OVERVIEW

Naval and nautical design plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable practices and addressing global environmental challenges, thereby contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations 2030 Agenda.
The course aims to support students in acquiring fundamental concepts of Ecodesign, Life Cycle Thinking, and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

It explores the integration of sustainability into the design process, with a focus on environmental regulations, sustainable materials, and circular strategies such as reuse, recycling, and recovery.
The module also addresses end-of-life management of key construction materials.

Through practical examples and case studies, students will acquire the skills necessary to design low-impact nautical products, integrating circular design principles and enabling efficient design for disassembly.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The module aims to teach students the concepts of eco-design and circular economy as well as providing the basic skills for the sustainable design of nautical products. These skills will enable estimation of the environmental impacts and help understand the management and disposal of the main construction materials at the end of their life.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the module, the students will be able to:

• Know the concepts of sustainable development, eco-desing, circular economy, and life cycle assessment;
• Describe the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda and in particular those interconnected with the vessel and yacht design.
• Understand the design strategies that minimize the environmental impacts during all phases of the life cycle of vessels and yacht.
• Sketch out the different end-of-life options for the treatment and disposal of main construction materials.
• Describe the most recent approaches and most innovative research in the field of sustainable vessel and yacht design.
• Understand the issues related to end-of-life management and disposal of the main construction materials.
• Assume more sustainable design choices by applying the concepts of eco-design and circular economy.

PREREQUISITES

There are no specific requirements.

TEACHING METHODS

The module consists of frontal lessons, classroom exercises and small group activities. Self-assessment tests will be eventually carried out during the course to encourage the learning process of the students.

Working students and students with SLD, disability, or other special educational needs are advised to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and examination methods that take into account individual learning modalities in agreement with the teaching objectives.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The program of the module includes the introduction and discussion of the following topics:

• Introduction to the concept of Sustainable Development, the 2030 Agenda and the related Sustainable Development Goals (17 SDGs)
• Linear economy and transition towards the circular economy.
• Principles of Ecodesign and Lyfe Cycle Thinking.
• Integration of sustainability into the design process and the importance of Ecodesign in the nautical sector.
• Life cycle of nautical products and circularity strategies: reuse, recycling, and recovery of main construction materials (focus on composites).
• Sustainable materials in the nautical sector and selection criteria during design phase.
• Methodology of “Life Cycle Assessment, LCA”.
• Main phases of an LCA study: definition of objectives and scope (“Goal and scope”), life cycle inventory (LCI), assessment of impacts (“Life Cycle Impact Assessment, LCIA), interpretation of the results.
• Presentation and discussion of LCA studies conducted in the nautical sector.
• Examples of design strategies for reducing environmental impacts and promoting disassembly.
• Virtuous examples of sustainability and circularity in vessel and yacht design as well as the main critical issues will be also illustrated and discussed through case studies.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The teaching materials (slides and exercises) will be available to students on the dedicated platform “Aulaweb”.
Other materials will be suggested and eventually provided by the teacher for deepening some relevant topics.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/corsi/11905/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The examination consists of an oral exam on the topics discussed during the lectures. The case studies analyzed, and the exercises carried out in the classroom will be part of the exam topics.

Working students and students with certified learning disabilities (SLD), disabilities, or other special educational needs are encouraged to contact the teacher at the beginning of the lessons in order to agree on teaching and examination methods that, while respecting the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning needs.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral exam aims to assess the student’s understanding of the topics covered in the module and the ability to apply the learned concepts to broad or particular cases by critically analyzing the advantages and disadvantages. The exam will evaluate the ability to synthesize and present information, as well as accuracy and correctness in describing the topics. The effectiveness of the presentation and the proper use of technical lexicon will be also evaluated.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Ask the professor for other information not included in the teaching schedule.

Students with disabilities or learning disorders are allowed to use specific modalities and supports that will be determined on a case-by-case basis in agreement with the Delegate of the Engineering courses in the Committee for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities. Students are invited to contact the teacher of this course and copy the Delegate (https://unige.it/commissioni/comitatoperlinclusionedeglistudenticondisabilita.html).