SET721 Engineering Sustainability Assessment 1
SET721 Engineering Sustainability Assessment 1
ASSIGNMENT 1: Major engineering sustainability issues analysis report.
A report of reviewing and analysing current status and major issues on the sustainability of a selected engineering structure in your city area (e.g. in your local council area, in your residence, on your University campus) from an engineers point of view. Individual written report, 2,000-word maximum.
For this assignment,
Select an engineering structure in your community such as a public building, a house, a bridge, a water pipeline, a solar panel power system or any other engineering structure that you consider has sustainability concerns for analysis. Undertake investigation by reviewing publicly available information (e.g. local community news, documents on city and council webpages etc..), through onsite inspection and photographing (please ensure safety and permission), and through comparison with similar cases in the literature (e.g. case analysis of Easter Island issues). Describe the chosen engineering structure and its current sustainability status (4 marks) and identify five sustainability issues of the structure (5 marks). Describe and discuss top three major factors affecting its future sustainability (6 marks).
The MET (Materials, Energy, and Toxicity) Matrix is a life cycle analysis (LCA) tool used in industry to analyse and evaluate a product or a structure on its environmental impacts, in terms of pollution, taking up resources, energy use, over its life time. You will need to construct a MET matrix using the template provided to you (in a separate excel file. A sample sheet is attached below). You will also need to find and use relevant materials property data and charts from the literature or from a materials property database such as the GRANTA CES Edupack (10 marks). Provide your thoughts on a greener solution to the chosen engineering structure (5 marks).
REPORT REQUIREMENTS:
According to Unit Guide, this assignment comprises 30 marks. The distribution of the marks is shown above, and the marking rubrics are attached below for your information.
Your submission should be a written report of less than 2000 words. It should contain a short introduction and overview of engineering sustainability, the description of the engineering structure chosen for analysis, the identification of issues and factors, a LCA and discussion on a greener solution to the chosen engineering structure, conclusion and a list of references that show author(s), data of publication, full title, book/journal title, volume and number, and page range.
The assignment should be submitted to the CloudDeakin drop box before the due date. Later submissions will be marked down according to Deakin University regulations.
Due date: This report is to be submitted online via the unit site in the appropriate dropbox before Monday 5 December 2022, 8:00 pm (AEDT) (beginning of week 5, online submission via the CloudDeakin unit site: Homepage - SET721 - Engineering Sustainability (deakin.edu.au)).
Supervising lecturer for this assignment is Prof Mike YJ Tan (mike.tan@deakin.edu.au).
Report Marking Rubric:
Criteria L6 Outstanding L5 Advanced L4 Proficient L3 Competent L2 Deficient L1 Unacceptable
Find and collect data using available literature and external enquiry for information. Show evidences of wide literature survey, critical and insightful reading. Use at least 12 sources of highly relevant and highly reliable information sources to collect data and information for addressing project issues. Shows evidences of wide literature survey, relevant and critical reading. Use at least 10 sources of highly relevant and reliable information sources to collect data for addressing project issues. Shows evidences of critical reading, and major sources are included. Use at least 8 sources of relevant and reliable information sources to collect data for addressing the questions specified in the project. Show evidences of literature survey and reading but does not always maintain a critical and evaluative attitude towards it. Use at least 8 sources of relevant information sources to collect data for addressing project issues. Shows some evidences of critical reading, but in general uncritically accepts what sources say. Use less reliable information sources to collect data required for addressing project issues. The author(s) has done a minimal amount of background reading, usually of an uncritical nature. Unreliable data sources used.
Evaluate, analyse and credible use of data and information to achieve a clear understanding of the project topics and to address project issues. Provides a VERY clear and accurate description and explanation of the issues specified in the project. Show evidences of critical analysis of information and appropriate use of various sources of data, including previous research in the field by others, to address project issues. Provides a clear and accurate description and explanation of the issues specified in the project. Show evidences of critical examination or analysis of information. Show clear rational of using various sources of data to address project issues. Provides a mostly accurate description and explanation of the issues specified in the project. Evidence of rational of the study, critical analysis of information. Reasonable use of data and information to address project issues. Provided an acceptable level of description and explanation of the issues specified in the project. Evidence of rational of the study with some references, analysis of information. Provided a low level of description and understanding of the issues specified in the project. Some evidence of rational of the study with some references, analysis of information. Provided an inaccurate description and understanding of the issues specified in the project. Insufficient analysis of references, analysis of information.
Conclude, predict and Recommend Provides VERY relevant, rational, and scientifically justified conclusions, predictions and recommendations based on accurate understanding of the project issues and trends in future development. Provides relevant, rational, and scientifically justified conclusions, predictions and recommendations based on accurate understanding of the project issues and trends in future development. Provides relevant, rational conclusions, predictions and recommendations based on reasonable understanding of the project issues and trends in future development. Provides relevant, rational conclusions and recommendations based on understanding of the project issues. Provides conclusions and recommendations based on lower level of understanding of the project issues. Provides incorrect conclusions and recommendations based on inaccurate understanding of the project issues.
Presentation: Overall format/ presentation/ Exceptionally high standard Excellent standard Very good standard Good standard Acceptable standard Not satisfactory
Referencing & appendices Highly reliable information sources have been used and cited in all instances using a proper referencing style Reliable information sources have been used and cited in all instances using a proper referencing style Reliable information sources have been used in most cases and all have been cited using a proper referencing style Reliable information sources generally used and have been cited or referenced Not all information used from reliable sources and an attempt was made at referencing Not done
