Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering
The work of the researchers in the Environment and Infrastructure Research Group covers a range of activities that aim to study the issues associated with the provision of built infrastructure and how this can interact with the environment and society. The research group has two main themes: environment and infrastructure, which are strongly linked by the issues surrounding sustainability in the natural and built environment. The group recognises the importance of sustainability for infrastructure systems and also the requirement to provide technologies to address the needs of such systems to adapt to climate change and reduce their impact on the environment.
The Environment Theme focuses on studying the science behind the processes, feedbacks and interactions of current and emerging environmental impacts, and the ways in which to mitigate their impact. Currently the impact of environmental noise, flooding, sediment transport, water transported pollutants, and extreme waves are being investigated. This includes their impact in both the natural and built environment, ranging from rivers, estuaries and coasts to sewers and water distribution pipes. Much of this work revolves around the use of sophisticated laboratory techniques, strongly coupled with the development of new modelling and sensor technologies to allow the development of new mitigation technologies.
Researchers within the Infrastructure Theme are working on the development of new, low energy construction materials that have higher levels of sustainability. Others are developing new structural analysis and construction methods in order to gain an improved understanding of the behaviour of buildings and structures, in order to develop better rehabilitation strategies. An emerging area of work in the group is research into various aspects of the behaviour of masonry structures.
Group members have collaborated with researchers from Europe, North America and Japan, evidenced by input to EU projects, joint publications in journals, and funded visits by post doctoral researchers. Collaborative work with international collaborators has been supported by funding from EPSRC, EU, Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering and industrial sources. Staff have collaborated with researchers from National University of Singapore, Kyoto University, TU Delft, WL Delft, IIT Mumbai, IIT Kharagpur, Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussée (Paris), Humboldt State University, Laboratoire Central Ponts et Chaussée (Nantes), University of the Applied Arts, Vienna, Louisiana State University, Mokpo National University, South Korea, University of Gent, University of Padua, Technical University of Braunschweig, University of Hong Kong and North China Electric Power University, Institut National de Recherche Scientific et Technique Tunisia, Islamic University in Gaza, Tanta and Mansour Universities in Egypt, the Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow, University of Applied Arts in Vienna and the Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
Staff
