Calendar
The calendar below provides information on the course's lecture (L) and recitation (R) sessions.
| SES # | TOPICS | KEY DATES |
|---|---|---|
| Part I: Introduction to CEE Projects | ||
| L1 | Class Overview: CEE Projects and Sustainable Development | Problem set 1 out |
| R1 | Recitation: Introduction to Spreadsheets | |
| L2 | Mobility in the 19th Century: Roads, Canals, and Railroads | |
| L3 | Panama Canal Case Study |
Problem set 1 due Problem set 2 out |
| R2 | Recitation: Panama Wrap-Up | |
| Part II: Time and Money | ||
| L4 | Cost Concepts and Design Economics | |
| L5 | Cost Concepts and Design Economics (cont.) | |
| R3 | Recitation | |
| L6 | Time and Money: The Principle of Equivalence |
Problem set 2 due Problem set 3 out |
| L7 | Time and Money: Nominal and Effective Interest Rates and Continuous Compounding | |
| R4 | Recitation: Intro to Time-Value of Money | Quiz 1 |
| L8 | Choosing a Discount Rate | |
| L9 | Equivalent Methods for Comparing Benefits and Costs (Basic Methods - PW, FW, AW, IRR, ERR) | |
| R5 |
Recitation: Quiz Review Term Project Preparation Follow-Up Details | Problem set 3 due |
| L10 | Quiz (basic cost concepts; breakeven analysis; equivalence; choice of discount rates; motivation for projects) | |
| Part III: Evaluating Alternatives | ||
| L11 | Comparing Alternatives | Problem set 4 out |
| R6 | Multiple Perspectives - Public vs. Private Projects | Paper topic due |
| L12 | Multiple Decision Criteria | |
| L13 | Rules of the Game: How Taxes and Regulations Influence Project Evaluation | |
| R7 |
Recitation - Discuss Project Topics Quiz 2 |
Problem set 4 due Problem set 5 out Quiz 2 |
| Part IV: Assessing Sustainability | ||
| L14 |
CEE Projects and Public Needs: Accessibility How effectively will the proposed projects or program address their objectives? Will there be enough money to pay the bills? | |
| L15 | CEE Projects and Public Needs: Water and Transportation Projects in Tianjin, China (Jodie Misiak) | |
| R8 | Recitation |
Problem set 5 due Problem set 6 out |
| L16 | Environmental Impact Assessment of CEE Projects (Susan Murcott) How important are the externalities associated with proposed projects or programs? Can the environment and society withstand the changes? | |
| L17 | Environmental Impact Assessment | |
| R9 | Recitation: Environmental Impact Assessment |
Problem set 6 due Problem set 7 out |
| L18 | Social Impact Assessment (Susan Murcott) | |
| L19 | Dealing with Uncertainty - Sensitivity Analysis, Scenarios, Partnerships How can we modify a project or a program to make it more sustainable, i.e. more effective and less disruptive to the environment and to society? | |
| R10 | Recitation | Problem set 7 due |
| L20 | Improving Projects and Programs: Reducing risks, reducing costs, more equitable sharing of benefits, reducing negative social or environmental impacts, improving quality | |
| R11 | Quiz (Ranking mutually independent alternatives; using depreciation and taxes to promote public policy; cost effectiveness; assessing sustainability issues) | Quiz 3 |
| Part V: CEE Project Reports | ||
| L21 | How to critique a project: Planning your presentation, structuring a project report, and writing an executive summary | |
| L22 | The Interstate Highway System: Vision, Design, and Impacts (20-minute presentation followed by class discussion of sustainability issues related to highways) | |
| R12 | Recitation: Time available for coordination of project presentations | |
| L23 | Recitation: Time available for coordination of project presentations (cont.) | |
| L24 | Project Presentations | Presentation due |
| R13 | Project Presentations (cont.) | |
| L25 | Project Presentations (cont.) | |
| L26 | Project Presentations (cont.) | Project Report due |
