Research

New book maps out the design, performance, and application of the material of the future: Ultra-High Performance Concrete

Dr. Banthia discusses the unique properties and implications of UHPC, for sustainable infrastructure.

UBC Civil In The Media – 7.4 magnitude earthquake hits Taiwan

Several faculty members from UBC Civil Engineering spoke to the media to offer their expertise on earthquake response and resilient infrastructure.

Dr. Sara Beck – Transforming Access to Clean Water through Decentralized Treatment Solutions

The pressing question that prompts this research is how do you achieve the same efficacy of water treatment at smaller scales with limited resources

UBC Civil Faculty Among Recipients of Research Excellence Clusters Funded for 2024/25

Among the funded research clusters, two led by UBC Civil faculty are set to redefine disaster resilience and infrastructure development.

A Q&A with UBC Civil Research Assistant on the Aftermath of Mount Polley Spill

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and the program that you are in? My name is Brody Granger and I completed my M.A.Sc. in Civil Engineering in the discipline of Environmental Fluid Mechanics with Dr. Bernard Laval in 2020. Since then I’ve been working for Dr. Laval as a research assistant, […]

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.

Revolutionizing Affordable Housing: Dr. Tony Yang’s Research on Reinforcing Concrete Construction with Welded Wire Mesh

Rapid population growth in major cities worldwide has created immense challenges when seeking affordable housing. However, excess construction costs can be reduced by employing concrete elements such as slabs, panels, and beams that are reinforced with welded wire mesh (WWM). This material consists of electrically welded rods to form a uniformly continuous mesh which has […]

Preparing for the Big One: UBC Civil Engineering share lessons from Türkiye’s earthquakes

The key things for success in any disaster response plan are: for everyone involved to know what their responsibilities are

New provincial funding will advance research by the UBC Disaster Resilience Research Network

Four of the twelve funded projects are under the skilled guidance of faculty from UBC Civil Engineering

UBC Civil in the Media – What B.C. could learn from Turkiye earthquake 

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

UBC Environmental Engineering receives accreditation from Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board

This announcement originally appeared on UBC Environmental Engineering. UBC Environmental Engineering (ENVL) has achieved the maximum allowable accreditation period for a new program by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB). The first accreditation period will be for three years for the four-year program at the UBC Vancouver campus, with regular renewal procedures planned to maintain program accreditation […]

Dr. Trevor Carey Receives Funding to Bridge Critical Gap in Earthquake Preparedness in BC.

This research is crucial in BC where the next major earthquake is not a question of ‘if,’ but ‘when.”

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 […]

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 […]

Professor Michael Isaacson retires after 47 years from UBC Civil Engineering

Joining UBC in 1976, Professor Isaacson remained at the forefront of research, teaching, and professional engagements.

Dr. Jongho Lee and Dr. Ryan Ziels promoted to associate professor with tenure

This recognition is a testament to their dedication to teaching and exemplary service to the university.

Civil Engineering PhD candidate receives UBC Killam Doctoral Scholarship

Kishoare Tamanna, a PhD student in Civil Engineering and a UBC Killam Doctoral Scholar at the School of Engineering, is making waves in the field of sustainable infrastructure development. Working at the Applied Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Structures (ALAMS) under the guidance of Professor Shahria Alam and co-supervised by Professor Tony Yang at the […]

UBC Concrete Canoe wins 3rd place at ASCE Pacific Northwest competition

The UBC Concrete Canoe team’s journey in the summer of 2022 was filled with challenges, but their unwavering dedication and resilience propelled them to remarkable success. The team’s outstanding performance at the ASCE Pacific Northwest competition, securing 3rd place overall and achieving notable victories in the races, stands as a testament to their skill and […]

Professor Tony Yang Awarded The Canadian Academy of Engineering Fellowship

Dr. Yang’s election to the CAE is a testament to his remarkable contributions and career in the field of engineering

Assistant Professor Zhengbo Zou Received NERSC Grant to enhance human-robot interaction in construction

Alliance grants encourage university researchers to collaborate with partner organizations.

