Introduction to Sustainable

Development
Sathish Ponnurangam

Week – 1: Sustainability – Civilizations

(Reading: Chapter-1 Sustainable Engineering: Drivers, Metrics, and Tools by Reddy,
Cameselle, and Adams
Chapter-1&4 from Sustainable engineering by Allen and Shonnard
Chapter-1,2&3 from Sustainable Development for Engineering by Mulder)
Why do civilizations & societies collapse?

• Conflict (internal and external) – religious,

political and ethnic
• Exhaustion of resources
• Degradation of environment
Mayan Civilization

• Classical Mayan civilization: Reached its peak ~700 AD and collapsed ~ 900 AD
• During its peak, it supported 10 million people – ( several times greater current
population in the regions)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_civilization
https://www.thesolutionsjournal.com/article/achieving-sustainable-societies-lessons-from-modelling-the-ancient-maya/
Mayan economics
• Social organization: theocratic society of
peasants ruled by priests sitting in ceremonial
centers
• Thriving long distance trade, local exchange
system and craft manufacture
• Obsidian, igneous rock, salt and cacao
• Tools for weapons (cherts)
• Limestone for buildings
• Textiles
Ancient Maya: The Rise and Fall of a Rainforest Civilization By Arthur Demarest
Collapse of Mayan civilization
• Forest vegetation near lowlands were converted to agricultural
lands
• Replenishing fertility of agricultural low lands diminished
• Changed drainage patterns
• Monocropping-related loss of fertility
• Drought exacerbated by human activities
• Wholesale felling of forest cover and excessive farming rendered topsoil
less fertile
• In combination with severe droughts, less fertile soil led to collapse of
Mayan civilization
• Without trees
• fertile topsoil eroded, surface temperatures increased, cloud formation and
precipitation patterns changed
• Human bones showed severe malnutrition
http://science.sciencemag.org/content/335/6071/956.full
https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2004/15nov_maya
Easter Island Moai statues
• Moai statues had strong social value for the clans
• Competition to erect
more statues
• Trees were used to
transport statues
• Deforestation led to
infertile soil and decline in
agricultural output and
collapse of the society
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Island
Mongol Invasions in West Asia
• Destruction of Iraq (1258 AD)
• Destroyed ancient irrigation channels possibly
leading to spread of nomadic lifestyle in the
region
• Other examples?
• Roman, Indus valley, Hopi civilization
• Irish potato famine, Dust-bowl
Balance paradigm
• Closed
• Free from disruptions and alterations
• Independent of human influence
• Regulated by their own mechanisms to achieve
balance and stability
Sustainable development
• Environment was originally thought to be infinite
• Keeping harvesting, keep dumping, keep digging nothing
changes.
• This view was seriously challenged from 1950s
• In US, DDT bioaccumulation became a national issue
• In 1970s, Love Canal disaster (Superfund act)
Resource exhaustion
• 1970s, Dennis Meadow’s seminal work ‘Limits to
Growth’ shined light on overpopulation and
resource exhaustion
• Finite model of Earth’s capacity
• He predicted global civilization collapse by 2000
Sustainable development: definition
• “development that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs”
(World Commission on Environment and
Development, 1987),

http://www.un.org/en/ga/president/65/issues/sustdev.shtml
Sustainability Problems in Present Societies
• Western world vs. rest (Africa, Asia, South and
Latin America and Eastern Europe)
• Resource exhaustion
• Pollution
• Environmental degradation
• Environmental risks
• Toxic political/economic ideologies (conflicts)
• 20% of population consume 80% of all resources
extracted and processed.
Group discussion:
Basis of sustainability?
• Minimize resource consumption
• Close the cycles of consumption
• Chose renewable materials and energy
• Manage and evolve social and cultural traits that
support sustainable human activities
 Sustainable
Development

Sustainable History, economic

Metrics of technologies in systems and
sustainability energy, water, development
construction sectors paradigms
Final Grade Determination
Component Learning Outcome(s) Evaluated Weight

Individual quizzes (3 out of 4 quizzes) 1-3 45%

Team Project report (group member

evaluations of each other's may also be
4,5,6 45%
considered - Peer assessment
documents are attached)

