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Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Areas of Research
Research in Civil Engineering
Within civil engineering, the major thrust areas are in structural, materials and pavement engineering. As noted, programs of study are designed to accommodate the student. For example, a student with an already well-established area of expertise (either through prior training or experience) may well take a few even more advanced courses while concentrating on courses that broaden their training while another student (e.g., coming into the program with a BS in some other discipline/area) may already have sufficient breadth and concentrate on a specific specialty area. Research in Environmental Engineering
At the graduate level, separate degrees are offered in environmental engineering and related interdisciplinary areas. Graduate study in the environmental area prepares students with undergraduate background in science and engineering to deal with current and emerging environmental problems. Heavy emphasis is placed on understanding the behavior of environmental contaminants of industrial origin. This includes focusing on the treatment technologies and processes that affect the fate, effects, and movement of contaminants in the environment and on understanding the theory and design of water and wastewater treatment processes. In addition to the MS and Ph.D. in environmental engineering, students can also enter the joint environmental engineering/environmental toxicology program. Students in environmental engineering who wish to further specialize may select from such areas as environmental chemistry, environmental microbiology, environmental fluid mechanics, environmental/geotechnical engineering, or hazardous waste management. MS students must also complete either a thesis or a research project. Building on strengths and priorities established within WCU, environmental research will be one pillar of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department’s research portfolio. Growing populations and economies will continue to stress finite natural resources, meaning that creative solutions are needed to promote “greener” technologies, environmental restoration and protection, and waste reutilization. Understanding complex interactions of processes at multiple scales, from the microscopic level to the global scale, will be necessary to fully advance future development. Furthermore, sustainability is a multifaceted concept based on the necessity for society to take steps to minimize, eliminate, and reverse anthropogenic impacts that adversely affect the planet. Tomorrow’s solutions will thus require multifaceted approaches where scientific answers incorporate human behavior, ecological response, economic analysis, and societal values. Specific areas of research within the Environmental Engineering Program include:
Research inTransportation and Geotechnical Engineering
Geotechnical and transportation engineering research programs at the Winchester City University merges geotechnics and pavement mechanics to provide solution to infrastructure problems. The geotechnical engineering research program encompasses both traditional and emerging topics in the fields of geomechanics and geology and focuses on the behavior of natural materials in engineered systems. This active program involves fundamental and applied research using analytical, numerical, and experimental methods. The pavement engineering research program focuses on developing innovative, economical, and reliable technologies for highway and airport pavements. It involves characterizing and modeling the entire pavement structure from surface to base course and incorporating various paving materials including asphalt material, concrete material, aggregates, recycled materials, and subgrade soils. Emphasis is given to both fundamental theories and practical applications in design, construction, and rehabilitation of the transportation infrastructure. Specific areas of research in Geotechnical/Transportation include:
Research in Hydraulic and Water Resources
One of the systems likely affected by global climate change and population growth is water resources. The Water Resources Program investigates all aspects of the complex interactions between climate variability and change, ecosystem processes, and increased demand from human activities. Specific areas of research within the Hydraulics and Water Resources Program include:
Research in Structuring Engineering, Materials and Sustainability
The materials program is centered on the development of bio-based materials in particular polymers, composites, and nanomaterials. Bio-based materials are researched from various angles including chemistry, processing, and mechanics. Structural engineering research includes both numerical modeling and experimental testing to understand and improve structural performance. Specific areas of research emphasis within the Structural Engineering and Materials Program include:
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INNOVATION & EXCELLENCE
Excellence in the College of Engineering
The College of Engineering ranks among the leaders in the world for engineering research and education. INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The College of Engineering fosters an environment for innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. Innovation and entrepreneurship are important and significant activities for the College of Engineering, and Winchester City University more generally. The college is a connection to resources, courses, announcements and highlights for the engineering community.
Who are Agricultural Engineers?Agricultural engineers must have a wealth of knowledge and skills to function effectively in the diverse agricultural and agribusiness industries. The agricultural engineer obtains training in design and engineering problem solving based on an understanding of engineering sciences including mathematics, physics and biology. They must also have skills in computers, communication, teamwork and instrumentation. The feature distinguishing agricultural engineers from other engineers is their interest and commitment to solving agricultural problems.
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