News
Jul 31, 2026
Advanced Coastal and Ocean Prediction Using Artificial Intelligence
CEE/MES Professor Qin Jim Chen, in collaboration with Stanford University and Texas A&M University, is leading a $1.1M NSF grant titled “Transforming Understanding and Prediction of Nearshore Processes via AI-Powered Simultaneous Mapping of Bathymetry, Waves, and Currents” to revolutionize the prediction of coastal environments using artificial intelligence.
Jul 09, 2026
Structural Engineers Outline Complex Safety Steps Needed to Save Damaged Manhattan Skyscraper
CEE Interim Dean Jerome F. Hajjar and Professor Mehrdad Sasani are weighing in on the highly unusual buckling of a Midtown Manhattan skyscraper, explaining how complex building systems redistribute weight during localized structural failures. The faculty experts emphasize that extensive temporary shoring, load-redistribution analysis, and continuous sensor monitoring will be required by engineers to safely rehabilitate the structure.
Jul 01, 2026
What Severe South American Quakes Teach Us About West Coast Disaster Readiness
Following a devastating doublet earthquake in Venezuela, Northeastern structural and resilience experts are urging California to bolster its preparedness for a future major rupture along the San Andreas Fault. Interim Dean Jerome Hajjar and CSSH/CEE Associate Professor Serena Alexander highlight that true mitigation requires addressing vulnerabilities across both interconnected physical infrastructure networks and local neighborhood emergency support systems.
Jul 01, 2026
Why Extreme Summer Temperatures Are Pushing Engineering Limits
As extreme heat strains infrastructure worldwide, CEE Associate Teaching Professor Nancy Varney and Professor Auroop Ganguly emphasize that prolonged spikes in temperature threaten to overwhelm power grids and public transit networks by exceeding baseline engineering parameters.
Jun 22, 2026
Building Low Cost Digital Twins to Accelerate Robotics Innovation
Fatemeh Ghoreishi, an Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, jointly appointed with the Khoury College of Computer Sciences, was awarded $281,660 from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s Innovation Institute, supporting a $352,075 project with matching cost-share, for OpenBayes Twin-in-a-Box: A Public, Decision-Grade Digital Twin and Manufacturable Compliant Manipulation Module for Massachusetts Logistics and Manufacturing. The award, granted under the institute’s Robotic Digital Twin Initiative, was one of six delivered across Massachusetts.
Jun 22, 2026
Evaluating the Limits of Modern Traffic Metrics
CSSH/CEE Associate Professor Serena Alexander conducts research finding that while the new “vehicle miles traveled” (VMT) metric is an improved way to evaluate a development’s environmental impact, its success is limited by a lack of tool standardization, legal precedent, and community equity.
Jun 18, 2026
A Last Resort: Advantages and Disadvantages of Desalination in the U.S
CEE Distinguished Professor Auroop Ganguly and others discuss the current megadrought state of the U.S and the possibility of investing in desalination as a next step.
Jun 04, 2026
Northeastern Launches Physical AI Research Initiative, Unveils NU-WORLD Platform
Northeastern University launched the Physical AI Research (PAIR) Initiative on May 21–22, bringing together over 200 researchers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and government representatives to advance intelligent systems that learn from and act in the physical world. The two-day event featured keynote talks, the public debut of Northeastern’s open world-model platform NU-WORLD, and broad participation from organizations including NVIDIA, Amazon Robotics, Boston Dynamics, and Microsoft — signaling strong momentum around a field that spans robotics, healthcare, manufacturing, and beyond.