Built environment sustainability assessment from edX

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.

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

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

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

Reviews summary

Built environment sustainability assessment overview

According to students, this course provides a comprehensive and well-structured overview of built environment sustainability. Learners appreciate the broad coverage of diverse topics, including nanomaterials, green infrastructure, city models, and the circular economy, finding the content largely informative and relevant for professionals. While many found the lectures easy to follow and the course material effective, some noted it serves more as an introduction than a deep dive, often expecting more practical application. There were recurring observations regarding inconsistent video and audio quality. Despite some wishing for deeper engagement, the course is highly recommended for professionals seeking a foundational understanding of the field.

Key concepts are relevant for professionals.

"I found the content on circular economy particularly insightful and directly applicable to my work."

"The modules on green infrastructure and smart grids were excellent. The integrated design approach was well explained."

"The discussions on LCA and business models were helpful."

"I found the concepts on city models very useful."

Tailored for those with a professional background.

"Highly recommend for professionals in the field."

"It's definitely for someone with a background in urban planning or architecture. Not for beginners."

"Highly recommend it to urban planners and sustainability consultants."

Provides a wide-ranging, foundational understanding.

"It covers a wide range of topics essential for understanding sustainability in cities."

"This course provided a fantastic overview of built environment sustainability."

"An eye-opening course! It truly broadened my perspective on urban sustainability."

"It's a good introduction to the subject and helps for understanding the breadth of the field."

Video and audio quality can be inconsistent.

"Some of the videos felt a little outdated..."

"Content is decent, but the production quality of some videos is quite poor."

"The audio can be inconsistent, and visuals are sometimes blurry."

Best for breadth; less for advanced practical application.

"I felt it lacked practical application. I was hoping for more hands-on exercises or case studies..."

"Disappointed with the lack of depth. It felt like a high-level overview rather than a detailed assessment course."

"I have a background in environmental engineering, and I found many parts too basic."

"I think it's more theoretical than practical, but that's fine if I'm looking for foundational knowledge."

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

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Understand the foundational concepts of urban sustainability to enhance comprehension during the course.

Browse courses on Urban Sustainability

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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

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Gain hands-on experience and contribute to real-world urban sustainability efforts.

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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

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Enhance understanding of current research and debates in urban sustainability by exploring relevant literature.

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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

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Follow online tutorials on using software for urban sustainability analysis

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Gain practical skills in using software tools to analyze and evaluate urban sustainability initiatives.

Browse courses on BIM

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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"

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Delve into a comprehensive overview of sustainable urban planning principles and best practices.

View Future Forms and Design For Sustainable Cities on Amazon

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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

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Apply knowledge gained in the course by critically analyzing a real-world urban sustainability project.

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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

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Share your knowledge and experience with others by mentoring those eager to learn about urban sustainability.

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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

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Engage with other professionals and students to develop innovative solutions to urban sustainability challenges.

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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 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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Analyst

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Manager

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Consultant

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Energy Manager

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Green Building Consultant

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Scientist

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Climate Adaptation Specialist

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.

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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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Policy Analyst

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Landscape Architect

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Engineer

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Urban Planner

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.

See salaries and explore the career path for Architect

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.

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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.

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