PHYS5034: Semester 2, 2022

University home

Library

Current students

Staff intranet

Find an event

Give

Current students

Units PHYS5034 Semester 2 2022 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

PHYS5034: Life Cycle Analysis

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

Overview

This unit of study covers philosophy, techniques, applications and standards of Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA). It introduces methods from engineering (Process Analysis) and economics (Input-Output Analysis), and discusses current popular LCA tools. The unit places importance on practical relevance by including real-world case studies and business applications as well as global standards such as the GHG Protocol for accounting for scopes -1, -2 and -3 emissions and ISO standards. The unit of study will culminate with practical exercises using software tools to provide students with hands-on experience of preparing a comprehensive Life-Cycle Assessment of an application of their choice. Students will also benefit from enrolling in PHYS5033 for a sound understanding of input-output analysis as the basis of hybrid LCA methods.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Physics Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Fabian Sack, fabian.sack@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Presentation	Presentation Oral presentation	20%	Multiple weeks	5 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment 1 Written assignment	40%	Week 07 Due date: 18 Sep 2022 at 23:59	8-12 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment 2 Written assignment	40%	Week 13 Due date: 04 Nov 2022 at 23:59	8-12 pages
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	What is Life Cycle Assessment? Tutorial: Define / create your own LCA No seminar presentations, only tutorial	Lecture and tutorial (2.5 hr)
Week 02	Introduction to LCA standards. No seminar presentations, only tutorial	Lecture and tutorial (2.5 hr)
Week 03	Process LCA 1: Goal and scope; Life cycle inventories. No seminar presentations, only tutorial	Lecture and tutorial (2.5 hr)
Week 04	Process LCA 2: Data quality; Details on the multi-function issue. No seminar presentations, only tutorial	Lecture and tutorial (2.5 hr)
Week 05	Process LCA 3: Impact assessment and indicators. Panel discussion: Importance of LCA standards	Lecture and tutorial (2.5 hr)
Week 06	Process LCA 4: Interpretation and uncertainties. Panel discussion: LCA applications – food industry and agriculture	Lecture and tutorial (2.5 hr)
Week 07	The use of process LCA in Australian Industry – Guest lecturer (TBA) Panel discussion: LCA applications – building products and construction industry	Lecture and tutorial (2.5 hr)
Week 08	Social Life Cycle Assessment. Panel discussion: LCA applications – manufacturing industry	Lecture and tutorial (2.5 hr)
Week 09	Boundary selection and truncation errors. Panel discussion: LCA applications – energy and water systems (including renewable energy and desalination)	Lecture and tutorial (2.5 hr)
Week 10	Introduction to hybrid LCA. Guest Lecture by A/Prof. Tommy Wiedmann, UNSW	Lecture and tutorial (2.5 hr)
Week 11	Embodied Carbon Explorer Tool: Guest Lecture by Dr Soo Huey Teh, UNSW (TBC). Panel discussion: LCA applications – waste and recycling	Lecture and tutorial (2.5 hr)
Week 12	IO and hybrid LCA examples: IO and hybrid LCA examples: Guest Lecture by Dr Soo Huey Teh, UNSW. Panel discussion: Panel discussion: LCA applications – Social LCA	Lecture and tutorial (2.5 hr)
Week 13	Case study of LCA in industry (Guest Lecturer TBA).	Lecture (1.5 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

This class consists of a lecture and a tutorial. Until Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted the lectures and tutorials will take place on-line via zoom at 4pm to 5pm on Tuesdays. Attendance is required.

The zoom link will provided on the Canvas site. Two tutorial times are available, 3pm to 4pm and 5pm to 6pm Tuesdays. From week 4 the tutorials will be dedicated to student seminar presentations and a panel discussion.

Details on booking tuturial times and seminar topics are on Canvas.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

ISO 14040:2006 Environmental management. Life cycle assessment. Principles and framework.

ISO 14044:2006
Environmental management — Life cycle assessment — Requirements and guidelines.

Available on e-reserve.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. be aware of the importance of calculations and techniques for understanding sustainability issues
LO2. understand the principles of common life cycle analysis techniques
LO3. critically appraise the place of process, IO and hybrid analysis in undertaking LCAs
LO4. make sensible connections between contexts, techniques, data, results, meanings and qualitative analysis
LO5. demonstrate critical thinking about LCA theory and practice
LO6. apply the LCA techniques to practical sustainability issues in the tutorials
LO7. argue and present coherently for a particular LCA point of view, backed up by analysis.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Unit to be offered online in response to Covid 19 restrictions. Move to separate tutorial and lecture format to accommodate growing student numbers.

Additional information

Work, health and safety

There are no specific WHS requirements for this unit.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect