Smart transport for a sustainable future
Description
Transportation is one of the largest energy consumers in countries, and this consumption continues to increase year after year, reaching 40% of the final energy expenditure of a country like Spain. Road transport accounts for 80% of this energy, and currently, virtually all of it comes from fossil fuels such as oil. This situation presents us with significant challenges, as transportation, increasingly essential in our modern societies, must be compatible with energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable modes of transport.
This course focuses on aspects closely linked to road transport, including the technological, energy, and environmental constraints associated with current transport practices, as well as the outlook for new fuel developments, combustion technologies, sustainable transport management, and autonomous vehicles. Finally, you will also discover the perspectives of key sectors related to mobility on the future of transport.
If you're interested in sustainable development, the role of transportation in it, and how we'll be getting around in the coming years, the course 'Smart Transportation for a Sustainable Future' will help you learn more. Welcome!
What you will learn
This course provides an overview of different aspects related to energy used for transport:
- Current overview of transport modes and their environmental implications. What do we need to improve?
- Internal combustion propulsion technology and the development of new, environmentally sustainable biofuels. A known technology with a promising future?
- Propulsion technology for hybrid and electric vehicles. What are car batteries like?
- Tools applied to transport management. How to move intelligently?
- Self-driving vehicles: Herbie, KITT,… Will my car ever talk to me?
In addition, the course incorporates the vision provided by several entities collaborating with the MOOC regarding the future of transport and how to make it sustainable.
Requirements
- No prior knowledge is necessary, as this is an introductory course aimed at people interested in cross-cutting aspects related to transport, energy, sustainable development, and the environment.
- Given the general nature of the course, no prior qualification is required, although it may be considered especially interesting for current and future students of degrees in scientific, engineering and related areas of knowledge.
Faculty
Gabriel Morales Sánchez
King Juan Carlos University
Chemical Engineer (UCM, 2000) and PhD in Chemical Engineering (URJC, 2005). University Professor and Director of the Department of Chemical and Environmental Technology at Rey Juan Carlos University. He has nearly 25 years of experience in research and teaching in subjects related to the environment and energy. He is currently co-director of the Smart-E2 institutional chair at Rey Juan Carlos University.
José Iglesias Morán
King Juan Carlos University
Chemical Engineer (UCM, 1999) and PhD in Chemical Engineering (URJC, 2005). University Professor and Director of the Department of Chemical, Energy and Mechanical Technology at URJC. He has more than 25 years of experience in research and teaching in subjects related to energy and the environment.
María del Mar Gómez Zamora
King Juan Carlos University
PhD in Agricultural Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Madrid (2011). Technical Manager of the CEI International Campus of Excellence “Smart Energy” and technician at the European Projects Office (OPE-URJC). Since 2018, expert external evaluator for the “Fast Track to Innovation” program, Research Executive Agency, European Commission.
Juan José Espada Sanjurjo
King Juan Carlos University
Chemical Engineer (UCM, 1999) and PhD in Chemical Engineering (URJC, 2005). Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at URJC. He has nearly 25 years of experience in research and teaching in subjects related to the environment and energy. He is currently the Director of the Master's Program in Industrial Engineering at URJC.
Rosalía Rodriguez Escudero
King Juan Carlos University
Chemical Engineer (UCM, 2001) and PhD from URJC (2006). Full Professor in the Chemical Engineering area of the Department of Chemical, Energy and Mechanical Technology at URJC. Her research and teaching have focused on topics related to energy, the environment, and sustainability. She is currently the coordinator of the Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Technology Engineering.
Juan Antonio Melero Hernández
King Juan Carlos University
PhD in Chemical Sciences (UCM, 1998). Full Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at URJC in Madrid. He is currently the Director of the Institute of Technologies for Sustainability (ITPS) at URJC, and leads several projects related to the chemical and energy valorization of biomass for the production of biofuels and bioproducts.
Gisela Orcajo Rincón
King Juan Carlos University
Chemical Engineer (UC, 2003) and PhD in Chemical Engineering (URJC, 2010). She is currently a Full Professor in the area of Chemical Engineering at URJC. Her research focuses on the development of advanced metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for application in the adsorption of gases of environmental interest and in heterogeneous catalysis.
Guillermo Wolff Elósegui
King Juan Carlos University
Doctor of Industrial Engineering (UPM 1983). Former Full Professor of Machinery and Thermal Engines at the ETSII of the UPM. Former Automotive and Fuels Consultant for Repsol SA. Professor of the Master's Degree in Automotive Engineering at INSIA – UPM and of the Master's Degree in Industrial Engineering at Rey Juan Carlos University. President of the Technical Committee on Engines, Fuels and Lubricants of ASEPA.
Jose Maria Escola
King Juan Carlos University
PhD in Chemical Sciences (UCM, 1998). Full Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Rey Juan Carlos University. His research and teaching have focused on topics related to energy, the environment, and sustainability. He is currently the research line coordinator at the International Doctoral School of URJC.
Laura Briones Gil
King Juan Carlos University
Full Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Rey Juan Carlos University. Her scientific activity focuses on the production of fuels and chemical compounds from plastic and lignocellulosic waste and vegetable oils, and on the synthesis of new materials for thermochemical storage of solar energy.
Alberto Fernández Gil
King Juan Carlos University
PhD in Computer Science. University Professor and member of the Artificial Intelligence Group at URJC. He has 25 years of university teaching experience in the field of Computer Engineering. One of his main research areas is intelligent transportation systems, on which he has published several articles and organized various scientific events.
David Fernández Llorca
University of Alcalá
Professor at the University of Alcalá. He has 20 years of experience in the field of Intelligent Transportation Systems, with more than 130 publications, and received the IEEE ITS Society Young Researcher Award 2018 for researchers under 40 years of age.
Ignacio Parra Alonso
University of Alcalá
PhD in Telecommunications. Full Professor at the University of Alcalá (UAH) and member of the INVET Research Group. He has extensive university teaching experience in the field of Automation Engineering. His main research areas are visual odometry, autonomous and intelligent vehicles, and intelligent transportation systems, on which he has published several articles.
Ivan Garcia Daza
University of Alcalá
PhD in Telecommunications Engineering. Full Professor at the University of Alcalá in the Department of Systems Engineering and Automation, with experience in research projects related to Intelligent Transportation Systems. He has participated in numerous research projects, resulting in publications in journals and conference proceedings. He has also participated in scientific conferences, is an associate editor for journals, and a conference reviewer.
Noelia Hernández Parra
University of Alcalá
PhD in Telecommunications. Full Professor in the Department of Automation at the University of Alcalá (UAH) and member of the INVET Research Group. She has extensive university teaching experience in the field of Automation Engineering and programming languages. Her main research areas are Wi-Fi-based localization, autonomous and intelligent vehicles, and intelligent transportation systems, on which she has published several articles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of audience might be interested in taking the MOOC?
What am I going to learn?
What can it be used for?
What certification do I get if I complete it?
You will be able to obtain the MOOC completion certificate once you have completed all the required course activities. The certificate will confirm your successful completion of the MOOC and will include the total number of hours.
How can I register?
To enroll in this course, simply log in or create your account and then click on the Start.
Which browsers are compatible with a URJC MOOC?
Current versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Internet Explorer version 9 or higher.
What happens if I have to drop out of a MOOC? Will I be able to re-enroll in a future edition of the same MOOC and/or another MOOC in the future?
Enrollment and participation in a URJC MOOC is free. There are absolutely no academic penalties for dropping out. You can enroll in the same MOOC and/or others (as long as they are still being offered) at a later time.
When does my MOOC start and end?
This MOOC is designed to be self-paced. You don't need to start at a specific time, although a learning pace of one topic per week is recommended.
How do I pass the course?
At the end of each module you will be assessed with a test on the basic concepts learned.
RAC credit validation
If you are an undergraduate student at Rey Juan Carlos University, you must register for the course using your university account (@alumnos.urjc.es) to receive RAC credits upon successful completion. Credits will not be awarded to students who completed the course using an account other than their URJC account or who are not currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program.
🙋 You won't need to request the recognition, as it will appear automatically.
- 5 Sections
- 49 Lessons
- 20 Hours
- 1. Transport, energy and environment10
- 1.1Energy and transport
- 1.2Advantages of using fossil fuels as an energy source
- 1.3Disadvantages of using fossil fuels as an energy source
- 1.4Transport and pollution
- 1.5Greenhouse gas emissions associated with urban transport
- 1.6Effects of air pollution on our health
- 1.7What measures can be taken to prevent pollution from transportation?
- 1.8Some measures taken to control pollution associated with transport
- 1.9Future: Zero emissions
- 1.10Exam
- 2. Combustion engines: from oil to clean fuels10
- 2.1Internal combustion engines: from oil to clean fuels
- 2.2Homologation cycle and emissions limits
- 2.3Environmental labels for vehicles
- 2.4Biofuels and low-carbon fuels
- 2.5Environmental and economic sustainability of biofuels
- 2.6Hydrogen
- 2.7Biofuels. Interview with CIEMAT
- 2.8Advanced biofuels
- 2.9Second generation bioethanol
- 2.10Exam
- 3. New forms of propulsion: hybrid and electric vehicles10
- 3.1Operation and components of electric vehicles
- 3.2Components of an electric vehicle
- 3.3How a hydrogen fuel cell works
- 3.4Operation and components of a hybrid vehicle
- 3.5Components of a hybrid vehicle
- 3.6The future of transport. Towards a zero-emissions model
- 3.7Efficient driving in a hybrid vehicle
- 3.8Comparison between a conventional vehicle, a hybrid vehicle and an electric vehicle
- 3.9Evolution of vehicle registrations by segment
- 3.10Exam
- 4. Smart mobility: autonomous vehicles and connected fleets9
- 4.1Transport fleets
- 4.2Shared bicycle fleets
- 4.3Balancing in shared bicycle fleets
- 4.4Levels of automation in autonomous vehicles
- 4.5Advanced driver assistance systems included in the SAE automation levels
- 4.6LIDAR, the sensor for autonomous driving
- 4.73D mapping systems with LIDAR sensors
- 4.8Autonomous navigation
- 4.9Exam
- 5. The future of transport: challenges and perspectives10
- 5.1Mobility in urban spaces
- 5.2Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans – SUMPs
- 5.3Smart transport in smart cities
- 5.4Future prospects for electric vehicles
- 5.5Current overview of electric vehicles
- 5.6The future is electric
- 5.7Technological developments in autonomous transport
- 5.8Cities-Timanfaya Project
- 5.9Controversy and prospects of the autonomous vehicle
- 5.10Exam
Courses that might interest you
Don't miss a thing
Subscribe to the newsletter
Receive information about new courses and news