Search result: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2020

Integrated Building Systems Master Information
Main Courses
Fundamental Courses
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
151-1633-00LEnergy Conversion
This course is intended for students outside of D-MAVT.
W4 credits3GI. Karlin, G. Sansavini
AbstractThis course provides the students with an introduction to thermodynamics and heat transfer. Students shall gain basic understanding of energy, energy interactions, and various mechanisms of heat transfer as well as their link to energy conversion technologies.
ObjectiveThermodynamics is key to understanding and use of energy conversion processes in Nature and technology. Main objective of this course is to give a compact introduction into basics of Thermodynamics: Thermodynamic states and thermodynamic processes; Work and Heat; First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics. Students shall learn how to use energy balance equation in the analysis of power cycles and shall be able to evaluate efficiency of internal combustion engines, gas turbines and steam power plants. The course shall extensively use thermodynamic charts to building up students’ intuition about opportunities and restrictions to increase useful work output of energy conversion. Thermodynamic functions such as entropy, enthalpy and free enthalpy shall be used to understand chemical and phase equilibrium. The course also gives introduction to refrigeration cycles, combustion and psychrometry. The course compactly covers the standard course of thermodynamics for engineers, with additional topics of a general physics interest (nonideal gas equation of state and Joule-Thomson effect) also included.
Content1. Thermodynamic systems, states and state variables
2. Properties of substances: Water, air and ideal gas
3. Energy conservation in closed and open systems: work, internal energy, heat and enthalpy
4. Second law of thermodynamics and entropy
5. Energy analysis of steam power cycles
6. Energy analysis of gas power cycles
7. Refrigeration and heat pump cycles
8. Nonideal gas equation of state and Joule-Thomson effect
9. Maximal work and exergy
10. Mixtures and psychrometry
11. Chemical reactions and combustion systems; chemical and phase equilibrium
Lecture notesLecture slides and supplementary documentation will be available online.
LiteratureThermodynamics: An Engineering Approach, by Cengel, Y. A. and Boles, M. A., McGraw Hill
Prerequisites / NoticeThis course is intended for students outside of D-MAVT.

Students are assumed to have an adequate background in calculus, physics, and engineering mechanics.
401-0203-00LMathematics Information W4 credits3V + 1UC. Busch
AbstractThis course gives an introduction to the following subjects:
linear algebra (systems of linear equations, matrices, eigenvectors), calculus, multivariable calculus, differential equations.
ObjectiveBasic mathematical knowledge for engineers. Mathematics as a tool to solve engineering problems.
ContentThis course gives an introduction to the following subjects:
linear algebra (systems of linear equations, matrices, eigenvectors), calculus, multivariable calculus, differential equations.
LiteratureTom M. Apostol, Calculus, Volume 1, One-Variable Calculus with an Introduction to Linear Algebra, 2nd Edition, Wiley
Tom M. Apostol, Multi-Variable Calculus and Linear Algebra with Applications, 2nd Edition, Wiley
Ulrich L. Rohde, Introduction to differential calculus : Systematic studies with engineering applications for beginners, Wiley.
Ulrich L. Rohde, Introduction to integral calculus : Systematic studies with engineering applications for beginners, Wiley.
Serge Lang, Introduction to Linear Algebra, 2nd edition, Springer New York.
Serge Lang, A First Course in Calculus, 5th edition, Springer New York.
A list will be handed out in the lecture.
066-0427-00LDesign and Building Process Information
ITA Pool Introduction Event: Information on courses offered by the Institute ITA: 7.9.20, 10-11 h, HIB Open Space.
W2 credits2VA. Paulus, S. Menz
Abstract"Design and Building Process" is a brief manual for prospective architects and engineers covering the competencies and the responsibilities of all involved parties through the design and building process. Lectures on twelve compact aspects gaining importance in a increasingly specialised, complex and international surrounding.
ObjectiveParticipants will come to understand how they can best navigate the design and building process, especially in relation to understanding their profession, gaining a thorough knowledge of rules and regulations, as well as understanding how involved parties' minds work. They will also have the opportunity to investigate ways in which they can relate to, understand, and best respond to their clients' wants and needs. Finally, course participants will come to appreciate the various tools and instruments, which are available to them when implementing their projects. The course will guide the participants, bringing the individual pieces of knowledge into a superordinate relationship.
Content"Design and Building Process MIBS" is a brief manual for prospective architects and engineers covering the competencies and the responsibilities of involved parties through the design and building process. Twelve compact aspects regarding the establishe building culture are gaining importance in an increasingly specialised, complex and international surrounding. Lectures on the topics of profession, service model, organisation, project, design quality, coordination, costing, tendering and construction management, contracts and agreements, life cycle, real estate market, and getting started will guide the participants, bringing the individual pieces of knowledge into a superordinate relationship. The course introduces the key figures, depicts the criteria of the project and highlights the proveded services of the consultants. In addition to discussing the basics, the terminologies and the tendencies, the lecture units will refer to the studios as well as the prctice: Teaching-based case studies will compliment and deepen the understanding of the twelve selected aspects. The course is presented as a moderated seminar to allow students the opportunity for invididual input: active cololaboration between the students and their tutor therefore required.
LiteratureLink
066-0411-00LIntroduction to Structural Design Information
Not suitable for students who have already completed Structural Design I, II and III.
W2 credits2GL. Enrique Monzo, P. Block
AbstractThe course presents the fundamentals of how structures function through analysis and discussion of the interplay between forces, structural form and materials.
ObjectiveAt the conclusion of this course, students will be able to:

