Construction Engineering
Engineering Stronger, Safer, and More Sustainable Structures
Research in Construction Engineering significantly advances the field by developing innovative techniques, materials, and technologies that improve efficiency, safety, and sustainability.
Impacts of Construction Engineering Research:
Economic
Efficiency
Sustainability Improvements
Safety
Improvements
Smarter
Technologies
Recreating Earthquakes
Testing mass timber framing inside an actuator in High Bay Structures Lab
State-of-the-Art Structures Lab
In the Layton Engineering Building, our Structures Lab contributes to Construction Engineering research with its state-of-the-art equipment, such as its actuators. One actuator can simulate the effects of seismic activity — with forces up to a 7.0 magnitude earthquake — on whatever is placed inside by vigorously rocking it back and forth in its gigantic rectangular shape. The research conducted in the lab contributes to improving the durability of constructed materials.
Recent News
Enhancing Construction Engineering Education with AI-Driven Mobile App
The intersection of technology and education is creating new possibilities for learning, and at the forefront of this transformation is a project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Dr. Abbas Rashidi, an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, is playing a key role in a $900,000 collaborative research initiative titled “An AI-Enhanced System to Integrate Unstructured Observations with Formal Engineering Education.”
Dr. Abbas Rashidi
Research Spotlight
Dr. Chris Pantiledes
Strengthening Sustainable Structures: Earthquake-Proofing Mass Timber Buildings
Wood, our oldest building material, is experiencing a revival — one that can even withstand earthquakes. And our very own Dr. Pantelides is at this the helm of its revival.
The deceptively simple piece of lumber is an example of mass timber technology, a category of “engineered wood product” set to revolutionize the construction industry— and that Pantelides has spent the last seven years studying and developing.
Academia and Industry Expertise
Dr. Christian Brockmann has led large-scale construction projects worldwide, such as the Bang Na Expressway in Thailand and the Port Said Tunnels in Egypt. His extensive academic background includes degrees in Civil Engineering, Business Administration, Economics, and Construction Management, equipping him to oversee complex projects.
Dr. Christian Brockmann