Sustainability in Aviation

What it is about

The module covers sustainability in air transport with a focus on climate protection and life-cycle approaches. You will learn the relevant scientific connections (e.g., contrails, radiative forcing, local air quality), measures for emissions and noise reduction, and the application of life cycle assessment methods to evaluate products, processes and services.

What you will be able to do

UN-SDGs: Explain intention and content
Describe efforts of aviation stakeholders to support the SDGs
Repeat scientific questions regarding the impacts of air transport on climate and air quality
Classify options for reducing CO2 emissions
List options for reducing non-CO2 emissions and noise
Differentiate between EU-ETS and CORSIA
Understand principles of life cycle thinking
Describe steps for carrying out life cycle assessment and sustainability studies
Discuss methodological strengths and weaknesses of common instruments and databases
Collect data, select appropriate methods and apply them to simple life cycle studies
Improve teamwork, literature research and presentation skills

What the module consists of

VorlesungenDelivery of thematic foundations and research results (15 × 90 minutes)
ÜbungenPractical examples and application, deepening of lecture content (15 × 45 minutes)
Gruppen-Mini-ProjektAnalysis and comparison of two research papers on emission reduction as a basis for the presentation

Teaching method

Seminarstil über 2 WochenCompact delivery and discussion of the content
PowerPoint, praktische Beispiele und ÜbungenSupport for learning through visualization and application
Aktive LerntechnikenPromotion of participation, teamwork and own analyses

What you should already know

Vorkenntnisse über Luftfahrtsysteme oder Grundlagen der Luftfahrttechnikrecommended
Kenntnisse in Datenmanagement und Programmierung (z. B. Python, Matlab)recommended

Assessment

Written examPresentationsGroup project

Combination of a written exam (60 minutes, at the end of the course, closed book) and an oral group presentation (about 10 minutes per student within the group). Participation in the written examination is only possible after participating in the student presentation. Assessed are expertise on SDG strategies, sustainability/LCA as well as questions on propulsion technologies, fuels, climate change, atmospheric impacts of air transport, supersonic aircraft and air noise. A pass requires at least 50%. Access to results can be requested online up to two weeks after releasing results.

Exam date26.01. · 14:00–15:00

Reading list

IPCC (1999) - Aviation and the Global Atmosphere (J.E. Penner et al., Eds.)
Olivier Jolliet et al. (2015) - Environmental Life Cycle Assessment

Dates

Lecture with exerciseSustainability in Aviation8 groups to choose from

ATue08:30–12:00
0608M, Otto-Lilienthal-Hörsaal (5506.EG.608M)
2× · 20.10.–17.11.
- 20.10.
- 17.11.
BTue12:30–16:00
0608M, Otto-Lilienthal-Hörsaal (5506.EG.608M)
2× · 20.10.–17.11.
- 20.10.
- 17.11.
CThu08:30–12:000608M, Otto-Lilienthal-Hörsaal (5506.EG.608M)once on 22.10.
DFri08:30–12:000608M, Otto-Lilienthal-Hörsaal (5506.EG.608M)once on 23.10.
EWed08:30–12:000608M, Otto-Lilienthal-Hörsaal (5506.EG.608M)once on 21.10.
FWed13:00–17:000608M, Otto-Lilienthal-Hörsaal (5506.EG.608M)once on 21.10.
GMon08:30–12:00
0608M, Otto-Lilienthal-Hörsaal (5506.EG.608M)
2× · 19.10.–16.11.
- 19.10.
- 16.11.
HMon13:00–17:00
0608M, Otto-Lilienthal-Hörsaal (5506.EG.608M)
2× · 19.10.–16.11.
- 19.10.
- 16.11.

From the current semester, not binding. You attend one of several groups; the timetable automatically suggests the one with the fewest clashes.

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