1. visualize the internal forces within two-dimensional structural elements.
2. understand the relationship between the form of a structure and the internal forces within it.
3. modify the design of a structure in order to improve it.
4. identify the most important structural typologies.
5. use graphic statics for the form-finding and analysis of structures.
6. carry out basic dimensioning of structural elements.
7. assess the structural behaviour of a building.
8. understand the structural and architectural possibilities of the most important building materials.
ContentThe course consists of lectures and exercises sessions. Topics include:

- Introduction to graphic statics
- Basic dimensioning of structural elements
- Cables and arches
- Arch-cables structures
- Trusses
- Beams and plates
- Frames
- Bracing systems
- Introduction to the main building materials
Lecture noteseQUILIBRIUM
Link
Literature"The art of structures, Introduction to the functioning of structures in architecture"
(Aurelio Muttoni, EPFL Press, 2011, ISBN-13: 978-0415610292, ISBN-10: 041561029X)

"Faustformel Tragwerksentwurf"
(Philippe Block, Christoph Gengangel, Stefan Peters,
DVA Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt 2013, ISBN: 978-3-421-03904-0)

"Form and Forces: Designing Efficient, Expressive Structures"
(Edward Allen, Waclaw Zalewski, October 2009, ISBN: 978-0-470-17465-4)
Prerequisites / NoticeNot suitable for students who have already completed Structural Design I, II and III.
Core Courses
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
101-0527-10LMaterials and Constructions Information Restricted registration - show details W3 credits2GG. Habert, S. Claude, D. Sanz Pont
AbstractBuilding materials with a special focus on regenerative materials: earth, bio-based and reuse.
Sourcing, properties and performance, building envelope integration and detailing, sustainable building construction
ObjectiveSpecial focus on regenerative materials: earth, bio-based and reuse
The students will acquire knowledge in the following fields:
Fundamentals of material performance
Introduction to durability problems of building facades
Materials for the building envelope:
- Overview of structural materials and systems: concrete, steel, wood and bamboo, earth
- Insulating materials (bio-based vs conventional)
- Air barrier, vapour barrier and sealants
- Interior finishing
Assessment of materials and components behaviour and performance
Solutions for energy retrofitting of (historical) buildings
Aspects of sustainability and durability
ContentIntroduction
Sustainable cement and concrete
Earth construction
Visit
Steel and bamboo
Timber construction
Building physic and conventional insulation
Bio-based insulation
Finishing
Reuse
151-8011-00LBuilding Physics: Theory and Applications Information Restricted registration - show details
Enrolment after agreement with the lecturer only.
W4 credits3V + 1UJ. Carmeliet, A. Rubin, L. D'Amato, O. Dorostkar, A. Kubilay, D. A. Strebel, X. Zhou
AbstractPrinciples of heat and mass transport, hygro-thermal performance, durability of the building envelope and interaction with indoor and outdoor climates, applications.
ObjectiveThe students will acquire in the following fields:
- Principles of heat and mass transport and its mathematical description.
- Indoor and outdoor climate and driving forces.
- Hygrothermal properties of building materials.
- Building envelope solutions and their construction.
- Hygrothermal performance and durability.
ContentPrinciples of heat and mass transport, hygro-thermal performance, durability of the building envelope and interaction with indoor and outdoor climates, applications.
Lecture notesHandouts, supporting material and exercises are provided online via Moodle.
363-0389-00LTechnology and Innovation Management Information W3 credits2GS. Brusoni, A. Zeijen
AbstractThis course focuses on the analysis of innovation as a pervasive process that cut across organizational and functional boundaries. It looks at the sources of innovation, at the tools and techniques that organizations deploy to routinely innovate, and the strategic implications of technical change.
ObjectiveThis course intends to enable all students to:

