Autonomous postgraduate program of the School of Civil Engineering,
University of West Attica

 Courses

 Athens, November 2013

 1st semester

1.  AIR POLLUTION AND AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT TECHNOLOGIES  ENG

2.  BIODIVERSITY AND NATURE CONSERVATION  ENG

3.   CLIMATE CHANGE  ENG

4.   SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT & SOIL PROTECTION  ENG

5.   Sustainable production and consumption, public policies and educational actions 

6.   ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN IN ARCHITECTURE  ENG

 1.   AIR POLLUTION AND AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT TECHNOLOGIES
(1st semester curriculum based)   

1. Introduction. Basic EU Guidelines on greenhouse emissions and air quality. National legislation.
2. incineration of waste . Large scale facilities for waste incineration. Legal Framework (EU and National)
3. SEVESO.
4. Guideline IPPC. Environmental problems, environmental protection, etc.
5. Guideline ΝΕC (national emission ceilings)

Air quality. Air quality in Attica Region. Quality of fuels. CO2 emissions from oil burners, cars and vans. ΕURO standards and templates. (Regulation, existing situation, socio-economic attributes, environmental issues, policies for taxing vehicles).

The course aims to the comprehension of basic aspects of air quality and the control of air pollution. In addition, it aims to review the basic guidelines of the legislation regarding the industry and air pollution in Greece and EU.

 

2.   BIODIVERSITY AND NATURE CONSERVATION (1st semester curriculum based)

1. Basic principles on the ecology and biodiversity of Greece – Basic guidelines for the Greek and European legislation on nature conservation.  Protected areas – at global level, at the European level and at the National level where the main emphasis is given (Institutional framework for the conservation and management: Directive 79/409 on the protection of birds and Directive 92/43 on the protection of species and habitats within protected areas categories. Horizontal management measures for the Special Protection Areas.  European ecological network NATURA 2000 (list of protected NATURA 2000 areas, maps in the NATURA 2000 areas implementation report in NATURA 2000 areas)
2. Protected areas management – Management Institutions, legislation, problems, perspectives.
3. National Biodiversity Strategy and its implementation in the frame of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020.
4. Invasive Alien Species.
5. Specific Environmental Studies for Nature protected Areas, Ornithological Studies (templates and how to work such a study, implementation problems and solutions.
6. International Conventions (Global Convention for the Biodiversity Conservation. Vision and Targets.
7. Ecosystems and Ecosystem Services. Mapping and Assessment, economic valuation of the ecosystems and of the biodiversity. Funding.
8. Protection of the marine biodiversity. Access to genetic resources and sharing of benefits.
9. Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Strategic goals and topics of particular interest (assessment and risk management, liability and restoration, transboundary movement of living organisms, etc.).  Strategic Plan for the implementation of the Protocol.  Evaluation Protocol.
10. Genetically Modified Organisms.  Introduction – development of agricultural policy in Europe.  Genetically Modified Organisms – benefits and problems.  European legislation – authorization process.  List of authorized GMOs by the EU Directive 2001/18 “for the deliberate release of GMOs the environment “and relevant Resolutions.
11. Regulation 1829/2003 on GM food and feed. Regulation 1946/2003 on the transboundary movement of GMOs Regulation 1830/2003 on traceability and labeling of GMOs and traceability of food and feed produced from GMOs and amending Directive 2001/18.  Evaluation procedure GMO authorization applications the EU by EFSA.  Political and economic aspects of the mentioned issues.

Upon completion of the course, students will have:

• In-depth knowledge and critical understanding of the theory and principles of biodiversity and the interrelationships of its levels with the basic effects from infrastructure development in nature conservation areas.
• Knowledge and skills to realize and combine the complexity of the relations and interactions between the ecosystem structures and functions and the human impacts from the one side with the sustainable management aiming at the conservation of species and habitats.
• Knowledge of the tools for applied policy measures in the section of nature conservation and management in Greece and EU, as well as how to focus and contribute to the problems solving from their implementation methodology in Greece.
• Analyze the possible effects to the natural environment and to the biodiversity elements and propose measures to minimize the consequences with the priority given to the conservation of the important for the national and European legislation for species, habitats and areas.
• Cooperate and synthesize (as a member of a group) an integrated management and restoration plan for the biodiversity and the natural ecosystems of an area where a development work (environmental or not) is under preparation.
• Know and apply the rules and recommendations related to environmental protection.

