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7.81. Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure (Elective)

7.81.1. Justification ↑ Back to top

Sustainable Infrastructure covers the principles, planning, design, materials, and management of sustainable infrastructure: the triple bottom line, life-cycle thinking, resource efficiency, the circular economy, and the social, economic, and governance dimensions of sustainable infrastructure projects.

7.81.2. Generales Goals ↑ Back to top

1. Apply the principles of sustainable infrastructure to the planning, design, materials, and operation of construction projects.
2. Evaluate the sustainable performance of an infrastructure project and its governance.

7.81.3. Contribution to Outcomes ↑ Back to top

ABET-1) An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics. (Usage)

7.81.4. Content ↑ Back to top

7.81.4.1. Foundational Sustainability Principles and Triple Bottom Line (15 hours) [Skills ABET-1] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Kibert, 2016)

Topics

1. Triple bottom line (TBL) framework and sustainability metrics
2. Life-cycle thinking and stage-gate analysis for infrastructure projects
3. Regenerative design and net-positive impact goals

Learning Outcomes

1. Define the three pillars of the triple bottom line and give an infrastructure-related example for each [Familiarity]
2. Apply life-cycle thinking to compare the long-term impacts of two alternative paving materials [Assessment]
3. Develop a project goal for achieving a net-positive environmental impact [Assessment]

7.81.4.2. Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy (15 hours) [Skills ABET-1] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Kibert, 2016)

Topics

1. Resource efficiency: energy, water, and material consumption minimization
2. Circular economy principles: reduce, reuse, recycle, recover (R4)
3. Sustainable procurement and supply chain management

Learning Outcomes

1. Calculate the embodied energy or water footprint of a simple structural component [Usage]
2. Explain how circular economy principles can be applied to construction and demolition waste [Familiarity]

7.81.4.3. Social, Economic, and Governance Dimensions of Sustainable Infrastructure (16 hours) [Skills ABET-1] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Kibert, 2016)

Topics

1. Social sustainability: equity, accessibility, and community well-being
2. Economic sustainability: life-cycle costing and total cost of ownership
3. Policy frameworks and green rating systems (e.g., Envision, LEED for Infrastructure)

Learning Outcomes

1. Evaluate the social equity implications of a proposed transportation project [Assessment]
2. Perform a life-cycle cost analysis to justify a higher initial investment in a durable material [Usage]
3. Use a green infrastructure rating system checklist to assess a project's sustainability performance [Familiarity]

7.81.5. Bibliography ↑ Back to top

Kibert, C. J. (2016). Sustainable Construction: Green Building Design and Delivery. Wiley, 5th edition.