Classes moving online January 10-23, 2022
UBC has announced a two-week transition period when students will take most courses online.
UBC Civil In The Media – Predicting B.C. mudslides, bridge collapse
Originally published in: North Shore News 5G Internet technology is powering a new generation of smart technologies collectively known as the ‘Internet of Things.’ After the worst flooding in B.C.’s modern history, could the new tech also save our homes and bridges? The next generation of wireless internet technology has led to some big promises — more bandwidth and faster response times are expected to be crucial to technologies such as autonomous vehicles and remote medicine. Often overlooked in popular imagination is the so-called “Internet of Things,” technology that allows for the deployment of a vast array of low-powered digital sensors that […]
Two Civil community members receive Dean’s Service Award
Dr. Michael Isaacson and Scott Jackson honoured by the Faculty of Applied Science with the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Service.
UBC Civil prof. partners with Saanich on e-bike rebate program
Professor Alex Bigazzi has partnered with the District of Saanich to launch the first local rebate program in BC for residents purchasing new electrically assisted bicycles (e-bikes). By assisting residents who wish to switch to electric mobility, this rebate program aims to reduce local greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase awareness of the economic and health benefits of e-bikes. Estimated to save between 1,000-2,000 tonnes of GHG emissions, the pilot program aims to cut community emissions by half by 2030. Providing up to $1,600 in rebates, the program is designed to be equitable and accessible to everyone regardless of income level. Dr. Bigazzi […]
2021 Term 1 Student Advising Protocol
Inquiry Type How to Get in Touch Quick Questions1 to 5 minute question(registration issues, course conflicts, program or process info, resources, contact info, directions, etc.) Zoom Drop-in AdvisingTues/Wed @ 1:30-2pm Undergrad:Zoom link: https://bit.ly/3C5n5YAPasscode: 676321or Phone: 604-827-5821 (Kali) Grad:Zoom link: https://bit.ly/393v7ETPasscode: Amt2F8or Phone: 604-822-4429 (Kevin) No appointment is required. During advising hours, join via the QR codes or links above. Wait times will vary. More Complex AdvisingMultiple questions, 5+ minutes (degree/course planning, etc.) Email for answers or to book virtual advising appointment:Kali: undergradsupport@civil.ubc.ca Kevin: gradsupport@civil.ubc.ca
UBC Civil team places first at 2021 Seismic Design Competition
After working virtually on their design over the past year, UBC Civil Engineering student team UBC Seismic placed first in the 2021 Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) Undergraduate Seismic Design Competition. The competition, organized by the EERI Student Leadership Council (SLC), annually brings together students from over 50 universities across the globe. The goal is to create a balsa wood structure, which is tested on a shake table that produces up to magnitude 9.0 earthquakes. For the 2020-2021 school year, UBC Seismic was comprised of 26 undergraduate students, with 22 from Civil Engineering and the rest representing Land and Food Systems, […]
UBC Steel Bridge places first at Canadian Nationals
The UBC Steel Bridge design team, comprised of 50 UBC Civil Engineering undergraduate and Master’s students, recently won first place at the 2021 Canadian National Steel Bridge Competition. While the team had consistently placed in the top three in previous years, this was their first time winning the top prize. Supervised by faculty members Drs. Noboru Yonemitsu and Carlos Molina Hutt, the team competed against 11 other teams from Canada, Mexico, and China. Due to COVID-19, the competition was held virtually for the first time. Rather than following a traditional format, the competition shifted its focus towards showcasing design, analysis, and construction sequence in a report and video […]
Ryan Ziels develops increasingly accurate DNA sequencing method
Researchers can now eliminate almost all errors produced by a widely used portable DNA sequencer, thanks to a new method developed by UBC Civil Engineering Assistant Professor Dr. Ryan Ziels. This advancement will potentially enable scientists out in the field or in smaller labs to study microorganisms, such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus, much more accurately and efficiently. According to Dr. Ziels and his research partners at Aalborg University in Denmark, this new method adopts a unique barcoding system that was found to significantly reduce the error rate of Oxford Nanopore Technologies’ MinION device—from as high as 15% to less than 0.005%. […]
Initiative led by Dr. Bérubé receives $1.6 million in CFI funding
The Used-Water to Resources (U-WatR) initiative, led by Civil Engineering professor Pierre Bérubé, has been awarded $1.6 million through the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s 2020 Innovation Fund competition. The competition, which funds up to 40 per cent of a project’s eligible infrastructure costs, aims to “enhance and optimize the capacity of institutions and research communities to conduct the proposed research or technology development program(s),” the Government of Canada announced. The U-WatR initiative aims to transform existing used water treatment infrastructure into economically and environmentally sustainable assets. One of its main goals is to develop knowledge and technological innovations that will reduce […]
Dr. Jongho Lee receives NFRF grant to build weather-resilient cities