 

 3.   CLIMATE CHANGE (1st semester curriculum based)

1. Basic concepts. Greenhouse gases.  Key findings of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). Causes of climate change – climate change and sustainable development. European institutional framework. International legal framework.
2. UN Convention on Climate Change – Kyoto Protocol – Agreement of Paris. Basic provisions of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change.  Basic provisions of the Kyoto Protocol.  Mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol.  Clean Development and Joint Implementation Mechanisms (CDM and JI).  Emission Trading System (ETS).
3. Calculation of GHG Emissions.
4. Emissions Trading Scheme in Greece and Europe.
5. Legislative package climate – energy. Directive 2009/29 amending Directive 2003/87. Economic sectors subject to Emissions Trading System.  Exceptions due to international competition (carbon leakage). Regulation (EC) 525/2013 on monitoring and reporting GHG reports. Decision 529/2013 for land use, forestry LULUCF etc.
6. Mitigation policies RES – Energy saving.
7. Transport and greenhouse gases.
8. Aviation. Shipping.  Economic sectors not covered by the Emissions Trading Scheme. Decision 406/2009/EC.  Quantitative objectives
9. Carbon Footprint.  Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). Shale Gas – Fracking.
10. Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS). Protection of the Ozone Layer.
11. Fluorinated gases (F-Gases). European institutional framework.
12. The Urban – Residential environment at the agenda for climate change.
13. Adaptation to climate change (European strategy on adaptation, risk prevention – climate “proofing”, financial data, examples from other countries, national action programme).

Upon successful completion of the course students will be able to:

• Distinguish Mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol, the European Emissions Trading Scheme, policies and available technologies for reducing emissions of carbon dioxide, their environmental impact, their advantages and disadvantages, along with the adaptation policies to negative effects of climate change. They will also able to quantify the effect of mitigation policies.
• Be aware of the European and international institutional framework, the United Nations Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol, the Agreement of Paris.
• Understand basic concepts of the subject of climate change, the main conclusions of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), the causes of climate change and the link climate change with sustainable development.
• Use the IPCC methodologies and software to determine the greenhouse gas emissions per source.
• Analyze and calculate the carbon footprint of a household, a company, a city or a country.

 

4.   SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT & SOIL PROTECTION (1st semester curriculum based)

The Syllabus of the course “Solid Waste Management and Soil Protection” is as follows:

1. EU legal framework on waste, waste management in the EU and direction of the EU acquis (circular economy), basic terms.
2. National legal framework.
3. Waste prevention.
4. Waste recovery (material and energy).
5. Waste disposal (landfilling and incineration/co-incineration).
6. Waste collection and shipment.
7. Management of household waste in Greece.
8. Management of non-hazardous industrial waste and waste of production activities.
9. Waste management plans (national and regional) and prevention plans.
10. Treatment technologies of hazardous waste.
11. Management of Hazardous Waste in Greece.
12. Management of Medicinal Waste in Greece.
13. Management of mining waste.
14. Soil protection and rehabilitation of illegal landfills

 

Τhe specific learning outcome deriving from the course “Solid Waste Management and Soil Protection”, has been designed and is expected to be as follows:

•  Making the students familiar with the basic ideas and terminology, relevant to solid waste and the well-established processes for treatment.
•  Focusing on the problems deriving from waste management within the current social status, which includes the description of the existing legal framework in terms of EU and national legislation, as well as of the related regulatory rules issued by the State or the local authorities.
•  Comparative evaluation of methods and processes for waste management, aiming at complying with the existing legislation, but also, aiming at the prospect of the way towards a “zero waste” society.
•  Knowledge of the legal obligations of installations against the public administration that either waste management is either their main activity or the produce waste because of their main activity, as well as the legal tools to comply with those obligations.
•  Identification of the basic cost elements associated with waste management (either as the main activity or as part of the overall production activity).
•  Establishment and capabilities of sharing of a sensitized approach regarding pollution prevention, reduction of waste, recycling and reuse of materials and energy, etc

