Join us in Welcoming our New Department Chair, Dr. Tong Qiu
After an extensive national search, Dr. Tong Qiu has accepted our offer to lead as our department chair, beginning July 1. An ASCE Fellow, Dr. Qiu is currently a professor of Civil Engineering at Penn State University where he has risen through the ranks since 2010.
Welcome, Dr. Qiu!
Spring 2024 Newsletter
From improving Utah's infrastructure to a spotlight on our Construction Engineering program, get up to date on what our faculty and students have been up to this past semester.
The Spring 2024 CvEEN Newsletter is Out Now
From improving Utah's infrastructure to a spotlight on our Construction Engineering program, get up to date on what our faculty and students have been up to this past semester.
Recent News
Transportation Research to Support $3M U.S. Department of Transportation Grant
On September 30, 2024, the DOT announced $2.97 million in funding for the establishment of the Mobility Equity Research Center at Florida A&M University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Drs. Nikola Markovich and Abbas Rashidi will use their combined expertise in machine vision (MV), artificial intelligence (AI), and optimization algorithms (OA) will be integral to support the initiative's mission of expanding accessibility and mobility for underserved populations, including people with disabilities, older adults, Tribal Nations, and rural and disadvantaged communities.
Celebrating 100 Years of our ASCE Student Chapter
For a century, the ASCE Student Chapter has been providing students with invaluable opportunities outside the classroom, preparing them for successful professional careers. On Thursday, September 16, 2024, the chapter celebrated its 100th anniversary by hosting a banquet with distinguished guests, including Feniosky Peña Mora, ASCE national president-elect, and Larry Magura, ASCE Region 8 director.
One of 12 U.S. Department of Transportation Grants Secured
Drs. Nikola Markovich and Abbas Rashidi secured one of 12 SBIR U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) $200K contracts. The USDOT initiative, Complete Streets AI Initiative, aims to leverage advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve transportation. Drs. Markovich and Rashidi will team up with local Utah engineering firm WCEC, Inc. to conduct the work.
Titled “Complete Street Data Collection and Assessment using Machine Vision,” the $200k initiative will focus on using computer vision and AI to extract infrastructure information.
Fighting Forever Chemicals: Dr. Ramesh Goel Leads $1.6M EPA Research on PFAS
As PFAS contamination through land applied biosolids and their plant uptake continues to escalate risks to both environmental and public health, Dr. Ramesh Goel‘s groundbreaking research will be tackling this critical issue head-on, supported by a nearly $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
This project — one of ten grants awarded nationwide to address the PFAS crisis in agricultural, rural, and tribal communities — underscores the University of Utah’s dedication to tackling critical challenges that affect the region.
Enhancing Construction Engineering Education with AI-Driven Mobile App
The intersection of technology and education is creating new possibilities for learning, and at the forefront of this transformation is a project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Dr. Abbas Rashidi is playing a key role in a $900,000 collaborative research initiative.
Dr. Rashidi and his collaborators will be developing an AI-driven mobile app designed to act as an on-demand educator. This application will allow students to use their smartphones to analyze and learn from construction projects they encounter in their daily lives or during site visits.
Mapping Landslide Susceptibility using Physics-Guided Machine Learning
Traditional methods for predicting landslides often fall short due to the complex nature of terrain and the uneven distribution of landslide data.
To tackle these challenges, researchers have utilized the Physics-Guided Machine Learning (PGML) framework. This innovative method, recently published in Acta Geotechnica by Dr. Tong Qiu, Professor and Department Chair of Civil & Environmental Engineering at the University of Utah, and Dr. Te Pei, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at the City University of New York, enhances the accuracy and reliability of machine learning (ML) models for landslide susceptibility mapping (LSM).
20th Annual Research Experience in Carbon Sequestration (RECS) Program
PhD student Omar Bakelli participated in the 20th annual (RECS) program, held from July 21-30, 2024. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), RECS 2024 provided an immersive experience for emerging leaders in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) and the broader energy transition.
For Bakelli, the RECS 2024 experience was transformative, deepening his understanding of CCUS technologies, expanding his network of like-minded young leaders, and empowering him to drive impactful change in the field.
Innovative Alzheimer’s Treatment Developed at the U Featured in Journal of Nuclear Medicine
Dr. Aidan Bender, a UNEP PhD graduate, spearheaded pioneering research on Alzheimer’s disease. His remarkable work is being published in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine, the premier journal in the field.
The research received funding from the University of Utah’s 1U4U initiative, which aims to bring together research and projects from health sciences and the U’s main campus to increase their societal impact. 1U4U’s support of this project underscores the value of Dr. Bender’s contributions.
Dr. Hong's Research, Recently Featured in @theU, is at the Forefront of New Nanobubble Technology
Dr. Hong and his team at the University of Utah are pioneering a novel, energy-efficient process for creating nanobubbles. This process, developed in the Meldrum Civil Engineering building, has numerous promising applications.
In collaboration with Dr. Lewis and Dr. Fleming of the University of Utah Health Sciences and fellow Environmental Engineering professor Dr. Jennifer Weidhaas, Dr. Hong has a patent pending for this new and innovative energy-efficient process.
Dr. Glenn Sjoden Joins the Elite Ranks of UtahAES
In late June, Nuclear Engineering Professor Dr. Glenn Sjoden was inducted into the Utah Academy of Engineering and Science (UtahAES). This prestigious honor recognizes Dr. Sjoden’s outstanding contributions to the field of nuclear engineering and its broader applications to engineering and science for the betterment of Utah.
Dr. Sjoden received this honor for his groundbreaking contributions in nuclear treaty monitoring, industrial processes, and academic research leadership.
Research at the U is Building Better Infrastructure in Utah
The Utah Asphalt Paving Association recently hosted the 2024 Utah Asphalt Conference. Recognized as the premier asphalt-related event in the state, the conference brought together the industry’s best minds, including Dr. Pedro Romero, who was honored with the prestigious Friend of the Industry Award. Receiving this award proves that the research produced from Dr. Romero’s group is not confined to theoretical realms; rather, it is actively applied by the industry to enhance transportation infrastructure, benefiting the well-being of Utah residents.
NSF Awards $500,000 Collaborative Grant for Innovative Research Led by Dr. Weidhaas
Chronic diseases, a major cause of preventable deaths in the U.S., are often linked to air pollution, which is known to exacerbate asthma, respiratory diseases, and other health issues. Dr. Weidhaas’s research is pioneering preventative solutions to mitigate these preventable deaths.
By analyzing air pollution metabolites found in urine, researchers can directly confirm human exposure to pollutants and the magnitude of health effects.
Over $10 Million from Department of Energy to Support Reducing CO2 Emissions in Uinta Basin
Dr. Ting Xiao and Dr. Brian McPherson are currently engaged in a comprehensive project focused on carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) hubs. Their work is part of the CarbonSAFE II: Storage Complex Feasibility initiative, which aims to determine the viability of commercial CO2 storage in Utah’s Uinta Basin.
Granted in large part by the Department of Energy, to project will support an extensive range of activities, including high-resolution societal analysis, geological characterization, technical assessments, economic evaluations, and environmental analyses.
~$600,000 Awarded to Launch Innovative Transportation Electrification Certificate Program
The program will address critical challenges in the transition to a clean and sustainable electric power sector, particularly focusing on the integration of electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy sources into the existing power grid. The move comes as the nation grapples with the need for sustainable solutions to combat climate change and, importantly to Utah, improve air quality.
Dr. Cathy Liu at the UofU (program director) and Dr. Regan Zane (program co-director) at USU will be leading the effort.
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