- understand the core concepts necessary to analyze how innovation happens

- master the most common methods and tools organizations deploy to innovate

- develop the ability to critically evaluate the innovation process, and act upon the main obstacles to innovation
ContentThis course looks at technology and innovation management as a process. Continuously, organizations are faced with a fundamental decision: they have to allocate resources between well-known tasks that reliably generate positive results; or explore new ways of doing things, new technologies, products and services. The latter is a high risk choice. Its rewards can be high, but the chances of success are small.
How do firms organize to take these decisions? What kind of management skills are necessary to take them? What kind of tools and methods are deployed to sustain managerial decision-making in highly volatile environments? These are the central questions on which this course focuses, relying on a combination of lectures, case-based discussion, guest speakers, simulations and group work.
Lecture notesSlides will be available on the Moodle page
LiteratureReadings will be available on the Moodle page
Prerequisites / NoticeThe course content and methods are designed for students with some background in management and/or economics
363-0503-00LPrinciples of Microeconomics
GESS (Science in Perspective): This lecture is for MSc students only. BSc students register for 363-1109-00L Einführung in die Mikroökonomie.
W3 credits2GM. Filippini
AbstractThe course introduces basic principles, problems and approaches of microeconomics. This provides the students with reflective and contextual knowledge on how societies use scarce resources to produce goods and services and ensure a (fair) distribution.
ObjectiveThe learning objectives of the course are:

(1) Students must be able to discuss basic principles, problems and approaches in microeconomics. (2) Students can analyse and explain simple economic principles in a market using supply and demand graphs. (3) Students can contrast different market structures and describe firm and consumer behaviour. (4) Students can identify market failures such as externalities related to market activities and illustrate how these affect the economy as a whole. (5) Students can also recognize behavioural failures within a market and discuss basic concepts related to behavioural economics. (6) Students can apply simple mathematical concepts on economic problems.
ContentThe resources on our planet are finite. The discipline of microeconomics therefore deals with the question of how society can use scarce resources to produce goods and services and ensure a (fair) distribution. In particular, microeconomics deals with the behaviour of consumers and firms in different market forms. Economic considerations and discussions are not part of classical engineering and science study programme. Thus, the goal of the lecture "Principles of Microeconomics" is to teach students how economic thinking and argumentation works. The course should help the students to look at the contents of their own studies from a different perspective and to be able to critically reflect on economic problems discussed in the society.

Topics covered by the course are:

- Supply and demand
- Consumer demand: neoclassical and behavioural perspective
- Cost of production: neoclassical and behavioural perspective
- Welfare economics, deadweight losses
- Governmental policies
- Market failures, common resources and public goods
- Public sector, tax system
- Market forms (competitive, monopolistic, monopolistic competitive, oligopolistic)
- International trade
Lecture notesLecture notes, exercises and reference material can be downloaded from Moodle.
LiteratureN. Gregory Mankiw and Mark P. Taylor (2020), "Economics", 5th edition, South-Western Cengage Learning.
The book can also be used for the course 'Principles of Macroeconomics' (Sturm)

For students taking only the course 'Principles of Microeconomics' there is a shorter version of the same book:
N. Gregory Mankiw and Mark P. Taylor (2020), "Microeconomics", 5th edition, South-Western Cengage Learning.

Complementary:
R. Pindyck and D. Rubinfeld (2018), "Microeconomics", 9th edition, Pearson Education.
Prerequisites / NoticeGESS (Science in Perspective): This lecture is for MSc students only. BSc students register for 363-1109-00L Einführung in die Mikroökonomie.
066-0423-00LApplication of CFD in Buildings Information Restricted registration - show details
Limited number of participants.
Enrolment is only possible in agreement with the chair.
W3 credits3VD. Lakehal
AbstractFundamentals, Applications and Project works in the area of CFD in buildings.
ObjectiveI- Understanding:
- Basic principles of fluid flow & heat transfer
- Basic concepts of CFD
- Validation and verification, practical guidelines

II- Application and project works of CFD in buildings. Use of D-ARCH CFD software.