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 Seismic Took Home Communications Award from the EERI Seismic Design Competition

Although their tower collapsed, their exceptional performance still earned them the second highest overall score

Transforming Campus Safety: CIVL 446’s Team 10 Selected as The Winner of D&I Project Poster

On Design and Innovation Day in April, the project titled “Improving 16th Avenue for Walking, Biking and Rolling” by Team 10 from CIVL 446 was selected as the winner of the project poster category among several amazing projects by civil engineering students.   Team 10, consisting of Adi Henegar, Bahati Msakamali, Jasmine Ma, Jeremy Karkanis, […]

Civil Engineering Researcher Recognized for Exemplary 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 […]

Seismic Upgrades at MOA: How Base Isolation Technology can Preserve Cultural Heritage

The Great Hall of the Museum of Anthropology at UBC (MOA) is a cultural and architectural masterpiece that requires modern seismic safety measures to protect against future risk

Dr. Amy Kim and Dr. Tarek Sayed receives 2022 UBC Faculty Research Awards

Dr. Amy Kim and Dr. Tarek Sayed are among the 2022 recipients for UBC’s prestigious Killam Research Prize and Accelerator Fellowship.

Turning disasters into knowledge, Professor Trevor Carey travelled to Taiwan to advance earthquake resilience

Professor Trevor Carey was part of a team funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation that travelled to Hualien County in Southeastern Taiwan to study the impact of the September 2022 Taitung earthquakes.

Next-gen mass timber construction key to meeting Canada’s climate change, housing targets

Professor Yang and his team are setting new standards for disaster-resilient, mass timber buildings.

Professor Zhengbo Zou leverages robotics to enhance building efficiency

Dr. Zou imagines a future where robots and humans work hand-in-hand on construction sites to deliver projects and maintain buildings.

UBC Civil In The Media – Wastewater off flights from China to Vancouver will soon be tested for COVID-19

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 engineers want to save whales from drowning…in noise

Originally published in: UBC News Chronic ship noise can lead to stress, hearing loss and feeding problems for marine mammals like whales, dolphins and porpoises. UBC researchers are diving in to help address the issue. According to project lead Dr. Rajeev Jaiman, an associate professor in the department of mechanical engineering, propeller noise accounts for much […]

Professor Nemy Banthia receives $1.5 million from NSERC to develop carbon-neutral materials to rehabilitate Vancouver sewerage

The project will develop carbon-neutral geopolymer materials to coat pipes and manholes.

Mount Polley mine tailings present in Quesnel Lake water eight years after big spill

Although most metal-rich suspended sediment from the disaster has been flushed, some remains in circulation.

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 – Des données du monde entier permettent d’estimer les risques sismiques en C.-B. (French)

Originally published in: CBC Radio Canada Pendant que la Colombie-Britannique poursuit son programme d’atténuation sismique et continue à rénover ses écoles, des experts expliquent que ces décisions politiques ont été prises sur la base de données issues du monde entier, faute de tremblement de terre majeur survenu dans la province. Les prévisions séismologiques se fondent notamment sur […]

UBC Civil In The Media – Séismes: près de 300 écoles de la Colombie-Britannique toujours à risque (French)

Originally published in: CBC Radio Canada Le programme d’atténuation sismique de la Colombie-Britannique, destiné à mettre 496 écoles de la province aux normes sismiques, arrive à mi-chemin. En date de mai 2022, 202 écoles ont été rénovées ou reconstruites, 25 sont en construction, cinq sont à construire, 14 sont en cours d’analyse de rentabilisation et 250 sont classées parmi les « priorités […]

Interview: Dr. Rachel Scholes featured as Emerging Investigator by RSC for work on reactive nitrogen in drinking water

The series highlight research by newer voices with potential to influence future directions.

Professor Tony Yang receives $1 million NSERC Alliance Missions grant

Dr. Yang and his team of researchers received the grant to develop advanced structural and robotic technologies.

Global structural materials expert awarded top UBC research prize

Professor Nemy Banthia has been awarded the Jacob Biely Research Prize, UBC’s highest research accolade.