  • Understand the economic implications of LCA, including life cycle costs, investment costs, and other economic indicators.
  • Analyze real-world examples, recognizing the impact of LCA in decision-making and identifying best practices.
  • Glean a foundational understanding of how LCA can be applied in the context of building damages due to natural hazards and the optimization of building material productions.
  • Analyzing the scientific literature and developing a unique proposal for an LCA study tailored to the PhD student's respective field.

Alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
This course aligns with the following UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

  • SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)
  • SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure)
  • SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)
  • SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)
  • SDG 13 (Climate Action)

Registration:
Researchers and students (doctoral and post-docs) who are interested in participating in the course must write an email to gianluca.maracchini [at] unitn.it by March 31, 2024. Admission will be also accepted later but before the beginning of the course in May 2024.