Students will have two projects:

1- Group projects: Week 1-to-3 Nov. Projects will be assigned by the tutors to the students organized in groups of 2. Projects will include canonical problems in two dimensions essentially. A report is to be handed out end of Nov.

2- Individual Projects: Week 4 Nov. to Christmas. These are individual projects, chosen by students from the list of items below.

NOTE:
Students enrolled in the “Integrated Design Project” course can use their Individual Project (this class) for their IDP project, provided (1) they attend this course (CFD in Buildings) and use the CFD code TransAT to benefit the support of the tutors.
ContentI. Fundamentals
- Basic principles of fluid flow & heat transfer
- Laminar versus turbulent flow
- Forced vs. natural convection
- Basic concepts of CFD (Discretization, schemes, solvers, etc.)
- Turbulence modelling
- Near-wall treatment
- Validation and verification, practical guidelines

II. Application of CFD for real problems including (Projects):

1. Wind – Urban Scale: students would use the building shape to determine locations for wind inlets and outlets based on façade pressures
2. Wind – Cross-ventilation: using the interior shape of a building with inlets and outlets to determine flow rates
3. Stack effect: on a windless day with people in the building, how much airflow would be anticipated airflow rate given inlets and outlets
4. Wind & heat removal: Given inlets and outlets with people in the building, how much heat is removed from the building
5. Solar chimney: given a building with a chimney, how much extra airflow is created if the chimney is solar (absorbs radiation) vs. typical (not designed to absorb radiation)
6. Plant/vegetation effects: Given a building with a courtyard, how much is cross-ventilation affected by including plants vs. not having plants or how will the plants affect stack venting.
7. Air pollution and contaminant dispersion
Lecture notesMaterial (pdf files) will be sent to the students before the start of the course.
LiteratureWe will update the material in due time.

Main reference for fluid mechanics:
J.H. Spurk, Fluid Mechanics, Springer

Main reference for CFD:Ferziger and Peric, Computational Methods for Fluid Mechanics, Springer


Main Wiki reference:
Link

Other useful papers:
Link
Prerequisites / NoticeUse of the CFD software Link only, which is installed in the computer room of the Archi. Department.
151-8007-00LUrban Physics Information W3 credits3GJ. Carmeliet, D. W. Brunner, A. Rubin, C. Schär, D. A. Strebel, H. Wernli, J. M. Wunderli, Y. Zhao
AbstractUrban physics: wind, wind comfort, pollutant dispersion, natural ventilation, driving rain, heat islands, climate change and weather conditions, urban acoustics and energy use in the urban context.
Objective- Basic knowledge of the global climate and the local microclimate around buildings
- Impact of urban environment on wind, ventilation, rain, pollutants, acoustics and energy, and their relation to comfort, durability, air quality and energy demand
- Application of urban physics concepts in urban design
Content- Climate Change. The Global Picture: global energy balance, global climate models, the IPCC process. Towards regional climate scenarios: role of spatial resolution, overview of approaches, hydrostatic RCMs, cloud-resolving RCMs
- Urban micro climate and comfort: urban heat island effect, wind flow and radiation in the built environment, convective heat transport modelling, heat balance and ventilation of urban spaces - impact of morphology, outdoor wind comfort, outdoor thermal comfort,
- Urban energy and urban design. Energy performance of building quarters and cities, decentralized urban energy production and storage technologies, district heating networks, optimization of energy consumption at district level, effect of the micro climate, urban heat islands, and climate change on the energy performance of buildings and building blocks.
- Wind driving rain (WDR): WDR phenomena, WDR experimental and modeling, wind blocking effect, applications and moisture durability
- Pollutant dispersion. pollutant cycle : emission, transport and deposition, air quality
- Urban acoustics. noise propagation through the urban environment, meteorological effects, urban acoustic modeling, noise reduction measures, urban vegetation
Lecture notesThe course lectures and material are provided online via Moodle.
Prerequisites / NoticeNo prior knowledge is required.
066-0421-00LBuilding Systems I Information Restricted registration - show details W3 credits3GA. Schlüter, L. Baldini, I. Hischier, M. Sulzer
AbstractBuilding Systems I gives an overview of fundamentals and concepts relevant for the design of building systems.
ObjectiveThe course has the following learning objectives:
- Knowledge of the fundamentals, principles and technologies for building heating, cooling, ventilation and electricity supply.
- Knowledge of the integration and interdependencies of building systems and building structure, construction and aesthetics
- Ability to estimate relevant quantities and qualities for heating/cooling/ventilation/electricity of buildings and the related supply systems
- Ability to evaluate and choose an approach for sustainable heating/cooling/ventilation/electricity, the system and its components
- Synthesis in own integrated design projects
Content1. Comfort & Environment
2. Heating / cooling concepts and demand
3. Natural / mechanical ventilation concepts and demand
4. Solar generation / electricity storage and demand
5. Information & Communication Technologies
101-0524-00LLean, Integrated and Digital Project DeliveryW4 credits3GD. Hall
AbstractThis course is an introduction to innovative construction project delivery through three strategies: integrated information, integrated organization, and integrated processes. Students will be introduced to project and production management concepts such as Lean Construction, Building Information Modeling, the Tri-Constraint Method, & Integrated Project Delivery.
ObjectiveBy the end of the course, students will be able to plan and manage the lean, integrated, and digital project delivery of a construction project.
Students will know they are able to achieve this overall course goal when they can:

