Department of Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering Research

Faculty and students in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Ocean Engineering are meeting today’s needs and solving future challenges by generating new knowledge, innovating technologies, and applying them to improve the quality of life of individuals and communities at home and around the world.

Our research areas are based on a strong foundation of core competencies that mark our education and research programs and support our alumni’s success.

Research in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering focuses on sustainability, coastal resilience, and smart infrastructure.

Research Centers

The department is home to the world-renown Davidson Laboratory and Center for Environmental Systems.

The Davidson Laboratory integrates and supports programs in the fields of naval architecture, coastal and ocean engineering, physical oceanography, marine hydrodynamics and maritime systems. Facilities at the Davidson laboratory include a towing tank with the highest towing speed in the world and wave generation capabilities, and field and advanced computational facilities to support a fully automated, ensemble-based flood advisory system.

The Center for Environmental Systems is dedicated to basic and applied interdisciplinary research aimed at creating new knowledge, advanced technology, and innovative management practices and solutions for sustainable utilization of environmental resources.

Laboratories and Facilities

Federal Funding Agencies

  • National Science Foundation

  • Office of Naval Research

  • United States Department of Energy - Water Power Technologies Office

  • United States Department of Defense - Army - Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC)

  • United States Department of Transportation

  • United States Agency for International Development

  • Naval Air Systems Command

  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

  • United States Department of Defense - Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP)

  • United States Department of Housing and Urban Development

State Funding Agencies

  • Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

  • New Jersey Sea Grant

  • New Jersey Water Resources Research Institute

  • The Nature Conservancy

  • New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

  • New Jersey Department of Transportation

  • New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

Industry and Foundations

  • Spitzer Foundation

  • Hudson River Foundation

  • American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund (ACS-PRF)

  • Navatek 

  • National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

  • Gibbs & Cox

  • ATR Corporation

  • Pliant Energy Systems 

Research Areas

Structural Engineering

The structural engineering group focuses its research on multiscale modeling and reliability/uncertainty/risk assessment of complex/material systems.

Environmental Engineering

The environmental engineering research group focuses on studying the fate, transport and remediation of pollutants, energetic compounds deactivation, and green technology development for environmental protection.

Ocean, Coastal and Naval Engineering

This area includes the New York Harbor Observing and Prediction System (NYHOPS) that provides real-time data about the waters of NY/NJ.

Acoustics

Research centered on the study and application of the nonlinear interaction of acoustic and vibrational energy in various media and materials.

Research Video Library

Learn more about research in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering. Visit our YouTube channel playlist.