Team project presentation 6 10%

Total: 100%

Letter Grade Total Mark (T) Graduate Description

A+ T ≥ 97.0% Outstanding performance
A 92.0% ≤ T < 97.0% Excellent performance
A- 87.0% ≤ T < 92.0% Very good performance
B+ 82.0% ≤ T < 87.0% Good performance
B 72.0% ≤ T < 82.0% Satisfactory performance
B- 67.0% ≤ T < 72.0% Minimum pass
C+ 62.0% ≤ T < 67.0% All grades of "C+" or lower are
C 57.0% ≤ T < 62.0% indicative of failure at the
graduate level and cannot be
C- 54.0% ≤ T < 57.0% counted toward Faculty of
D+ 50.0% ≤ T < 54.0% Graduate Studies course
D 45.0% ≤ T < 50.0% requirements. Individual
programs may require a higher
F T < 45.0%
passing grade.
"Final grade determination is on the basis of four quizzes, one group term project (report and presentation).
There is no final exam in this course.
Quizzes
Four quizzes.
Quiz dates and times as follows.
Quiz-1: Oct 7 (4-4:50 PM)
Quiz-2: Oct 21 (4-4:50 PM)
Quiz-3: Nov 4 (4-4:50 PM)
Quiz-4: Nov 25 (4-4:50 PM)
Location: To be announced
The quizzes can be qualitative, quantitative, and essay type questions. They will be in person, closed book, and
closed notes, but one sheet of formulae (2 sides) is allowed. The highest three (out of four) quiz grades will be
used in the calculation of the student’s final quiz grade. This is to accommodate any circumstances, including
illness, that may result in an absence from a quiz. No supporting documentation is required, and the student
does not have to contact the professor if absent from a quiz. There will be no further accommodations for
missed quizzes.Term Project and PresentationsThe deadline for submission of term project and presentation
files on D2L is Dec 1st 11:59 PM. Questions on term project report and presentation will be organized on Dec
5th. Several 15 minute slots will created for whole day of Dec 5th. Groups will be able to choose their
convenient time. Location will be announced by email."
• No tutorials in this course
• Undergraduates can use that time for group work
8. Textbook
The following textbook(s) is required for this course:

Sustainable Engineering: Drivers, Metrics, Tools, and Applications [E-

Title book]
Author(s) Reddy, K. R., Cameselle, C., & Adams, J. A.
Edition, Year 2019
Publisher Wiley

The following textbook are recommended for this course:

Title Sustainable Engineering: Concepts, Design, and Case studies

Author(s) Allen and Shonnard
Edition, Year 2012
Publisher Springer

Title Sustainable Development for Engineers

Author(s) edited by Karel Mulder
Edition, Year 2006
Publisher Greenleaf Publishing, 2006