1. Apply the fundamental theories of lean production to the context of construction management. This includes the ability to describe the three views of production: transformation, flow and value generation; evaluate the benefits of a pull production system compared to push production systems; evaluate how production variability and uncertainty contributes to work-in-process and 'waste'; and apply the concepts of lean production to several construction management tools including the Last Planner System, Pull Planning, and Takt Planning.

2. Understand the fundamentals of BIM-based production planning and scheduling for construction. This includes the ability to explain the limitations of the Critical Path Method and other traditional production planning tools; understand the three fundamental constraints (resources, space, and precedence) in construction production planning; model these production constraints in a BIM-based environment; generate, evaluate, and optimize parametric construction schedules based on various planning scenarios.

3. Evaluate the benefits and challenges of using integrated project delivery for construction projects. This includes the ability to describe the change in governance practices (e.g. colocation, early involvement of key stakeholders, shared risk/reward, collaborative decision making) for integrated project delivery compared to the organization of traditional construction project delivery systems; evaluate the risks, benefits and considerations for integrated teams when using multi-party relational contracts that cross disciplinary and firm boundaries; explain the shift in design management when using a target value design approach instead of a traditional design management process.
ContentThe construction industry is continually seeking to deliver High-Performance (HP) projects for their clients. HP buildings must meet the criteria of four focus areas – buildability, operability, usability, and sustainability. The project must be buildable, as measured by metrics of cost, schedule, and quality. It must be operable, as measured by the cost of maintaining the facility for the duration of its lifecycle. It must be usable, enabling productivity, efficiency and well-being of those who will inhabit the building. Finally, it must be sustainable, minimizing the use of resources such as energy and water. Buildings that succeed in all four of these areas can be considered HP projects.

HP buildings require the integration of building systems. However, the traditional methods of planning and construction do not use an integrated approach. Project fragmentation between many stakeholders is often cited as the cause of poor project outcomes and the reason for poor productivity gains in the construction industry. In response, the construction industry has turned to new forms of integration in order to integrate the processes, organization, and information required for high performance projects.

This course investigates emerging trends in the construction industry such as lean construction, BIM-based production management, and integrated project delivery as a way to achieve HP projects. For integrated processes, students will be introduced to the fundamentals of lean construction management. This course will look at the causes of variability in construction production and teach the theory of lean production for construction. Examples of specific processes for lean management will be introduced, including takt time planning, pull planning, and the last planner system.

For integrated information, students will be introduced to the state-of-the-art in BIM-based production management. The limitations of the traditionally-used Critical Path Method (CPM) are discussed. The course shares how building information models (BIM) and virtual design and construction (VDC) can be applied to project production management using the tri-constraint method (TCM). Using software by Alice technologies, students will work in teams to model resource, spatial, and precedence constraints for parametric construction scheduling. Students will then generate a solution space of potential schedules using artificial intelligence, critically analyze these potential solutions, and optimize construction planning to improve the performance outcome of the production system.

