Civil & Environmental EngineeringCivil engineering

Civil engineering covers a wide range of topics including:

  • design of sustainable infrastructures systems
  • monitoring of structural systems with advanced sensing technologies
  • durability of concrete structures
  • advanced low-carbon construction materials
  • wind energy structures
  • water distribution systems
  • urban drainage systems
  • fire resistant steel structures

Our research sits within the Infrastructure and the Engineering Geosciences and Geomechanics (EGG) Research Groups in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering.

With a long tradition of excellence in research, education, and service to the profession, our civil engineering research has been a place for innovative developments.  Advancements in wind analysis, non-linear dynamic analysis and health monitoring techniques, which have been pioneered by academics and students, have had major impacts on professional practice.  Equally important are the successful careers of the many Strathclyde graduates, who by their leadership, dedication and ideas are making positive contributions internationally.

Our key areas of research

Computational structures

The Computational Structures group's aim is to enable the creation and development of high-performance, reliable and secure computing systems and programs that can be used to design, optimise and analyse complex structural systems.

The group is currently conducting research in the areas of inflatable structures, portal frames in fire and sustainable infrastructure design.

Integrated water resource management

Our research at Strathclyde is focused on:

  • Water Resources (Hydrogeology)
  • Water Infrastructure
  • Water Policy (Trans-Boundary Aquifers)
  • Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

Advanced materials science & applications

Materials science is broadly defined as the science and understanding of both man-made and naturally occurring materials. These can range from spiders' web silk, to printed circuit boards and from polymers to minerals formed under high pressure in oil wells.

The subject is vast and uses techniques and methods from every branch of science to understand, create and control substances and materials in our everyday lives.

Real-time infrastructure monitoring

The objective of our research projects is to develop advanced and integrated monitoring technologies for built environment such as transport structures, buildings, wind turbines and earth structures.

Special emphasis is placed on design and fabrication of wireless sensors and wireless networks for remote monitoring. The developed monitoring technologies are being evaluated using several test beds.

Modelling travel behaviour

We seek to understand how and in what way factors associated with the built environment, technology and society influence travel behaviour. This research has important implications for the future development of cities.