This course provides an in-depth exploration of advanced Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodologies, focusing on key topics such as the modelling of recycled content of products and materials sent to recycling uncertainty analysis and time-dependent factors in LCA, the computational framework of Input-Output Analysis, and the difference between attributional and consequential modelling. The curriculum combines theoretical foundations with hands-on case studies to provide participants with the tools and skills necessary to address complex challenges in LCA. The course is designed for students who already have a basic knowledge of the LCA methodology. 

By examining real-world applications across diverse disciplines and engineering sectors, the course fosters a critical understanding of how advanced LCA approaches can drive decision-making and best practices in risk-based design, maintenance and management, sustainable development, and environmental policy analysis. Participants will emerge with a robust skill set to apply these advanced techniques in both academic research and professional contexts. Participants will apply one advanced LCA technique for doing a project work, to be discussed.

The course is structured into modules to cover the following advanced topics:

1. Background and current challenges in LCA 

• Introduction to the course: definitions, nomenclature, methodology
• Overview of current challenges on LCA
• Course structure and rules

2. Modeling recycling in LCA 

• Methodological approaches to model the recycled content of products
• Distinction between by-products and waste
• How to model materials sent to recycling
• Environmental implications and methodological challenges of the different approaches

3. Handling Uncertainty and Time Dynamics in LCA 

• Uncertainty modeling, propagation, and management in LCA
• Dynamic LCA and time-dependent factors: methodologies and emerging trends
• LCA of aging structures and infrastructure systems under uncertainty
• Dynamic LCA applied to biological systems (seminar)

4. Computational Structure of LCA

• Practical methods for Life Cycle Inventory
• Modeling supply chains based on Input-Output Analysis (IOA)
• Applications in large-scale economic-environmental modeling

5. Attributional and consequential LCA 

• Introduction to Attributional (ALCA) and Consequential LCA (CLCA)
• Modeling product systems procedure based on CLCA (i.e., definition of determining/reference product, dependent products fully and not fully utilized, split-off point, point of displacement, marginal suppliers, etc.)
• Practical examples evaluated with attributional and consequential modelling.

The evaluation will consider two aspects:

- Participation in discussions and activities (20%). 

- Discussion of a final short project applying an advanced LCA method to a case study (80%).