While ostensibly an issue of personal and public health, the pandemic's impact on all facets of life necessitates a broadly interdisciplinary approach to combating the disease, mitigating its economic impacts, and building a more resilient world against future threats. Learn about the research our department is conducting into COVID-19.
COVID-19 Research in Civil and Environmental Engineering
With a strategic focus on urban engineering, Northeastern’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is at the forefront of interdisciplinary research and education in the evolving fields of environmental health, civil infrastructure security, and sustainable resource engineering.
Research Thrusts
Snell Professor and Associate Dean for Research Akram Alshawabkeh was awarded $13.2M from the NIH for the multi-institutional and interdisciplinary research project for environmental influences of child health outcomes in Puerto Rico.
Environmental Health
Yujie Yan, PhD student, focuses research on developing autonomous unmanned aerial systems to conduct routine inspection and post-disaster assessment of infrastructure.
Civil Infrastructure Security
Professor Auroop Ganguly, director of the Sustainability and Data Sciences Laboratory, uses technologies such as artificial intelligence and deep machine learning to enhance climate science understanding and inform policy.
Sustainable Resource Engineering
Our students are engaged in critical engineering challenges, both locally and globally. From Engineers Without Borders to the American Society of Civil Engineers—there is something for everyone to have fun while expanding your knowledge.
CommunitySpotlight Stories
New Degrees for Growing World Needs
Several innovative degree programs at have been recently introduced in two critical areas of the future—the environment and public policy. Select from a BS in Environmental Engineering, a BS in Environmental Engineering and Landscape Architecture, a BS in Environmental Engineering and Health Sciences, an accelerated master's program in Environmental Engineering, an MS in Environmental Engineering, and an MS in Engineering and Public Policy.
Engineering in Action
World-Renowned Cooperative Education
Te’Erica Eason is pursuing a BS in Environmental Engineering. She is also on the varsity basketball team and an e-board member of the New England Water and Environmental Association. She says co-op is her guiding light and so far worked at WSP USA on hydropower. She hopes to open her own business in water distribution systems in undeveloped rural areas when she graduates.
World-Renowned Cooperative Education
Jude Arbogast, BS, Civil Engineering, has done two co-ops at Suffolk Construction—one in scheduling and staffing, and the other in the field where he found his love of construction management. He says co-op allowed him to put his knowledge to the test and find out what he really wanted to do.
Recent News
Matthew Schomacker Wins 2020 APTF Bombardier Scholarship
Matthew Schomacker, a class of 2021 BS/MS Civil Engineering student, received the 2020 Bombardier Transportation Scholarship from the American Public Transportation Foundation (APTF).
Civil and Environmental Engineering Solutions to the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and its Industrial Advisory Board held a series of panel discussions entitled “Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) solutions addressing the COVID-19 Pandemic”.
Peter Furth Receives 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award from Association of Pedestrians & Bicycle Professionals
Peter Furth, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, was awarded the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Association of Pedestrian & Bicycle Professionals (APBP).
Monitoring Outbreaks of COVID in the Sewage
CEE Assistant Professor Ameet Pinto is working with Somerville officials to track outbreaks of COVID-19 by testing the city’s sewage.