For integrated organization, students will study the limitations of the construction industry to effectively organize for complex projects, including the challenges of managing highly interdependent tasks and generating knowledge and learning within large multi-organizational project teams. One emerging approach known as Integrated Project Delivery will be studied as a case example. Students will explore the benefits of certain ‘elements’ of IPD such as project team colocation, early involvement of trade contractors, shared risk and reward contracts, and collaborative decision making. Students will also be introduced to target value design, a new design management strategy for integrated project teams.

The course will also include several guest lectures from industry experts to further demonstrate how these concepts are applied in practice.
Lecture notesThe class will be presented in a "flipped classroom" environment. Students are required to do readings or watch video before class. Pre-class quizzes will be assigned on moodle to check for understanding.

In-class activities such as serious games, activities, and discussion will act to reinforce and expand upon these primary concepts.

Post-class reflection assignments and team assignments are assigned weekly for students to practice and reflect on the concepts learned in class.

** COVID and ZOOM protocol **

In past versions of the course, simulations and discussions of this class were conducted in a live and interactive environment. With considerations to the current COVID-19 pandemic, such group interaction will not be possible.
The plan for this semester is to conduct the first class in a live classroom.

Classes 2-4 include simulations, games, and a guest lecture to be conducted on Zoom. After class 4, we will re-assess if the next section of the course should be taught in the classroom or on Zoom. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility in the difficult situation.

With respect to Zoom classes, the following is strongly encouraged:
• If possible, please attend the Zoom courses live. Many of the activities are much better understood when students actively participate.
• All lectures will be recorded and made available, in the case that students cannot attend live.
• In-person courses will be live-streamed.
• During Zoom class, please keep the camera on whenever possible to promote engagement.
• During Zoom class, the objective will be to keep lectures short and maximize interactions and participation. We will use breakout rooms, google jamboards, and polling whenever possible.
• We kindly ask for your patience with the online simulations. This will be the first time that we try these in a virtual environment.
LiteratureA full list of required readings and videos will be made available to the students via Moodle.
Prerequisites / NoticeProject Management for Construction Projects (101-0007-00L) is a recommended but not required prerequisite for this course
529-0010-00LChemistry Restricted registration - show details W3 credits2V + 1UC. Mondelli
AbstractThis is a general chemistry course aimed at first year undergraduate students in the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering (D-MAVT).
ObjectiveThe aims of the course are as follows:
1) To provide a thorough understanding of the basic principles of chemistry and its application.
2) To develop an understanding of the atomic and molecular nature of matter and of the chemical reactions that describe its transformations.
3) To emphasize areas considered most relevant in an engineering context.
ContentElectronic structure of atoms, chemical bonding, molecular geometry and bonding theories, gases, thermodynamics, chemical thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, equilibria, acids and bases, solutions and intermolecular forces, redox- and electrochemistry.
Lecture notesSlides are available prior to every lecture and can be downloaded from Link
LiteratureThe course is based on "Chemistry The Central Science" by Brown, LeMay, Bursten, Murphy, Woodward, and Stoltzfus. Pearson, 14th Edition in SI units (global edition).
101-0608-00LDesign-Integrated Life Cycle Assessment Restricted registration - show details W3 credits2GG. Habert
AbstractCurrently, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is applied as an ex-post design evaluation of buildings, but rarely used to improve the building during the design process.
The aim of this course is to apply LCA during the design of buildings by means of a digital, parametric tool. The necessary fundamentals of the LCA method will be taught following a lecture on demands approach.
ObjectiveThe course will follow two main objectives and a third optional objective, depending on the design projects the students’ choose. At the end of the course, the students will:
1. Know the methodology of LCA
2. Be able to apply LCA in the design process to assess and improve the environmental performance of their projects
3. Be able to use the parametric LCA tool and link it to additional performance assessment tools for a holistic optimisation
ContentThe course will be structured into two parts, each making up about half of the semester.

