We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Javier Orozco-Messana, Elena de la Poza-Plaza, Dai Morgan, and Ana María Gonzálvez

The course introduces the basic elements and trends for performing a through built environment assessment and develops the tools for urban sustainability policy impact analysis.

Read more

The course introduces the basic elements and trends for performing a through built environment assessment and develops the tools for urban sustainability policy impact analysis.

During the first week the dimensions for urban sustainability are introduced first through an analysis of the classics, later followed by a master lecture on climate change by Nobel prize winner Edward S. Rubin and ending with an interview of the late Nobel prize winner Sir Harold Kroto on Nanoscience.

The second week builds the connection with the tools available through science for making our cities sustainable. The first video develops the possibilities of Nanomaterials, followed by the key impact of Green Infrastructure on the city metabolism and ending with an analysis of the role of smart grids on energy distribution for the future cities.

Week 3 the core chapters for assessment and impact analysis of the built environment. The first video develops the theoretical framework followed by the necessary Integrated Design approach to the assessment and impact evaluation presented on the last video.

Along the fourth week the main techniques for modelling a city are put together for understanding their essence and field of application. Beginning with the most detailed approach (BIM), the prevalent Life Cycle Analysis follows to end with an economical point of view through business models formulation.

The last week (fifth) the final envisaged paradigm of the circular city is presented starting from the grounding concepts which are developed in the proposed Circular City model. As a final point the Sustainability Plan for the University of British Columbia is analysed.

Two deals to help you save

We found two deals and offers that may be relevant to this course.
Save money when you learn. All coupon codes, vouchers, and discounts are applied automatically unless otherwise noted.

What's inside

Learning objective

How to evaluate the sustainability performance of a city, for creating a model adequate for developing a combined analysis for urban policy assessment.

Syllabus

Week 1: Dimensions for urban sustainability
Week 2: Tools for developing a sustainable built environment
Week 3: Evaluation and assessment
Week 4: City models
Read more
Week 5: Circular economy city

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Explores sustainability in the built environment, which is highly relevant to urban planning, architecture, and civil engineering professions
Taught by instructors who are recognized for their work in urban sustainability
Develops essential tools and frameworks for assessing and evaluating the sustainability of urban environments
Covers a comprehensive range of topics related to urban sustainability, including climate change, green infrastructure, smart grids, and circular economy principles
Incorporates a multi-modal approach with videos, readings, and interviews, providing a diverse learning experience
Advises that students have a background in basic sustainability concepts and principles before taking this course

Save this course

Save Built environment sustainability assessment to your list so you can find it easily later:
Save

