Research

Solutions for the Future

The Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering prides itself on its outstanding research track record. Working closely with the KU Transportation Research Institute and the KU Center for Research, the department's faculty and students are creating new boundaries for technological capabilities as they provide solutions for the world.

Architectural Engineering

Areas of research interest/expertise include construction and safety, construction management, power systems, structural analysis and design, building energy analysis and management green buildings, materials science, HVAC, indoor air quality, solar energy, automatic controls, and fire protection.

Civil Engineering

Construction

Recent research topics include rapid bridge replacement techniques, highway work zone safety, emerging technology applications, international construction management, construction management, information technology, sustainable development and construction, knowledge management, quality management and control, productivity management, organizational development, construction safety, contracting methods, project management, performance evaluation, organizational development, and total quality management.

Geotechnical

Recent research topics include soil modification/stabilization using lime and fly ash, geographic information systems/site investigation, quality measurement of lime stabilized soil and HMA using nondestructive methods, asphalt mix design, and cold in-place recycling of asphalt.

Structures

Recent areas of interest include structural analysis and design, structural mechanics and engineering materials. Areas of strength include reinforced concrete behavior and design, structural steel design, seismic performance, concrete materials, fiber-reinforced composites, structural analysis, expert systems, and fracture mechanics.

Transportation

The area combines course work with stimulating and relevant research work. Both urban and rural environmental aspects of transportation are presented, as is the systems approach to transportation planning, traffic engineering, and other transportation engineering activities.

Water Resources

Emphasized are civil engineering applications of hydrology and fluid mechanics, environmental science, and interdisciplinary studies in groundwater, water quality, and water resources policy and planning.

Environmental Engineering

Air quality

Topics of recent interest include toxic air pollutants, remote sensing of vehicular emissions, low-emission vehicles, hydrometeorology, aerosol science, and acid rain.

Solid and hazardous waste

Topics of recent interest include bioremediation, applied microbiology, landfill design, permeable barriers, and bio- and green technologies.

Water quality

Topics of recent interest include pesticide runoff, hydrometeorology, removal of soluble organic contaminants, disinfection byproduct formation, green technology, bioremediation, biotechnology, biological water and waste treatment, applied microbiology, acid rain, endocrine system disruptors, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, lake and reservoir management, and the effects of land use on water quality.

We invite you to learn more about specific projects by exploring the faculty publications or reviewing faculty web pages.