Title Handbook of Sustainable Engineering

Author(s) edited by Kauffman and Mo
Edition, Year 2013
Publisher Springer
Term project
Guidelines to term project report:
• 5 students per group (both grad and undergraduate students)
• Case study: topic and group selection – Sep 20th
• Term assignment report submission:
• Presentation questions: different 10 min slots
• Main report should not exceed 12 pages (excluding References section and appendices). No limit on
appendices. Assessment will be based on main report (Conclusions reached should be justified (mostly in the
main report and be supported in the appendices)).
• Main report should have font size 10-11
• Plagiarism will not be tolerated
A suggested approach for the report:
• Background of the problem
• Economic, social and environmental status and issues
• Description and analysis of the issues from stakeholders perspectives
• Performance indicators: Apply environmental, social and economic management tools and develop a score or
set of scores on current practices
• Introduction and detailed description of alternative sustainable solution(s)
• Forecast and analyze the impact of sustainable alternative on the stakeholders and their response may shape
the sustainable development pathway
• Predict performance: Apply environmental, social and economic management tools and develop a score or set
of scores on proposed sustainable alternative
• Conclusion and discussion: Compare the sustainable alternative with current practice and discuss
Course Schedule – ENEE 507 and ENGG 682 (L01)
Content
paragrap
Day Date Topic Note hs
Wednesday 04-Sep Introduction to sustainability & Course details
Friday 06-SepModule-1-1 Sustainability metrics
Monday 09-SepModule-1-1 Sustainability metrics
Wednesday 11-SepModule-1-1 Sustainability metrics
Friday 13-SepModule-1-2 LCA-Introduction+Example
Monday 16-SepModule-1-2 LCA
Wednesday 18-SepModule-1-2 LCA-Streamlined + EIOLCA
Friday 20-SepModule-1-3 Risk Assessment, project title and group formation deadline
Monday 23-SepModule-1-4,5 CFA + MFA
Wednesday 25-SepModule-1-5 MFA
Friday 27-SepModule-1-6 GRI , finalize the groups and topics
Monday 30-Sep National Day for Truth and Reconcilliation - No classes
Wednesday 02-OctModule-2 Sustainability in Modern Societies : Environmental issues
Sustainability in Modern Societies : Environmental issues, pollution
Friday 04-OctModule-2 partitioning
Monday (4-4:50
PM) 07-Oct Quiz-1 (Module-1)
Wednesday 09-OctModule-2 Sustainability in Modern Societies : Population
Friday 11-OctModule-2 Sustainability in Modern Societies :Population and Resources
Monday 14-Oct Thanksgiving Day - No Classes
Wednesday 16-OctModule-2 Sustainability in Modern Societies : Resources
Friday 18-OctModule-2 Sustainability in Modern Societies : Resources & Resilency & issues
Monday (4-4:50
PM) 21-Oct Quiz-2 (Module-1,2)
Wednesday 23-OctModule-2 Sustainability in Modern Societies : Resources & Resilency & issues
Friday 25-OctModule - 3
Monday 28-OctModule - 3
Wednesday 30-OctModule - 3
Friday 01-NovModule - 4_1_1
Monday (4-4:50
PM) 04-Nov Quiz-3 (Module-1,2,3)
Wednesday 06-NovModule - 4_1_1
Friday 08-NovModule - 4_1_1
Monday 11-Nov
Wednesday 13-Nov
Friday 15-Nov Term Break - No Classes
Monday 18-NovModule - 4_1_2
Wednesday 20-NovModule - 4_1_2
Friday 22-NovModule - 4_2
Monday (4-4:50
PM) 25-NovModule - 4_2 Quiz-4 (Module-1-4)
Wednesday 27-NovModule - 4_2
Friday 29-NovModule - 4_3
Sunday (11.59 PM) 01-Dec Report & presentation submission
Monday 02-DecModule - 4_3
Wednesday 04-DecModule - 4_4
Friday 06-DecModule - 4_4
Thursday 05-Dec Presentation questions
Friday 06-Dec Presentation questions
Course Schedule – ENGG 682 (L02)

Content
paragrap
Day Date Topic Note hs
Tuesday 03-Sep Introduction to sustainability & Course details
Thursday 05-SepModule-1-1 Sustainability metrics
Tuesday 10-SepModule-1-1 Sustainability metrics
Thursday 12-SepModule-1-2 LCA-Introduction+Example
Tuesday 17-SepModule-1-2 LCA-Streamlined+ EIOLCA
Thursday 19-SepModule-1-3 Risk Assessment, project title and group formation deadline
Tuesday 24-SepModule-1-4,5 CFA+MFA
Thursday 26-SepModule-1-6 GRI (finalize groups)
Monday 30-Sep National Day for Truth and Reconcilliation - No classes
Tuesday 01-OctModule-2 Sustainability in Modern Societies : Environmental issues
Thursday 03-OctModule-2 Sustainability in Modern Societies : Pollution partitioning
Monday (4-4:50
PM) 07-Oct Quiz-1 (Module-1)
Tuesday 08-OctModule-2 Sustainability in Modern Societies : Population
Thursday 10-OctModule-2 Sustainability in Modern Societies : Population
Monday 14-Oct Thanksgiving Day - No Classes
Tuesday 15-OctModule-2 Sustainability in Modern Societies : Resources
Thursday 17-OctModule-2 Sustainability in Modern Societies : Resources & Resilency & issues
Monday (4-4:50
PM) 21-Oct Quiz-2 (Module-1,2)
Tuesday 22-OctModule-3
Thursday 24-OctModule-3
Tuesday 29-OctModule-3
Module -
Thursday 31-Oct4_1_1
Monday (4-4:50
PM) 04-Nov Quiz-3 (Module-1,2,3)
Module -
Tuesday 05-Nov4_1_2
Thursday 07-NovModule - 4_2
Tuesday 45242
Thursday 45244 Term Break - No Classes
Module -
Tuesday 19-Nov4_1_1
Module -
Thursday 21-Nov4_1_2
Monday (4-4:50
PM) 25-Nov Quiz-4 (Module-1-4)
Tuesday 26-NovModule - 4_2
Thursday 28-NovModule - 4_2
Sunday (11.59 PM) 01-Dec Report & presentation submission
Tuesday 03-DecModule - 4_3
Thursday 05-DecModule - 4_4
Thursday 05-Dec Presentation questions
Friday 06-Dec Presentation questions