Reviews summary

Built environment sustainability observations

Learners say this course introduces the concept of sustainability and assessment in a built environment. The material covers circular economy and sustainability but lacks depth. Exams are difficult and irrelevant to the material.
Course introduces concepts of sustainability.
"This course is good as an introduction to circular economy and sustainability in a built environment."
Concepts could be explored in more depth.
"the content can be improved to enable better learning."
"it would be best to develop this course further with extended examples of current practices for sustainable assessments of cities and buildings."
"The information presented in the course was not of the highest quality."
Videos are reused from other courses.
"Videos have been reused from the previous course in a specialization."
"The information presented in the course was not of the highest quality. It seemed that most of the learning material was reused from other courses and was not specific to the topic of sustainability assessment in the built environment."
Multiple choice questions are irrelevant to videos.
"Questions are sometimes irrelevant to the content discussed in the videos."
"Some videos feel very irrelevant to the multiple choice questions."
"often the questions on the exams are ambiguous with no clear answer."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Built environment sustainability assessment with these activities:
Review the definition and dimensions of urban sustainability
Understand the foundational concepts of urban sustainability to enhance comprehension during the course.
Browse courses on Urban Sustainability
Show steps
  • Consult online resources or textbooks to review the definition of urban sustainability
  • Identify and analyze the different dimensions of urban sustainability, such as environmental, economic, and social aspects
Volunteer with an organization working on urban sustainability initiatives
Gain hands-on experience and contribute to real-world urban sustainability efforts.
Show steps
  • Identify organizations involved in urban sustainability in your community
  • Contact the organizations to explore volunteer opportunities
  • Participate in volunteer activities such as clean-ups, community engagement, or research projects
Compile a list of scientific literature on urban sustainability
Enhance understanding of current research and debates in urban sustainability by exploring relevant literature.
Show steps
  • Search academic databases or Google Scholar for articles on urban sustainability
  • Review abstracts and identify articles relevant to the course topics
  • Organize the articles into a reference list or annotated bibliography
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Follow online tutorials on using software for urban sustainability analysis
Gain practical skills in using software tools to analyze and evaluate urban sustainability initiatives.
Browse courses on BIM
Show steps
  • Identify software tools commonly used in urban sustainability analysis
  • Locate online tutorials or training materials for these software tools
  • Follow the tutorials to learn the basics of using the software
Review the book "Sustainable Urban Planning"
Delve into a comprehensive overview of sustainable urban planning principles and best practices.
Show steps
  • Read the book and take notes on key concepts and frameworks
  • Identify and analyze case studies of successful sustainable urban planning initiatives
Develop a case study analysis on an urban sustainability project
Apply knowledge gained in the course by critically analyzing a real-world urban sustainability project.
Show steps
  • Select an urban sustainability project of interest
  • Gather data and information on the project's goals, implementation, and outcomes
  • Analyze the project's effectiveness in promoting urban sustainability
  • Prepare a written or multimedia report presenting the analysis and insights
Mentor students or peers interested in urban sustainability
Share your knowledge and experience with others by mentoring those eager to learn about urban sustainability.
Show steps
  • Identify individuals interested in learning about urban sustainability
  • Offer guidance and support on topics related to the field
  • Provide feedback on projects or research related to urban sustainability
Participate in a hackathon or design competition focused on urban sustainability
Engage with other professionals and students to develop innovative solutions to urban sustainability challenges.
Show steps
  • Identify relevant hackathons or design competitions
  • Form a team or collaborate with others to develop a project proposal
  • Develop and implement the project, addressing the competition's goals and challenges

Career center

Learners who complete Built environment sustainability assessment will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Sustainability Consultant
Sustainability Consultants help organizations and governments develop and implement sustainability strategies. This course would provide a strong foundation for a career in sustainability consulting, as it provides a comprehensive overview of the dimensions of urban sustainability, the tools available for developing a sustainable built environment, and the techniques for evaluating and assessing the sustainability performance of a city. The course would also help you develop the skills necessary to create a model adequate for developing a combined analysis for urban policy assessment.
Sustainability Manager
Sustainability Managers develop and implement sustainability strategies for organizations. This course would be helpful for a career in sustainability management, as it provides a comprehensive overview of the dimensions of urban sustainability, the tools available for developing a sustainable built environment, and the techniques for evaluating and assessing the sustainability performance of a city. The course would also help you develop the skills necessary to create a model adequate for developing a combined analysis for urban policy assessment.
Sustainability Analyst
Sustainability Analysts evaluate the sustainability performance of organizations and develop strategies for improving sustainability. This course would be helpful for a career in sustainability analysis, as it provides a comprehensive overview of the dimensions of urban sustainability, the tools available for developing a sustainable built environment, and the techniques for evaluating and assessing the sustainability performance of a city. The course would also help you develop the skills necessary to create a model adequate for developing a combined analysis for urban policy assessment.
Architect
Architects design and construct buildings. This course would be helpful for a career in architecture, as it provides an overview of the dimensions of urban sustainability, as well as the tools and techniques for evaluating and assessing the sustainability performance of a city. The course would also help you develop the skills necessary to design and construct sustainable buildings.
Urban Planner
Urban Planners develop plans and policies for the development and use of land. This course would be helpful for a career in urban planning, as it provides an overview of the dimensions of urban sustainability, as well as the tools and techniques for evaluating and assessing the sustainability performance of a city. The course would also help you develop the skills necessary to create sustainable urban plans and policies.
Environmental Scientist
Environmental Scientists study the environment and develop solutions to environmental problems. This course would be helpful for a career in environmental science, as it provides an overview of the dimensions of urban sustainability, as well as the tools and techniques for evaluating and assessing the sustainability performance of a city. The course would also help you develop the skills necessary to conduct environmental research and develop sustainable solutions.
Landscape Architect
Landscape Architects design and construct landscapes. This course would be helpful for a career in landscape architecture, as it provides an overview of the dimensions of urban sustainability, as well as the tools and techniques for evaluating and assessing the sustainability performance of a city. The course would also help you develop the skills necessary to design and construct sustainable landscapes.
Corporate Social Responsibility Officer
Corporate Social Responsibility Officers develop and implement corporate social responsibility strategies. This course would be helpful for a career in corporate social responsibility, as it provides an overview of the dimensions of urban sustainability, as well as the tools and techniques for evaluating and assessing the sustainability performance of a city. The course would also help you develop the skills necessary to develop and implement sustainable corporate social responsibility strategies.
Climate Adaptation Specialist
Climate Adaptation Specialists develop and implement strategies to help communities adapt to climate change. This course would be helpful for a career in climate adaptation, as it provides an overview of the dimensions of urban sustainability, as well as the tools and techniques for evaluating and assessing the sustainability performance of a city. The course would also help you develop the skills necessary to develop and implement sustainable climate adaptation solutions for urban environments.
Green Building Consultant
Green Building Consultants help organizations design and construct sustainable buildings. This course would be helpful for a career in green building consulting, as it provides an overview of the dimensions of urban sustainability, as well as the tools and techniques for evaluating and assessing the sustainability performance of a city. The course would also help you develop the skills necessary to develop and implement sustainable building solutions.
Energy Manager
Energy Managers develop and implement strategies to reduce energy consumption and costs. This course would be helpful for a career in energy management, as it provides an overview of the dimensions of urban sustainability, as well as the tools and techniques for evaluating and assessing the sustainability performance of a city. The course would also help you develop the skills necessary to develop and implement sustainable energy solutions for urban environments.
Environmental Engineer
Environmental Engineers design, construct, and operate systems to protect the environment. This course would be helpful for a career in environmental engineering, as it provides an overview of the dimensions of urban sustainability, as well as the tools and techniques for evaluating and assessing the sustainability performance of a city. The course would also help you develop the skills necessary to develop and implement sustainable solutions for urban environments.
Policy Analyst
Policy Analysts develop and evaluate public policies. This course would be helpful for a career in policy analysis, as it provides an overview of the dimensions of urban sustainability, as well as the tools and techniques for evaluating and assessing the sustainability performance of a city. The course would also help you develop the skills necessary to develop and evaluate sustainable public policies.
Researcher
Researchers conduct research and develop new knowledge. This course may be helpful for a career in research, as it provides an overview of the dimensions of urban sustainability, as well as the tools and techniques for evaluating and assessing the sustainability performance of a city. The course may also help you develop the skills necessary to conduct research on urban sustainability.
Professor
Professors teach and conduct research at colleges and universities. This course may be helpful for a career in teaching, as it provides an overview of the dimensions of urban sustainability, as well as the tools and techniques for evaluating and assessing the sustainability performance of a city. The course may also help you develop the skills necessary to teach courses on urban sustainability.

Reading list

We've selected nine books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Built environment sustainability assessment.
Provides background on the environmental crisis and the need for sustainability.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Here are nine courses similar to Built environment sustainability assessment.
Sustainability in Architecture: An Interdisciplinary...
Most relevant
Smart Cities
Most relevant
Urban Upgrading for Inclusion, Sustainability and...
Most relevant
Urban Landscapes of Care - Designing child friendly cities
Most relevant
Co-Creating Sustainable Cities
Most relevant
Development and Planning in African Cities: Exploring...
Sustainable Urban Development
Management of Urban Infrastructures – part 1
HEALTHY URBAN SYSTEMS - PART 3 : Design and policies
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2024 OpenCourser