 

5.   Sustainable production and consumption

Course content:

1. EU strategy for sustainable development
2.  Integrated policy for products
3. life cycle analysis
4.  Ecolabel
5.  EMAS.
6.  ROHS.
7.  REACH.
8. Green Arrangement Fees

6.   ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN IN ARCHITECTURE

Course content:

1. Introduction – Basic notions – European policies.
2. Sources – Governance – Financial growth.
3. Heat transfer – Energy – Shell.
4. Sun exposure – shading.
5. Ventilations.
6. Comfort.
7. Natural lighting.
8. Materials – Outdoor space.
9. Environmental diversity – Environmental quality.
10. Building performance assessment tools.
11. Tools and software of environmental buildings.

With the successful completion of the course the students will be able:

• To know and understand the issues of sustainable construction and the parameters involved in this subject area both in theoretical as well as in practical level (site visits/construction sites of special building implementations).
• To know and use research methodological tools and develop their research capabilities on the subject through teamwork in an interdisciplinary environment.
• To evaluate and assess buildings from an environmental point of view (environmental monitoring of spaces, bibliographical research and source analysis, critical analysis and assessment of fieldwork data), through assignment in specific case study.
• To address research questions and export overall research findings in a team level as a result of the collaboration between its members in specific research issues relating to different environmental parameters (each group investigates a different environmental parameter of the same case study building – hence the final product consists of a complete study of the building in which all students have contributed).
• To understand and assess contemporary software and analysis methods of environmental building.
• To face and resolve realistic implementation issues as well as to develop environmental building strategies

 

 

 2ND SEMESTER COURSES

7.   WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM   ENG

8.   WASTE RECYCLING  ENG

9.   WASTE-WATER TREATMENT METHODS  ENG

10.  ENVIRONEMENTAL PERMITS   ENG

11.   REGIONAL PLANNING-PHYSICAL PLANNING

12.  PROTECTION OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT -URBAN PLANNING

 

7.   WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (WRM)

Course content:

1. Introduction to WRM
2. Basic concepts: WRM definitions and scope, water uses, WRM objectives.
3. Brief Description of WRM tools: hydrosystems, hydrosystem simulation, reservoir operation modeling, methods for solving water allocation problems.
4. WRM in Greece –Specificities – Current status
5. Specificities of WRM in Greece:  Spatio – temporal distribution of rainfall and water use and demand, water districts and main river basins, transboundary water resources, water supply and demand balance.
6. Water management in agriculture – hydropower generation – urban water systems and demand management.
7. National Plan for Water Resources Management and Protection: a brief presentation.
8. Environmental aspects of WRM – EU Environmental Policy and Legislation regarding Water Bodies and Water.
9. Brief presentation of EU directives related to water issues. 4. Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60-1
10. Key points and objectives of the Directive.
11. WFD implementation in Greece. 5. Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60-2  Water management plans for the country’s 14 water districts: Key points, objectives, and stages of implementation.
12. Review of the water management plan of a selected water district. 6. The Groundwater Directive (2006/118)-The Priority Substances Directive (2008/105)  Key points of the Directives.
13. Implementation of the Directives in Greece. 7. The Nitrates Directive 91/676  Key points of the Directive.
14. Implementation of the Directive in Greece.
15. Nitrate Vulnerable Zones.
16. Common Agricultural Policy-Agri-environment measures. 8. The Cases of Asopos River and Lake Koroneia
17. Asopos River: Main causes of pollution, technical and administrative efforts to address the problem.
18. Lake Koroneia: causes of environmental degradation, technical and administrative efforts to address the problem. 9. The Floods Directive 2007/60
19. Key points of the Directive – Links between the Flood Directive and the WFD.  Implementation of the Directive in Greece.
20. Entities responsible for flood protection – The “Xenokratis” Plan. 10. The New Bathing Water Directive 2006/7
21. Key points of the Directive.
22. Implementation of the Directive in Greece. 11. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive 2008/56
23. Key points of the Directive.
24. Implementation of the Directive in Greece. 12. Course summary, review – Term paper presentations

