Advanced LCA – Consequential and IO-based Life Cycle Assessment (2025)

Welcome to Advanced LCA – Consequential and IO-based Life Cycle Assessment (2025)

Description: 

The course aims at strengthening skills in life cycle inventory analysis. The course targets the development of advanced competences in LCA by applying the problem based-learning (PBL) teaching model that focuses on learning by doing and reflection. We also apply a hybrid (online + physical) and flipped classroom approach where materials (readings, videos) are provided to the students in advance and the time spent in classroom/videomeeting is used for Q&A, hands-on exercises, discussions. The course activities will include intensive group work, problem defining and solving applied to real-word cases, practical exercises, and discussion sessions or workshops. The target audience of the course is academics (PhDs, postdoc, other) or professionals who already have basic experience with LCA and intend to bring their LCA competences to an advanced level. Basic experience means for example having carried out simple LCAs before or having elementary knowledge of LCA theory. The course content is organized in three modules.

Module 1. Consequential LCA

Students will learn the fundamentals of Consequential LCA. Topics covered: Introduction to attributional and consequential models. Algorithms for performing consequential LCA in the definition of functional unit, consumption mix, and identification of determining and dependent coproducts. Communicating consequential models. The module includes exercises.

Module 2. Stochastic LCA 

In this hands-on module students will learn how to use the software Brightway2 for stochastic and other LCA simulations. Topics covered: Computational structure of LCA. Computer simulation and statistical approaches for uncertainty and sensitivity analysis in LCA. LCA reproducibility and data sharing. The module includes exercises.

Module 3. Input output LCA

Students will learn the fundamentals of Input-Output modelling. Topics covered: supply-use tables, multi-regional models and trade linking. Integrating process LCA and IO-analysis via hybrid LCA, tiered and embedded. The module includes exercises.

Prices

Attendee / Price*

PhD students affiliated to a Danish University / Free

PhD students not affiliated to a Danish University / 4.500 DKK (600 EUR)

Academics (e.g. postdoc and professors) / 9.000 DKK (1200 EUR)

Professionals (consultancy, industry, etc.) / 18.000 DKK (2400 EUR)

* Prices do not cover meals or accommodation

Organizers: The course is organized by The Technical Doctoral School of IT and Design, Aalborg University and Danish Centre for Environmental Assessment (DCEA) www.DCEA.dk, in collaboration with the International Life Cycle Academy (ILCA) www.ILCA.es

Registration and info: Please apply via mail to the course organizer Massimo Pizzol (massimo@plan.aau.dk). You must provide the following information in the email: Full name / Profession (PhD student, postdoc, consultant…) / Institution name / Address / email address / Phone nr / your research field or Phd topic / your experience with LCA

ECTS: 5.0 --> ECTS Distribution:

The five ECTS credits of the course are divided roughly in this way:

Activity                                                   Hours   ECTS

Lectures and group work in class     50   1.8

Readings                                                    35   1.3

Group work prior to course                     20   0.7

Group work after course                     35  1.3

Total                                                     140  5.0

*One ECTS credit is equivalent to 28 hours of work

Activities: Includes attending to the lectures and performing exercises in class.

Readings: Approx. 100 pages of scientific articles and reports, that are provided to the students, plus python tutorials and videos.

Group work: students work in groups (max 5 people). Each group will work on a case study and apply the knowledge of the course on the case study. 

EXAMPLE, a group works on an LCA of a product and does:

- prior to the course: choice of product and data mining, getting base knowledge and data to describe the product system.

- during the course (exercises in class): consequential inventory with matrix format, IO LCA inventory, inclusion of iLUC, inclusion of social impacts, etc.

- after the course: organize the material and prepare a portfolio/article where all the techniques are presented for the case study.

Eventually, all portfolios are made available. Each student will thus get the info on five different cases. Students should be able to organize themselves using online tools (skype, dropbox etc) to collaborate in group remotely prior and after the course.

Prerequisites: The course requires basic knowledge of Life Cycle Assessment, i.e. the knowledge of the tool that one might get at bachelor or master level. This means that the students need to have either a strong theoretical understanding of LCA or practical experience (having done some LCA studies before, even if simple). We don't teach the basics, and select the students based on their prior experience to make an homogeneous group and ensure a high starting level. In this way we can teach more advanced topics that are fit for a PhD level course.

Learning Objectives: 

• Knowledge
• Theoretical elements cover: computational structure of LCA, computer simulation, uncertainty and sensitivity analysis in LCA context, system models in LCA, algorithms for consequential LCA, monetary supply and use tables and different models for creating IO-model and hybrid LCA. 
• Skills
• Practical modelling skills with software Brightway2, including uncertainty and sensitivity analysis (local and global). Practical skills in consequential LCA modelling including identification of functional unit, consumption mix, and solving multifunctionality via substitution. Communicating consequential LCA models. Modelling indirect land use changes in LCA. Practical skills in using IO and hybrid LCA.
• Competences
• Apply advanced software, modelling approaches, and databases to address, solve, and communicate complex prospective questions on the life-cycle impact of products, within a research context and beyond.

Organizer: Massimo Pizzol (Prof.)

Lecturers: 

Massimo Pizzol, Professor

Jannick Schmidt, Professor

Søren Løkke, Associate professor

Agneta Ghose, Postdoc

Online (all times 10:00-12:00)

Week 13 - Tue 25 March 2025

Week 13 - Thu 27 March 2025

Week 15 - Tue 8 April 2025

Week 15 -  Thu 10 April 2025

Week 17 - Tue 22 April 2025

Week 17 - Thu 24 April 2025

Onsite (all days 08:00-16:00)

12, 13, 14 May 2025, Monday to Wednesday

Important information concerning PhD courses: 

There is a no-show fee of DKK 3,000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before the start of the course. Registered illness is of course an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately four months before start of the course.

We cannot ensure any seats before the deadline for enrolment, all participants will be informed after the deadline, approximately 3 weeks before the start of the course. 

For inquiries regarding registration, cancellation or waiting list, please contact the PhD administration at phdcourses@adm.aau.dk When contacting us please state the course title and course period. Thank you.