Research profile – sustainability

In order to achieve a sustainable society it is important to conduct research into the actual construction and operation of buildings and the infrastructure. Construction and maintenance of buildings and the infrastructure account for as much as 40% of energy and material requirements in society.

Research at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering analyses and solves problems that are linked to the interaction in society between technical solutions, man and nature.

We profile the research by focusing on the sustainable construction of buildings, facilities and the infrastructure. Research issues deal with health and safety, research and energy efficiency, technical reliability and management in the construction process.

In research, the methods employed are mainly experimental studies, field studies, case studies and the development of theoretical models. We test prediction models by comparing with actual experiments.

Research areas – the construction sector

The Department has research groups connected to a whole range of different subjects. The groups are linked through their strong construction sector profile. This makes us unique in the fact that we focus on a particular sector with which we co-operate very closely. Often we also work across subject boundaries.

The divisions at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering carry on research in the following areas:

• Room Acoustics, Vibroacoustics
• Construction Management
  
• Building Physics, Building Materials
• Geotechnical Engineering, Engineering Geology
  
• Concrete Structures, Steel and Timber Structures
• Water Environment Technology