Research Focus Areas

Civil Engineering is all about creating, improving and protecting the environment in which we live. At the University of Rhode Island we carry out cutting edge research which will advance civilization and build our quality of life. Our work focuses in four synergestic areas.

Environment and Clean Water

Dr. Vinka Craver is developing low cost ceramic filters with embedded silver nanoparticles which can effectively remove 99% of bacteria. “More than one billion people in the world don’t have access to safe drinking water, and about two million people die each year from diarrhea and other diseases related to unhealthy water,” Craver said. “Ninety percent of those deaths are children under age five. If we can get people in developing nations to use this filter in their homes, it will save a lot of lives.” Dr. Thomas Boving is carrying out an internationally funded research ptogram to evaluate riverbank filtration as a means for cleaning and protecting groundwater resources.

Resilient Infrastructure for Coastal Communities

Rhode Island is also referred to as the "Ocean State." It is then fitting that there is a focus on research in coastal communities. Dr. Christopher Baxter has been evaluating tsunami risk in the upper east coast of the United States. He is also evaluating underwater sediments for siting of offshore wind turbines. Dr. Thomas is establishing evacuation routes in case of hurricanes. Dr. Boving recently came back from a meeting in India working to establish a Joint Center for Water Quality and Aquifer Remediation in Coastal Areas.

Sustainable Infrastructure Renewal

According to Dr. Mayrai Gindy, one of the most important challenges facing structural engineers today is the development and implementation of effective techniques for detecting, diagnosing, and treating structural damage. Dr. Gindy is developing advanced technologies to determine the condition of our aging bridges. Her Structural Monitoring and Remote Testing Laboratory (SMART Lab) is equipped with the latest sensor technology and provides our students with a unique opportunity to prepare for their future careers.

Transportation

Transportation is intimately linked with economic development. Dr. Natacha Thomas is creating a model to address the challenges of evacuating people quickly and safely from public buildings or areas of natural and man-made disasters. Her model includes for the first time, human behavior in the evacuation process. Dr. Christopher Hunter with his work on intelligent transportation systems is solving some pressing traffic problems in the urban environment. He has carried out extensive research in determining the effect of red light crossing.