Research
The Department has three primary research thrusts:1. Sensors and Infrastructure Monitoring, Condition Assessment and Diagnostics [+/-]
- System identification
- Modeling including the interaction of systems and sensors
- Sensor technologies for infrastructure applications
- Real time bridge health monitoring
- Bio-inspired sensor technology
- Nano-sensors for civil and environmental applications
- Onboard traffic embedded roaming sensors for roadway and concrete deck
- Wave-based sensing
- Data fusion
- Inverse solutions
- Experimental verification
- Evaluation of collapse resistance of full-scale structures
- Dionisio Bernal: System ID, structural health monitoring, damage detection, structural dynamics
- Mehrdad Sasani: Experimental and analytical evaluation of progressive collapse of structures
- Sara Wadia-Fascetti: Bridge condition assessment and diagnostics, wave-based sensing, modelbased characterization
- Ming Wang: Structural dynamics and acoustics, sensor technology for infrastructures, real-time bridge health monitoring, experimental mechanics
- Sensor technology laboratories
- Reaction loadframe
- Fully characterized reinforced concrete slab
Undetected precursors to deterioration and damage, and subsequent postponed maintenance have resulted in maintenance deficiencies of US roadways and bridges. An estimated 42% increase in capital outlay is needed from current maintenance levels for the much needed improvements (from $92 to $126 billion). Methods, strategies, and systems are needed that can use the state-of-the-art sensing technologies to monitor infrastructure, allowing immediate assessment of functionality and provide data for diagnostics. Diagnosis characterizes changes,which in turn can be a basis for decision-making. This is a complex problem because changes are always present, and these need to be separated into those that are significant and related to possible damage, and those within statistical variation. Research integrates multiple disciplines and involves mathematical modeling, sensing technologies and sensor architecture, signal processing, and inverse solutions.
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2. The Urban Water Environment and Public Health Modeling, Treatment and Remediation [+/-]
- Water quality management
- Contaminant degradation
- Watershed monitoring, modeling and restoration
- Sediment remediation
- Water/wastewater treatment
- Electrokinetic/bioremediation
- Individual/agent modeling
- Akram Alshawabkeh: Electrokinetic remediation, BOD/DO and tracer transport, bioremediation and public health effects
- April Gu: Biological water/wastewater treatment, microbial ecology, biodegradation of emerging contaminants and bioremediation
- Ferdi Hellweger: Water quality, eutrophication/biogeochemical modeling, urban hydrology, agent-based modeling
- Thomas Sheahan: Contaminated sediment remediation and public health effects
- Irvine Wei: Water treatment, advanced oxidation processes, environmental chemical processes
- Vladimir Novotny: Diffuse pollution, water quality management, restoration, socio-economic issues of water quality abatement
A healthy water environment is critical for human and ecological life. However, water systems are often stressed by humans, and in the urban environment the interaction between water and human systems is intense and associated problems acute and severe. The water environment is impacted by historical legacy (i.e. Superfund), contemporary (present wastewater discharges)and future (terrorist attacks, global warming) activities and events. Critical problems include adequate source, treatment and delivery of potable drinking water; treatment, disposal and reuse of wastewater; the sustainable management and restoration of natural surface and groundwater resources, and the sediment]based ecosystem. Contaminants of emerging concern (e.g., endocrine disrupting compounds, nanoparticles, and PPCPs) and novel technologies (e.g. molecular tools, nanotechnology, cyber-infrastructure) cut across these problem areas.
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3. Natural and Manmade Hazards Characterization, Design and Mitigation [+/-]
- Progressive collapse of structures
- Seismic design and mitigation efforts
- Blast effects on structures
- Wind engineering of structures
- Offshore landslide characterization
- Storm surge impacts on drainage systems
- Structural damage assessment
- Akram Alshawabkeh: Liquefaction mitigation using electrochemical methods
- Dennis Bernal: Structural damage assessment using analytical methods
- Luca Caracoglia: Wind engineering of structures
- Ferdi Hellweger: Storm surge impacts on drainage systems
- Mehrdad Sasani: Performance of structures under manmade and seismic hazards
- Thomas Sheahan: Offshore landslide characterization and triggering
- Mishac Yegian: Liquefaction characterization and mitigation, earthquake engineering
- Computer automate seismic shaker table
- Seismic monitoring station (USGS site)
- Large-scale structural testing lab
- Wind engineering testbed
- Geotechnical strength testing lab
The built environment is threatened by natural hazards that include earthquakes, wind, and flooding conditions. There are also manmade threats to infrastructure, from terrorism to ambient vibrations. The primary focus of civil engineering hazard research is characterizing magnitude and return period, designing for probabilistic worst-case conditions, and developing mitigation measures, including improved design.
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Affiliated Centers & Programs at Northeastern:
Biotechnologies for the Environment Showcase and Training (BEST)Center for Urban Environmental Students
Communications and Digital Signal Processing Center (CDSP)
Deer Island Pilot Treatment Plant Laboratory
Gordon Center for Subsurface Imaging and Sensing (Gordon CenSSIS)
The Intelligent Diagnostics IGERT Program
OUR Charles - Opportunities for Undergraduate Research on the Charles River