Admission requirements
This course is part of the MSc Industrial Ecology (joint degree between Leiden University and Delft University of Technology). The course builds up on the knowledge and skills taught in the first semester of this MSc Industrial Ecology. The course has two tracks: 1) urban systems and 2) industrial systems. During Q2, students will be invited to express their preference for one of these tracks. Taking into account these preferences, students are divided approximately evenly over the two tracks. Students are informed about their placement before the start of Q3. In the description of the course and the learning goals below, the urban systems and industrial systems are presented together, but in the end the student will only have to meet the requirements of the track they have been placed in.
Description
Many sustainability challenges are related to urban systems and industrial systems. The way urban and industrial environments and their infrastructures are built and transformed, and how people live in them and work in them has an impact on greenhouse gas emission, resource depletion, pollution and the generation of waste.
In this course, we approach urban environments and industrial systems from an ecosystem perspective. We focus on three important flows: energy, water, construction materials, and resources. Analysing these flows reveals the complexity of urban and industrial environments. The flow systems are related in multiple ways. An intervention to improve one flow can have a negative impact on another flow. Spatial interventions hold potential for synergies, for example between improved local water management and more livable green spaces for local inhabitants (urban track), or industrial symbiosis within industrial clusters (industrial track).
To understand and work with this complexity, we start with a careful analysis of a provided urban plan or a provided industrial network, that can be described as an eco-industrial park or a circular economy region. The performance of the system and each flow are analysed and modelled. The outcomes are combined into an integral sustainability assessment of the provided urban plan or provided industrial network.
In the second part of the course, the assessment forms the base for improvements in the provided urban plan or industrial network. The shape and position of the buildings and open spaces are adjusted where needed, and flow-related improvements are translated to spatial interventions. Or in the case of the industrial network, the outline of the process, the flowsheet, or the value chain are translated to design interventions. These elements can lead to conflicts between different interventions. Therefore, trade-offs are identified and negotiated while synergies are sought and strengthened. Here, aspects such as spatial qualities, cluster behaviour, livability and ecology are taken into account as well, leading to an integrated new urban plan or industrial network.
This new plan or network is then considered within its institutional context. Stakeholders that are relevant for successful realisation of the plan are identified. The final outcome is an improved, integrated and implemented sustainable urban development or sustainable industrial development. For acting successfully in the complexity of urban environments and industrial environments, collaboration and communication are crucial skills. Therefore, this course also draws on these skills. For the purpose of knowledge exchange, both tracks have several joint moments and also two excursions for all students of both tracks during the education period (one with more focus on urban development, the other one with more focus on industrial site visits).
Course objectives
After completing this course, you are able to…
Assess the sustainability of a provided urban plan or provided industrial system by applying calculation models for key resource and waste flows.
Based on this assessment, propose spatial and technical adjustments that improve the provided urban plan or provided industrial system, analyse the effect of these adjustments by applying computational models, and use the gained insight to further elaborate their urban plan or industrial system.
Identify trade-offs and synergies between proposed improvements and key qualities of urban plans or industrial system.
Argue how trade-offs could be mitigated, and synergies could be strengthened, and translate this argumentation into further improvements, leading to an integrated sustainable urban plan or industrial system.
Relate the improved urban plan or industrial system to a provided institutional context. Students are able to identify key stakeholders required for a successful and synergetic implementation of their improved urban plan or industrial system.
Timetable
In MyTimetable, you can find all course and programme schedules, allowing you to create your personal timetable. Activities for which you have enrolled via MyStudyMap will automatically appear in your timetable.
Additionally, you can easily link MyTimetable to a calendar app on your phone, and schedule changes will be automatically updated in your calendar. You can also choose to receive email notifications about schedule changes. You can enable notifications in Settings after logging in.
Questions? Watch the video, read the instructions, or contact the ISSC helpdesk.
Note: Joint Degree students from Leiden/Delft need to combine information from both the Leiden and Delft MyTimetables to see a complete schedule. This video explains how to do it.
Mode of instruction
Q3: Lectures, workshops and self-study
Q4: Lectures, workshops and self-study, group work with table reviews, presentations, teachers’ feedback and peer feedback
Assessment method
This course consists of lectures, readings based on scientific papers, instructions, and group work. These activities aim to provide the skills/time required to deliver a final group project.
The project is executed in small groups and is graded based on a final project report that comprises sections written by the group as well as individual sections on specialised topics, and a final group presentation. Group sections, individual sections and presentations are scored separately. The final grade is then computed based on the following weighting: group sections 50%, individual sections 40%, and final group presentation 10%.
When the weighted average of the partial scores is below 6.0, students may submit a revision of their individual sections within 5 working days of the original deadline. Such revisions cannot result in a final grade higher than 6.0. If after revision a student's final grade is still below 6, this student must retake the course in the next academic year.
Final grades are rounded to the nearest half point, except between 5 and 6. Then the weighted partial score is rounded to the nearest full point.
Inspection and feedback
Students receive with their grade a rubric that states the motivation for the scores for group sections, individual sections and final presentation.
Reading list
Course materials will be provided during lectures.
Registration
As a student, you are responsible for enrolling on time through MyStudyMap.
In this short video, you can see step-by-step how to enrol for courses in MyStudyMap.
Extensive information about the operation of MyStudyMap can be found here.
There are two enrolment periods per year:
Enrolment for the fall opens in July
Enrolment for the spring opens in December
See this page for more information about deadlines and enrolling for courses and exams.
Note:
It is mandatory to enrol for all activities of a course that you are going to follow.
Your enrolment is only complete when you submit your course planning in the ‘Ready for enrolment’ tab by clicking ‘Send’.
Not being enrolled for an exam/resit means that you are not allowed to participate in the exam/resit.
Contact
Coordinators: dr. Paola Ibarra Gonzalez (TPM, E&I), dr. Gijsbert Korevaar (TPM, E&I), dr. Pieter Bots (TPM, MAS), dr. Arie Adriaensen (TPM, MAS).
Instructors: Aksel Ersoy (TU Delft, A+BE), Paula van den Brom (TU Delft, A+BE), Henk Jonkers, (TU Delft, CEG), Willem van der Spoel (TU Delft, A+BE), Émile Sylvestre (TU Delft, CEG).
Remarks
MSc Industrial Ecology students can register for the course and exam via MystudyMap Leiden. Other students need to contact the study advisors of the programme via studyadvisor-ie@cml.leidenuniv.nl to check for availability.
Software
Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, the Faculty of Science will use the software distribution platform Academic Software. Through this platform, you can access the software needed for specific courses in your studies. For some software, your laptop must meet certain system requirements, which will be specified with the software. It is important to install the software before the start of the course. More information about the laptop requirements can be found on the student website.