Part I: Exercises with lectures on demand
The first six individual courses will follow the “lectures on demand” approach. Small “hands-on” exercises focusing on one specific aspect will be given out and the necessary background knowledge will be provided in the form of short input lectures when questions arise. The following topics will be discussed during the first part:
1) LCA basic introduction
2) System boundaries, functional unit, end of life
3) Carbon budget and LCA benchmarks
4) BIM-LCA, available calculation tools and databases
5) Integrated analysis of environmental and cost assessment
6) Bio-based carbon storage

Part II: Project-based learning
In the second part, the students will work on their individual project in groups of three. For the design task, the students will bring their own project and work on improving it. The projects can be chosen depending on the students background and range from buildings to infrastructure projects. Intermediate presentations will ensure the continuous work and make sure all groups are on the same level and learn from each other. During this part, the following hands-on tutorials will be given:
1) Introduction to Rhinoceros 6
2) Introduction to grasshopper
3) Integrated assessment tools (ladybug tools)
4) Introduction to in-house grasshopper plugin for LCA analysis
Lecture notesAs the course follows a lecture on demand approach, the lecture slides will be provided after each course.
LiteratureA list of the basic literature will be offered on a specific online platform, that could be used by all students attending the lectures.
Prerequisites / NoticePrerequisite: Sustainable construction (101-0577-00L). Otherwise a special permisson by the lecturer is required.
The students are expected to work out of class as well. The course time will be used by the teachers to answer project-specific questions.

The lecture series will be conducted in English and is aimed at students of master's programs, particularly the departments ARCH, BAUG, ITET, MAVT, MTEC and UWIS.

No lecture will be given during Seminar week.
151-0209-00LRenewable Energy Technologies Information W4 credits3GA. Steinfeld, E. I. M. Casati, F. Dähler
AbstractRenewable energy technologies: solar, biomass, wind, geothermal, hydro, waste-to-energy. Focus is on the engineering aspects.
ObjectiveStudents learn the potential and limitations of renewable energy technologies and their contribution towards sustainable energy utilization.
Prerequisites / NoticePrerequisite: strong background on the fundamentals of engineering thermodynamics, equivalent to the material taught in the courses Thermodynamics I, II, and III of D-MAVT.
Specialised Courses
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
151-0185-00LRadiation Heat Transfer Information W4 credits2V + 1UA. Steinfeld, P. Pozivil
AbstractAdvanced course in radiation heat transfer
ObjectiveFundamentals of radiative heat transfer and its applications. Examples are combustion and solar thermal/thermochemical processes, and other applications in the field of energy conversion and material processing.
Content1. Introduction to thermal radiation. Definitions. Spectral and directional properties. Electromagnetic spectrum. Blackbody and gray surfaces. Absorptivity, emissivity, reflectivity. Planck's Law, Wien's Displacement Law, Kirchhoff's Law.

2. Surface radiation exchange. Diffuse and specular surfaces. Gray and selective surfaces. Configuration factors. Radiation exchange. Enclosure theory, radiosity method. Monte Carlo.

3.Absorbing, emitting and scattering media. Extinction, absorption, and scattering coefficients. Scattering phase function. Optical thickness. Equation of radiative transfer. Solution methods: discrete ordinate, zone, Monte-Carlo.

4. Applications. Cavities. Selective surfaces and media. Semi-transparent windows. Combined radiation-conduction-convection heat transfer.
Lecture notesCopy of the slides presented.
LiteratureR. Siegel, J.R. Howell, Thermal Radiation Heat Transfer, 3rd. ed., Taylor & Francis, New York, 2002.

M. Modest, Radiative Heat Transfer, Academic Press, San Diego, 2003.
151-0103-00LFluid Dynamics IIW3 credits2V + 1UP. Jenny
AbstractTwo-dimensional irrotational (potential) flows: stream function and potential, singularity method, unsteady flow, aerodynamic concepts.
Vorticity dynamics: vorticity and circulation, vorticity equation, vortex theorems of Helmholtz and Kelvin.
Compressible flows: isentropic flow along stream tube, normal and oblique shocks, Laval nozzle, Prandtl-Meyer expansion, viscous effects.
ObjectiveExpand basic knowledge of fluid dynamics.
Concepts, phenomena and quantitative description of irrotational (potential), rotational, and one-dimensional compressible flows.
ContentTwo-dimensional irrotational (potential) flows: stream function and potential, complex notation, singularity method, unsteady flow, aerodynamic concepts.
Vorticity dynamics: vorticity and circulation, vorticity equation, vortex theorems of Helmholtz and Kelvin.
Compressible flows: isentropic flow along stream tube, normal and oblique shocks, Laval nozzle, Prandtl-Meyer expansion, viscous effects.
Lecture notesLecture notes are available (in German).
(See also info on literature below.)
LiteratureRelevant chapters (corresponding to lecture notes) from the textbook

P.K. Kundu, I.M. Cohen, D.R. Dowling: Fluid Mechanics, Academic Press, 5th ed., 2011 (includes a free copy of the DVD "Multimedia Fluid Mechanics")

