In The Media

UBC Civil Insights on Vancouver Seismic Risk Report

A new report from the City of Vancouver and Natural Resources Canada has outlined how a 7.2-magnitude earthquake could impact Vancouver, and it highlights six neighborhoods in high-risk areas. In the report, Vancouver’s West End, Yaletown, the Downtown Eastside, Kitsilano, Fairview, and Mount Pleasant have the highest risk of damage from a large earthquake. Seismic […]

UBC Civil in the Media – UBC researcher brings clean water home to Kenyan school

The Kisii project shows how powerful it can be to combine academic research with real-world applications to address pressing global challenges

UBC Civil Engineering finds e-bike incentives worth the investment

A version of this article originally appeared on UBC News. Electric bicycle rebates have exploded in popularity in North America as transportation planners try to get people out of their cars and into healthier, more climate-friendly alternatives. However, there is limited understanding of the full impacts of these incentives. Are new cycling habits sustainable? Who benefits […]

UBC Civil in the media – UBC team probing tire chemical linked to salmon death wins $1.8M in funding

It was one of 58 B.C. projects splitting $86 million in funding for salmon protection and habitat restoration.

UBC Civil in the Media – Learning from Turkiye earthquake 

UBC engineering experts were among a group of researchers that visited Turkey to study the aftermath of its earthquake

New algorithm maps safest routes for city drivers

Originally published in: UBC News Most navigation apps can show you the fastest possible route to your destination and some can even suggest an eco-friendly route calculated to produce the least amount of carbon emissions. But what if they could also map the safest route with the lowest possible risk of a crash? A new algorithm developed […]

Third Quadrant Design Won 3rd Place at Solar Decathlon 2023

Originally published in Mechanical Business. Teams from the University of British Columbia and the University of Waterloo are among the winners of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Solar Decathlon 2023 Build Challenge. This was the 21st edition of the annual Solar Decathlon, a student competition that challenges the next generation of building professionals to design […]

UBC Civil In The Media – Turkey-Syria Earthquake

Earthquake and structural engineering faculty from our Department appear on various media to offer their analysis and expertise.

UBC Civil In The Media – Flight wastewater to be tested for COVID

Originally published in: Victoria News Pilot project coming into effect alongside new federal mandate for COVID tests. The Vancouver International Airport will soon be testing wastewater off flights arriving from China and Hong Kong, as part of the federal government’s efforts to track how many cases of COVID-19 may or may not be entering Canada from […]

UBC Civil In The Media – Are there toxic chemicals in B.C.’s water?

Professor Rachel Scholes has applied to do research on how much of the toxic substances lurk in B.C.’s drinking water.

Turning skyscrapers into trees

Assistant Professor Jongho Lee takes a leaf from nature’s book with new technology that turns buildings into giant trees.

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 […]

UBC Civil In The Media – Artist paints Chinatown’s historic buildings

Donna Seto was featured on CBC for her paintings of Vancouver Chinatown’s historic buildings.

UBC Civil In The Media – Sewage samples show drop in Omicron infections

Assistant Professor Ryan Ziels talks about his research on detecting COVID in wastewater.

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 — […]

UBC Civil In The Media – B.C. Flooding and Landslides

UBC Civil faculty spoke to media to offer their analysis and expertise on the challenges ahead with infrastructure rebuilding.

BC Natural Disaster Technical Briefing – Webcast Recording

Watch a recording of the webcast featuring our faculty members sharing their observations on the impact of the recent BC natural disasters.

UBC Civil In The Media – Better forecasting could prevent disasters

Faculty members from the Department share their preliminary observations on the November BC floods.

Discussing water treatment system

Tuesday, April 25, 2017 | By Lindsay Cashin Radio Canada interviewed Pierre Bérubé, a UBC civil engineering professor and project lead on an invention that uses bacteria and gravity to turn non-potable water into drinking water. Prof. Bérubé said membranes in the system latch on to particles like dirt, bacteria and viruses.

How clean water in remote communities could be cheap and easy

Wednesday, April 5, 2017 | By Lindsay Cashin CTV reported on UBC Civil Engineering researchers who have created a system that uses bacteria and gravity to turn grey water into drinking water. Professor Pierre Bérubé, who led the project, said the technology removes the need for chemicals and complex mechanical systems that make water treatment systems […]

Profs. Bérubé, Banthia’s work featured in “Troubled Waters” series

Friday, March 24, 2017 | By Lindsay Cashin The work being done by Professors Pierre Bérubé, Nemy Banthia, and other researchers with IC-IMPACTS is highlighted in “Troubled Waters,” a new five-part series in The Province. The series follows researchers to sites in India and Northern BC, where issues of drinking water contamination are gravely impacting local communities. […]

Prof. Don Mavinic on modern wastewater treatment challenges

Tuesday, May 10, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor Don Mavinic is quoted in a recent opinion piece for the Times Colonist, by Jonathan Wilkinson, MP for North Vancouver and parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Mr. Wilkinson discusses the implementation of effective sewage treatment in the Capital Regional District in […]

Prof. Loretta Li analyzes ancient medicinal clay

Wednesday, February 3, 2016 | By Lindsay Cashin Professor Loretta Li is mentioned in a recent UBC Media release about research being conducted on Kisameet clay, long used by the Heiltsuk First Nation for its healing potential. First Nation’s clay kills antibiotic-resistant bacteria in lab tests – CBC News When Tradition Meets Business and Science: The Complex […]

Prof. Bernard Laval speaks on controversial LNG terminal

Wednesday, December 2, 2015 | By Lindsay Cashin UBC engineering professor Bernard Laval was quoted in a VICE News article that examined the controversy around a proposed LNG terminal for Lelu island.

Dr. Bernard Laval provides commentary on future of Quesnel Lake

Wednesday, May 6, 2015 | By Lindsay Cashin Civil professor Bernard Laval provided local media with commentary on the condition of Quesnel Lake following the Mount Polley Mine disaster. Articles appeared in CTV News, the Vancouver Sun, and the Vancouver Observer.