Environmental engineering

Sustainability and transition

This part of the course aims to provide students with a scientific knowledge base from a full range of disciplines pertaining to the environmental and social issues of sustainability and transition.

Engineering resources and solutions

The purpose of this course is to make the student acquainted with the assessment of interactions between engineering and the environment. Beyond identification of environmental impacts, the focus is set on measures and strategies to prevent, control and mitigate them. The course is taught by several teachers from different fields of engineering (hydrology and chemistry), providing a cross-disciplinary perspective perfectly in line with the multidisciplinary nature of most environmental issues. Through a common methodological framework (Drivers Pressures State Impact Response - DPSIR), the course includes numerous real examples from various engineering fields.

The following topics are studied:

• hydropower, sustainable management of reservoirs, hydrological impacts of climate change, flood risk and low flows, hydromorphological equilibrium of rivers and river restoration;
• air pollution, water pollution, integrated and additive protection of the environment, life cycle assessment.

Sustainability and transition

At the end of this part, and on the basis of the scientific content presented, students will be able to:

• Describe, differentiate and question the dynamics and interactions of the different spheres of the Earth system;
• Describe and analyse the interactions between the human and the Earth systems;
• Demonstrate the importance of considering the issues of sustainability and transition from a systemic point of view;
• Develop a critical and reflective mindset that enables them to analyse current issues;
• Use the scientific knowledge base to combat feelings of eco-anxiety;

Engineering resources and solutions

After this course, the student will be able to understand and develop on their own a range of analyses concerning the environmental impacts of materials, processes, structures, and anthropogenic activities. The student will be able to evaluate and develop strategies to mitigate the environmental impacts of engineering actions in simple situations.

The student will become acquainted with several conceptual frameworks, including the DPSIR approach of the European Environment Agency, cost-benefit analysis, risk analysis and life cycle assessment. Based on the knowledge of these concepts, the student will be able to better structure his arguments not only in the environmental field but also in other scientific and technological disciplines.

The student will also master some basic concepts in hydrology as well as in the chemistry of water and the atmosphere.

This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, II.1, III.2, V.1, V.2 of the BSc in Engineering.

Engineering resources and solutions

The course relies on basic concepts in physics and chemistry.
Since part of the course material is provided in English, the student should have reading skills in English corresponding at least to the course taught in Bachelor 1 (LANG0038-1)

Sustainability and transition

Contents learned autonomously include:

• Videos.
• Video transcripts.
• Additional resources (optional) 

Engineering resources and solutions

The course is based on lectures (30h).
Since the course focuses more on a deep understanding of the concepts, the student is requested to take part actively in the lessons, during which the teachers interact with the audience.
A discussion forum is available on eCampus, enabling the student to ask questions related to the course.

Sustainability and transition

Remote course


Further information:

The teaching method is distance learning. The course is made up of several videos and recommends optional reading material.

Engineering resources and solutions

Face-to-face lectures.

Sustainability and transition

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

Videos, optional reading material and guidelines will be provided via the eCampus platform.

Engineering resources and solutions

Slides used during the lectures may be downloaded from eCampus.
During the course, the teachers may recommend the optional reading of documents. All documents are available on eCampus.

Sustainability and transition

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- Remote

written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire )

Continuous assessment


Further information:

Online testing must be completed by 11 May 2025 and second session by 1 September 2025.

Failure to do so will prevent access to the 'Moyens et solutions d'ingénieur' course examination. This part will not be taken into account for the final grade.

Engineering resources and solutions

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire )


Further information:

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire )


Additional information:

A written exam takes place in June and September.

Based on multiple choice questions (choice between 4 answers, +1 if correct answer, 0 if omission, -0.33 if wrong answer), the evaluation focuses on the understanding of the processes and topics described during the course rather than on pure knowledge. Nonetheless, knowing and mastering a number of fundamental concepts remains necessary for the student to be able to find the more logical and adequate answers to the questions.
Equal weight is given to each of the two subparts of the course (hydrology and chemical engineering) through a mix of the different questions. No partial exemption is granted.

If the exam must be 'remote', it will be also a multiple-choice questionnaire through the use of eCampus on the day and time normally scheduled.
In practice, multiple-choice questions (4 possible answers), randomly selected and placed in random order, will be asked to you individually in an eCampus examination procedure such as:
1) the examination will have a maximum duration of 1h30
2) the questions will be asked one by one with a possible 'going back' (the student will have to manage his timing well)
3) the weighting of the points is the same as for the classic exam (correct answer = 1, no answer = 0, wrong answer -0.33)
4) Attention: there will be only one access to the exam, which requires robust internet/wifi access.
A short exam-test will be scheduled in May with 15 questions and 30 minutes. 

Engineering resources and solutions

Lectures take place on Monday morning during the second semester. The exact schedule should be checked on CELCAT.

Sustainability and transition

Prof. Sybille Mertens and Floriane Fassotte/Elise Pirenne (durabilite.transition@uliege.be)

Engineering resources and solutions

Prof. Benjamin DEWALS
Hydraulics in Environmental and Civil Engineering (HECE), B52/3
Tél. 04/366.92.83
B.Dewals@uliege.be

Prof. Angélique LEONARD
Dpt of Chemical Engineering
PEPs - Products, Environment, Processes
B5a/1.51
Tél. 04/366.44.36
A.Leonard@uliege.be

Sustainability and transition

There is no MOOC associated with this course.