Upon completion of the course, students will have an in-depth knowledge and critical understanding of:

• The scope, basic principles and objectives of sustainable WRM, in general.
• The constraints, difficulties, specificities and objectives of WRM in Greece, in particular.
• Important WRM issues in Greece related to water allocation and use in competing sectors, such as irrigated agriculture, hydropower generation, urban water supply etc. The EU environmental policy for the protection of water bodies and water resources of member states, as specified in the various directives related to water issues.
• Students will also be well-informed about:
• Water policy makers at regional and national level in Greece, as well as the public entities responsible for the implementation of water policies.
• Progress made and necessary measures for the implementation of the EU directives related to water issues in Greece. Students will be able to:
• Participate in consulting teams or working groups, which are tasked with preparing management plans for specific drainage basins or wider areas, and identifying the necessary measures for the protection and sustainable management of the water bodies and water resources of these regions, in accordance with the requirements of relevant European directives.
• Participate in consulting teams, which draw up Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or Preliminary Environmental Assessment studies, focusing on the impacts of proposed projects and/or activities to the water bodies and water balance of a region.
• Develop (and/or coordinate) applied research programs on topics related to the protection and management of water resources.

Students will be also able to:

• Assess the water balance modeling of a basin or a water district, or the water balance of a reservoir, based on measurements or estimates of the hydrologic equation terms.
• Suggest ways of managing water in a river basin or a reservoir to meet specific needs, while satisfying environmental commitments (e.g. using only renewable groundwater resources, or maintaining adequate ecological flows downstream of a dam, etc.).
• Evaluate programs of measures specified in the management plans for the water resources of a catchment or a wider area, which are required under the Water Framework Directive 2000/60, as well as other necessary measures and actions required by other relevant Directives, which are also taught in this course.
• Participate in committees and working groups focusing on the protection and management of water bodies and water resources, and formulating proposals and legal instruments concerning water policy at national, regional and local level

 

 8.   RECYCLING OF WASTE

The Syllabus of the course “Recycling of Waste” is as follows:

1. EU legal framework on waste recycling, EPR, direction of the EU acquis (circular economy), basic terms, main separation techniques and recycling/recovery technologies.
2. General principles of alternative waste management – National legal framework.
3. Recycling of packaging waste.
4. Waste prevention.
5. Biowaste and composting.
6. Recycling of end-of-life-vehicles.
7. Recycling of used tires.
8. Recycling of waste oils.
9. Recycling of waste of electrical and electronic equipment.
10. Recycling of batteries and accumulators.
11. Recycling of construction and demolition waste.
12. Preparation of dossiers for the approval of EPR systems.
13. Ship recycling.

The capabilities and broader characteristics, that are expected to be obtained by the students, are:

• Respect for the natural environment
• Showing social and professional responsibility
• Adapting to new situations
• Decision-making
• Working independently
• Team work
• Project planning and management
• Working in an interdisciplinary environment
• Production of free, creative and inductive thinking

 

9.   ΕWASTE WATER TREATMENT

COURSE CONTENT

1. Basic concepts. Basic subjects of European and Greek legislation for wastewater treatment.
2. Directive 91/271 concerning urban waste water. [Definitions. Quantitative targets for urban wastewater. Sensitive areas. Criteria for the identification of sensitive and less sensitive areas. Industrial waste water. Sewage Sludge. Requirements for urban waste water. Reference methods for the monitoring and assessment of the treatment].
3. Quality characteristics of wastewater (sewage, industrial effluent).
4. Wastewater Treatment Plants. Basic concepts, estimation of the total wastewater flow, selection of the processing method and selection of the disposal site. Technical, legal, developmental and socio-economic factors controlling the installation of the plants.
5. Use of treated wastewater for irrigation (national legislation – minimum requirements, technologies, comparative analysis of the environmental impact, economic cost).
6. Special requirements for the treatment and disposal of wastewater of tourism facilities.
7. Healthcare legislation E1b / 221/65 for the disposal of waste water or industrial waste. Licensing.
8. Study of sewage disposal.

