UBC Civil Engineering welcomes Dr. Riwaj Dhakal as Assistant Professor in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Riwaj (Ribu) Dhakal has joined the Department of Civil Engineering as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Dhakal brings expertise in Geotechnical and Earthquake Engineering, with a research focus on soil liquefaction, seismic foundation behavior, and advanced site characterization. He received his Bachelor of Civil Engineering with first-class honours from the University of Canterbury (New Zealand) in 2018 and completed his PhD in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering in 2022 through a joint program with the University of Canterbury and the University of California, Berkeley. His doctoral research advanced methodologies for assessing liquefaction and its impacts on infrastructure, […]
In Memoriam: Dr. William Caselton
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. William Caselton, Associate Professor Emeritus in Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Caselton was a respected member of the Department, recognized for his expertise in hydrotechnical engineering. His research advanced the application of optimization techniques and statistics in water resources planning and operation, the statistical design of hydrologic data gathering networks, and the optimization of scheduling for repetitive construction activities. These contributions strengthened the way water systems are studied and managed, leaving a lasting impact on the discipline. Throughout his career, Dr. Caselton was deeply committed […]
UBC Civil Engineering welcomes Dr. Nimish Pujara as Associate Professor in Coastal Transport Research
His research connects wave dynamics to pollution, ecosystems, and resilience.
In Memoriam: Dr. Donald Leigh Anderson
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Donald Leigh Anderson. He passed peacefully on Friday, January 17th, surrounded by loved ones in Vancouver, British Columbia. Don was born on June 20, 1934, in the small community of Scandia, Alberta. Don received his BSc degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Alberta in 1956. He then worked as a design engineer and field engineer in Edmonton from 1956-1960. He received his MS in Civil Engineering in 1962 from the University of Illinois and his PhD in Engineering Mechanics from Stanford University in 1965. He worked as […]
Rain gardens could save salmon from toxic tire chemicals
Salmon holds immense ecological and cultural significance in B.C. However, the survival of these magnificent fish is under threat due to multiple stressors. Among the challenge salmon fac is a toxic chemical associated with car tires, which finds its way into our rivers and streams when rainwater washes it off roads. Fortunately, there’s a ray of hope – recent research shows that specially designed rain gardens could help protect salmon from this harmful compound. The chemical 6PPD-quinone is a byproduct that forms when car tires interact with the atmosphere. Coho salmon, rainbow trout, and other fish are particularly vulnerable to its […]
Civil Engineering Researcher Recognized for Editorial Leadership
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has bestowed upon Dr. Ehsan Noroozinejad, a distinguished Senior Researcher at UBC Smart Structures, the esteemed ASCE Associate Editor Award of the year. This recognition is an exceptional honor, given the competitive nature of the award, with nearly 1,000 Associate Editors hailing from eminent universities across more than 40 ASCE Journals. Dr. Noroozinejad was lauded for his continuous and exceptional service, which has significantly improved ASCE’s publication activities. He has been serving as the Associate Editor for the ASCE Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction since 2018 and ASCE Natural Hazards Review since […]
Professor Nemy Banthia Recipient of Medal of Distinction
Dr. Nemy Banthia has been recognized for his contributions to the advancement of the Faculty’s vision, mission and mandate.
UBC Civil In The Media – Sensor network can reduce flood damage
Originally published in: Journal of Commerce Nemy Banthia, a professor of civil engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC), and his doctoral student Mohammed Farooq have developed a sensor network that can detect the early stages of mudslides and bridge foundation failures that are caused by flooding. What happens when rushing water assaults a bridge is not an academic question, as British Columbians found out recently. Torrential rain in November 2021 and the resulting floods damaged many bridges and caused one, at Merritt in B.C.’s interior to collapse. “Flooding causes foundation loss due to persistent, large-volume and high-velocity flows of […]
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 […]
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 […]