P.K. Kundu, I.M. Cohen, D.R. Dowling: Fluid Mechanics, Academic Press, 6th ed., 2015 (does NOT include a free copy of the DVD "Multimedia Fluid Mechanics")
Prerequisites / NoticeAnalysis I/II, Knowledge of Fluid Dynamics I, thermodynamics of ideal gas
401-0647-00LIntroduction to Mathematical Optimization Restricted registration - show details W5 credits2V + 1UD. Adjiashvili
AbstractIntroduction to basic techniques and problems in mathematical optimization, and their applications to a variety of problems in engineering.
ObjectiveThe goal of the course is to obtain a good understanding of some of the most fundamental mathematical optimization techniques used to solve linear programs and basic combinatorial optimization problems. The students will also practice applying the learned models to problems in engineering.
ContentTopics covered in this course include:
- Linear programming (simplex method, duality theory, shadow prices, ...).
- Basic combinatorial optimization problems (spanning trees, shortest paths, network flows, ...).
- Modelling with mathematical optimization: applications of mathematical programming in engineering.
LiteratureInformation about relevant literature will be given in the lecture.
Prerequisites / NoticeThis course is meant for students who did not already attend the course "Mathematical Optimization", which is a more advance lecture covering similar topics. Compared to "Mathematical Optimization", this course has a stronger focus on modeling and applications.
227-0477-00LAcoustics IW6 credits4GK. Heutschi
AbstractIntroduction to the fundamentals of acoustics in the area of sound field calculations, measurement of acoustical events, outdoor sound propagation and room acoustics of large and small enclosures.
ObjectiveIntroduction to acoustics. Understanding of basic acoustical mechanisms. Survey of the technical literature. Illustration of measurement techniques in the laboratory.
ContentFundamentals of acoustics, measuring and analyzing of acoustical events, anatomy and properties of the ear. Outdoor sound propagation, absorption and transmission of sound, room acoustics of large and small enclosures, architectural acoustics, noise and noise control, calculation of sound fields.
Lecture notesyes
101-0577-00LAn Introduction to Sustainable Development in the Built EnvironmentW3 credits2GG. Habert, D. Kaushal
AbstractIn 2015, the UN Conference in Paris shaped future world objectives to tackle climate change.
in 2016, other political bodies made these changes more difficult to predict.
What does it mean for the built environment?
This course provides an introduction to the notion of sustainable development when applied to our built environment
ObjectiveAt the end of the semester, the students have an understanding of the term of sustainable development, its history, the current political and scientific discourses and its relevance for our built environment.

In order to address current challenges of climate change mitigation and resource depletion, students will learn a holistic approach of sustainable development. Ecological, economical and social constraints will be presented and students will learn about methods for argumentation and tools for assessment (i.e. life cycle assessment).

For this purpose an overview of sustainable development is presented with an introduction to the history of sustainability and its today definition as well as the role of cities, urbanisation and material resources (i.e. energy, construction material) in social economic and environmetal aspects.

The course aims to promote an integral view and understanding of sustainability and describing different spheres (social/cultural, ecological, economical, and institutional) that influence our built environment.

Students will acquire critical knowledge and understand the role of involved stakeholders, their motivations and constraints, learn how to evaluate challenges, identify deficits and define strategies to promote a more sustainable construction.

After the course students should be able to define the relevance of specific local, regional or territorial aspects to achieve coherent and applicable solutions toward sustainable development.

The course offers an environmental, socio-economic and socio-technical perspective focussing on buildings, cities and their transition to resilience with sustainable development. Students will learn on theory and application of current scientific pathways towards sustainable development.
ContentThe following topics give an overview of the themes that are to be worked on during the lecture.

- Overview on the history and emergence of sustainable development
- Overview on the current understanding and definition of sustainable development

Methods
- Method 1: Life cycle assessment (planning, construction, operation/use, deconstruction)
- Method 2: Life Cycle Costing
- Method 3: Labels and certification

Main issues:
- Operation energy at building, urban and national scale
- Mobility and density questions
- Embodied energy for developing and developed world

- Synthesis: Transition to sustainable development
Lecture notesAll relevant information will be online available before the lectures. For each lecture slides of the lecture will be provided.
LiteratureA list of the basic literature will be offered on a specific online platform, that could be used by all students attending the lectures.
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