Upon successful completion of the course students should be able:

•  To review the basic guidelines of the European and Greek legislation for wastewater treatment and basic concepts of: (a) the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of waste water, (b) the operation of wastewater treatment facilities, (c) the use of treated wastewater for irrigation, (d) specific requirements for the treatment and disposal of wastewater of tourism facilities, (e) the disposal of wastewater effluents.
•  To illustrate the relevant legislation, wastewater treatment methods, problems and pressures derived from the reuse of wastewater, the complexity of operation of wastewater treatment plants and the technical, legal, developmental and socio-economic factors related to the installation of the wastewater treatment plant.
• To identify the suitability of the use of treated wastewater for irrigation and to evaluate the optimal method for the management of wastewater.
•  To develop the sustainable management of wastewater in order to identify key elements such as the method of wastewater treatment, the selection of the area for installation of the wastewater treatment plant and the site in which the wastewater should be disposed.
•  To analyze the key cost components of the wastewater treatment plant and the most important criteria for   the selection of the most appropriate site for the plant installation.
•  To argue and co-operate with their fellow students to: (a) to explore and present the most important parameters and criteria that control the decision for site selection of the wastewater treatment plant, (b) to compose and propose arguments and opinions whether to install or not the treatment plant, (c) to record and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the installation, (d) to seek the maximization of the degree of social consensus.

 

10.   ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITTING

The Syllabus of the course “Environmental Permitting” is as follows:

1. National legal framework of environmental permitting (Law 4014/2011) with references to the respective EU acquis and brief analysis of its implementation in other EU Member States.
2. Procedure of environmental permitting.
3. Categorization of projects and activities.
4. Dossier and content of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Α1 and Α2 and preliminary environmental assessment.
5. Main environmental impacts of construction and operation of the most common projects and activities – quantitative and qualitative methods for assessing environmental impacts – main methods and techniques for their prevention or mitigation.
6. Model EIAs and preliminary environmental assessments.
7. Special Ecological Assessment.
8. Approval of Intervention (in forest land).
9. Content of environmental permit – environmental terms and conditions. Predetermined Environmental Commitments.
10. Environmental assessment of plans and programs – Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA).
11. Environmental inspections – Directive on environmental liability

The capabilities and broader characteristics, that are expected to be obtained by the students, are:

• Respect for the natural environment
• Showing social and professional responsibility
• Adapting to new situations
• Decision-making
• Working independently
• Team work
• Project planning and management
• Working in an interdisciplinary environment
• Production of free, creative and inductive thinking

 

11.   Regional planning- physical planning

The course provides the general framework of regional planning through the interrelation between the natural and the man-made environment. Emphasis is given on urban agglomeration networks and the socio-spatial issues related to them. Students familiarize with the methodology of regional projects and regulatory studies in accordance with the national and the EU legislation.

The aim of the course is to inform students about the necessity of environmental protection in terms of regional and strategic planning, taking into account local and supralocal factors.

 

 12.  Protection of the built environment-urban planning

The course offers the opportunity to familiarize with urban planning legislation, quantitative and qualitative indicators as used in urban planning taking into account concepts as population and building density, land use distribution, urbanization and urban development etc. Urban planning is being studied as a phenomenon through the interaction among social, economic, environmental, cultural and historical factors. Students will be able to comprehend concepts as gentrification and urban blight/degradation and the socio-spatial impact of contemporary policies. Moreover, students will study the interaction among private and public space in dense urban context and understand the importance of cultural preservation. Students will have the opportunity to study issues related to urban infrastructures, energy consumption and networks, land uses and urban mobility through the lens of sustainability. The course includes theoretical lectures and case studies analysis from the Global South and the Global North.