CITIES AND CONSUMPTION: URBAN SUSTAINABILITY AND THE SHARING ECONOMY

This course teaches you how to build convolutional neural networks (CNN). You will learn how to design intelligent systems using deep learning for classification, annotation, and object recognition. It includes three modules: Image processing: Introduction of industrial imaging through big data and fundamentals of image processing techniques Deep learning with convolutional neural network: Overview of neural network as classifiers, introduction of convolutional neural network and Deep learning architecture. Deep learning tools: Implementation of Deep learning for Image classification and object recognition, e.g. using Keras.

This course deals with model-based testing, a class of technologies shown to be effective and efficient in assessing the quality and correctness of large software systems. Throughout the course the participants will learn how to design and use model-based testing tools, how to create realistic models and how to use these models to automate the testing process in their organisation.

In this course you will learn state-of-the-art statistical modelling for the purpose of analysing industrial data. The course also presents the basics of relational databases and data manipulation techniques needed to prepare the data for analysis.

This course makes you acquainted with the concept of systems-of-systems (SoS), which means that independent systems are collaborating. It gives you an understanding why SoS is an important topic in the current digitalisation and provides a theoretical and practical foundation for understanding important characteristics of SoS. It also gives you a deeper knowledge in a number of key concerns that need to be considered when engineering SoS. This is a course with a flexible start: If you are admitted, you may join the course any time between the course start in September 2025 until the beginning of October. With the recommended study pace of 25%, the course will take approximately seven calendar weeks to complete. Higher or lower study pace is possible as long as the course is finished no later than the end of the autumn semester.  

This course looks at where important materials in products we use every day come from and how these materials can be used more efficiently, longer, and in closed loops. This is the aim of the Circular Economy, but it doesn’t happen on its own. It is the result of choices and strategies by suppliers, designers, businesses, policymakers and all of us as consumers. In addition to providing many cases of managing materials for sustainability, the course also teaches skills and tools for analyzing circular business models and promotes development of your own ideas to become more involved in the transition to a Circular Economy. You will learn from expert researchers and practitioners from around Europe as they explain core elements and challenges in the transition to a circular economy over the course of 5 modules: Module 1: Materials. This module explores where materials come from, and builds a rationale for why society needs more circularity. Module 2: Circular Business Models. In this module circular business models are explored in-depth and a range of ways for business to create economic and social value are discussed. Module 3: Circular Design, Innovation and Assessment. This module presents topics like functional materials and eco-design as well as methods to assess environmental impacts. Module 4: Policies and Networks. This module explores the role of governments and networks and how policies and sharing best practices can enable the circular economy. Module 5: Circular Societies. This module examines new norms, forms of engagement, social systems, and institutions, needed by the circular economy and how we, as individuals, can help society become more circular.

In this course, participants are introduced to key notions and concepts evolving in sustainability science that are relevant to all, independent to one's work or field of interest. After having completed the course, participants will have a better understanding of the vocabulary used today and should demonstrate the ability to reflect critically to integrate different perspectives of environmental, social, and economic sustainability to their specific area of interest or research. Throughout the course, links are made to the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, as our current global road map towards sustainability, and how new approaches and solutions are emerging to describe, understand and address key sustainability challenges. Put simply, the overall aim is to give participants the knowledge and confidence needed to present and discuss ideas with others by applying methods, concepts and the vocabulary exemplified in the course with a more holistic view on the sustainability agenda across topics and disciplines. The course is designed as 5 modules: The first module presents essential concepts within sustainability science, and methods used to describe, frame, and communicate aspects of sustainability. We look at key questions such as what we mean with strong or weak sustainability, resilience, tipping points and the notion of planetary boundaries. We also look at some techniques used of envisioning alternative futures and transitions pathways. The second module is all about systems thinking and how systemic approaches are applied today to achieve long-term sustainability goals. Your will see what we mean with systems thinking and how systems thinking, and design is applied in practice to find new solutions. The third module touches upon drivers for a sustainable future, namely links to economy and business with an introduction to notions of a circular economy, and also policy and regulatory frameworks. We introduce the basics of transformative policy frames and how they are designed and applied through several real-case examples. The fourth module discusses the links between innovation and sustainability, highlighting approaches for technological, social, institutional, and financial innovations. Some examples (or cases) aim to show how different actors across society balance in practice the need for innovative approaches for social, environmental, and economic sustainability. The fifth and last module provides general insights on how we work with models to create various scenarios that help us identify solutions and pathways for a more sustainable world. Three main dimensions are addressed namely climate and climate change, nature and biodiversity, and the importance of data and geodata science to support spatial planning and sustainable land use.