UBC Civil Engineering Assistant Professor Jongho Lee has received the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) grant to develop a tri-layer film that mimics natural trees’ water management function – a technology that will help build extreme weather-resilient cities. A naturally effective dewatering instrument, a tree transpires 97% of the water absorbed by its roots to the atmosphere. This technology aims to mimic this mechanism. “By attaching the film onto existing buildings, we aim to transform them into a giant forest of artificial trees for fast stormwater removal in excessive rainfall events and effective cooling in extreme hot weathers,” said Dr. […]
Dr. Sara Beck brings global collaboration to UBC Civil Engineering
The Department of Civil Engineering adds to our roster of world-class researchers and educators and welcomes Assistant Professor Sara Beck to the Environmental Engineering research group. Dr. Beck joins the Department after completing post-docs at the University of Colorado and Eawag, the Swiss Federal institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, opportunities that followed a Fulbright at the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand. Dr. Beck’s research broadly focuses on understanding and preventing pathogen transmission in water treatment. “The goal is to identify microbial contaminants of concern in drinking water and wastewater sources and to develop and evaluate cost effective and energy-efficient clean water […]
Dr. Tamara Etmannski receives Killam Teaching Prize
Assistant Professor of Teaching Dr. Tamara Etmannski has been recognized with the 2020/2021 Killam Teaching Prize. This award is nominated by students, colleagues, and alumni and recognizes exceptional contributions through teaching. In addition to serving as a faculty member in the Department of Civil Engineering, Dr. Etmannski holds several academic leadership roles in the Faculty of Applied Science. She is the Academic Director of the Master of Engineering Leadership (MEL) and Master of Health Leadership Policy (MHLP) programs, and Co-Director of the joint UBC/UNBC undergraduate degree in Environmental Engineering. As Assistant Professor of Teaching, Dr. Etmannski has developed many new courses around sustainability, […]
Initiative led by Dr. Pierre Bérubé receives $4 million in CFI funding
Update on June 24, 2021: Total amount for U-WatR CFI Innovation Fund has been awarded at $4M, which consists of funding from Canada Foundation for Innovation, BC Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF), and various sources. The Used-Water to Resources (U-WatR) initiative, led by Civil Engineering professor Pierre Bérubé, has been awarded $1.6 million through the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s 2020 Innovation Fund competition. The competition, which funds up to 40 per cent of a project’s eligible infrastructure costs, aims to “enhance and optimize the capacity of institutions and research communities to conduct the proposed research or technology development program(s),” the Government of Canada announced. The […]
UBC Civil Engineering welcomes Amy Kim and Zhengbo Zou
The Department of Civil Engineering is pleased to extend a warm welcome to two new faculty members: Dr. Amy Kim joins the Department as an Associate Professor in the Transportation Engineering specialization. Dr. Kim’s research centres on modeling various aspects of multimodal transportation systems, and how this can help support strategic planning efforts and policy decisions. Areas of research Dr. Kim is active in include northern transportation planning, strategic transportation planning for natural disasters, and long-distance travel. Her research, broadly called transportation systems analysis, is especially critical right now as climate change calls for adaptive and resilient transportation infrastructures. Dr. Kim will […]
Jongho Lee elected to Journal of Membrane Science editorial board
Assistant Professor Jongho Lee has been selected to join the Journal of Membrane Science Early Career Editorial Board (ECEB). Among hundreds of candidates from across the globe, Dr. Lee was chosen as one of three from North America and the only scholar from Canada. The Journal of Membrane Science is the preeminent journal in the field of membrane science and technology. Membranes are thin sheets that allow for separating desired chemicals or materials out of their mixture with other unwanted compounds. They have a pivotal role in water/wastewater treatment, chemical production, and medical applications. A prolific scholar in this field, Dr. Lee has an […]
PhD researcher receives Public Scholar Initiative fellowship
Preetish Kakoty (PhD, ’22) has been awarded the 2020-2021 UBC Public Scholar Initiative fellowship. He is one of two UBC Faculty of Applied Science students to receive the honour this year. The metro Vancouver region faces major seismic risk due to its close proximity to the Cascadia Subduction Zone. This risk is further elevated because of the Georgia sedimentary basin, which amplifies ground motion shaking. Together, these factors may potentially bring disproportionate impact to older, tall buildings in West End of Vancouver—many of which house vulnerable sections of the community. Preetish has been working closely with the city of Vancouver and other […]
UBC Civil Engineering professor brings innovative teaching
The Department of Civil Engineering is pleased to welcome Dr. Tamara Etmannski as Assistant Professor of Teaching within the environmental engineering specialization. As the Academic Director of the Master of Engineering Leadership (MEL) degree programs and Co-Director of the Joint UBC/UNBC Environmental Engineering undergraduate degree, Dr. Etmannski is a familiar name in the Faculty of Applied Science and has come to be known for her unique and innovative approach to teaching. Believing that the role of the instructor is not simply to be a giver of knowledge, but rather a facilitator for the student, Dr. Etmannski is an advocate for experimentation in the classroom. She encourages […]