• Resource management and Industrial Ecology
• Methods for analysing resource management issues
• Material Flow Analysis (MFA)
• (Spatially explicit) urban, regional and national metabolism
• Linking MFA and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)
• Dynamics of minerals, metals, water and energy use
• Circular economy
• Data sources, quality and uncertainty
• Overview of existing software packages and databases
• Combination of material and social science models
• MFA as support system for decision and policy making
• Illustration with examples from practice
• Course project based on industry and/or regional cases

• Industrial Ecology
• Resource management
• Material flow analysis
• Dynamic and spatially explicit modeling
• Cities, regions and nations
• Circular economy
• Integrating economic, social and material perspectives
• Policy implications

Life cycle assessment

Linear algebra

Transport phenomena

• Develop a material flow analysis for a relevant resource management case
• Justify and critically reflect on material system analysis
• Derive policy implications for production and consumption processes based on their results
• Assess / Evaluate and understand the modeling results of other scholars
• Plan and excecute a practical resource-related project
• Use the methods learned during the course in the project

• Access and evaluate appropriate sources of information.
• Use both general and domain specific IT resources and tools
• Use a work methodology appropriate to the task.
• Give feedback (critique) in an appropriate fashion.
• Demonstrate the capacity for critical thinking
• Demonstrate a capacity for creativity.
• Write a scientific or technical report.
• Collect data.
• Keep appropriate documentation for group meetings.
• Chair a meeting to achieve a particular agenda, maximising participation.
• Plan and carry out activities in a way which makes optimal use of available time and other resources.

Interactive lectures and exercises with a graded group project

Invited lecturers from the private sector

We expect students to participate in all lectures and exercise and project sessions. Students should complete the exercises on a weekly basis to understand the theory and practice of MFA. The course and group project build on MFA models and students are expected to work effectively on their own, in small groups and with the help of lecturers. They are expected to present their projects' results to colleagues and/or practice partners.

Student will be evaluated in two ways:

• A final exam to evaluate theoretical part of the course (50 % of the final grade)

• An oral presentation and a written report for a group project to evaluate the students capability to model, analyze and interpret a practical resource problem (50 % of the final grade)

Baccini, P., Brunner P., Metabolism of the Anthroposphere - Analysis, Evaluation, Design. The MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2012

Binder CR. Material Flow Analysis (MFA). Berkshire Encyclopedia of Sustainability: measurements, indicators, and research methods for sustainability, Berkshire Publishing Group; 2012.

Brunner, P. H., & Rechberger, H. (2016). Handbook of material flow analysis: For environmental, resource, and waste engineers. CRC press.

Moreau, V., & Massard, G. (2017). Material and Energy Flow Analysis. In Oxford Encyclopedia of Environmental Sciences. Oxford University Press. DOI: 10.1093/acrefore/9780199389414.013.10

Additionnal literature references will be provided during the semester on moodle

• Find the references at the Libraryhttps://slsp-epfl.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=course_code,contains,%22ENV-501%202025-2026%22&tab=41SLSP_EPF_MyInst_and_CI&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&vid=41SLSP_EPF:prod
• Moreau, V., & Massard, G. (2017). Material and Energy Flow Analysishttps://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199389414.013.109

All teaching material will be accessible via moodle during the semester

• http://Will be provided on Moodlehttp://Will be provided on Moodle