UBC Civil Engineering

Choose an education and career path aligned with your passion to make the world better a place. When you study Environmental Engineering at UBC, you’ll gain the skills and hands-on experience to be a catalyst for positive change.

Find out more at https://environmental.engineering.ubc.ca/

Fall is falling at UBC! 🍂🍁 Campus always looks beautiful, but there’s something so special about the trees changing colors and the clear skies after rain ☔️

What’s your favorite season to experience at UBC?

Today is Day! During the earthquake drill, make sure to practice how to drop, cover and hold on. Here in BC, we are at a greater risk for earthquakes in comparison to the rest of Canada. In fact, we actually experience thousands of minor earthquakes per year! We encourage you to review and update your emergency preparedness plans and supplies, and secure your spaces to prevent potential damage and injuries.

At , we are leading the field with groundbreaking research that provides new insights on effective earthquake preparedness and resilience. Make sure to click the link in our bio for the full rundown!

Several iconic pyramids in the ancient Mayan city of Tikal, Guatemala, are facing the threat of structural decay. A team from has been collaborating with San Carlos University, the National University of Guatemala and the Guatemalan Ministry of Culture and Sports to preserve these temples holding immense historical and cultural significance.

UBC Civi Engineering has developed advanced methods of vibration-based Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) methods for assessing large structures. The team utilized nine wireless portable seismometers to record the micro-vibrations of the temples, providing valuable data on its structural stability and how it might respond during an earthquake.

Read the full story at the link in our bio!

A new UBC study used a computer vision system developed at the university and AI simulation models to analyze video traffic data from two busy intersections in downtown Vancouver. The findings can better inform pedestrian safety models and interventions to traffic risks, says lead researcher Dr. Tarek Sayed of .

“We can accommodate the risk of distracting walking and design safer infrastructure by adjusting crosswalk signal cycles or introducing audio signals to let pedestrians know when it is time to cross. City planners could also display warnings specifically for pedestrians distracted by their phones,” adds co-author Tala Alsharif, a UBC Civil graduate student.

Read more about their research at the link in our bio!

New genetics research by UBC has demonstrated how activated sludge processes can be much more effective and less costly. Wastewater effluent is currently the largest source of pollution to surface waters in Canada. Regulations have called for upgrades to secondary treatment in about 25% of Canada’s wastewater treatment plants. “These upgrades will likely be heavily focused on the installation of activated sludge processes, among the most widely used treatments available today,” says Dr. Ryan Ziels of of , who is co-leading the research study.

Read more at the link in our bio!

is happening this Thursday, October 17th. It’s an annual earthquake drill that occurs all over the province, and an opportunity for everyone to practice how to Drop, Cover and Hold on in the event of an earthquake. Southwestern BC is one of the most seismically active regions in Canada, so this is especially useful for us here in Vancouver!

We’re giving away 10 emergency kits consisting of energy bars, reflective blankets, water pouches and more. To win, simply follow and tag a friend in the comments, telling us one way you can prepare for an earthquake. All winners will be announced on the 21st of October on our story.

Good luck! 🤞🏻

Meet Rebecca Howes, a ‘19 graduate! Currently a Ports and Marine Engineer at WSP, Rebecca has worked on both small and large scale projects, including replacing two 70-year-old jetties at Esquimalt. She credits the classes she took in first year for demonstrating the steps in the design process that she still utilizes today.

Rebecca urges other Civil Engineering students to take advantage of the opportunities at school. In fact, she met the person who would eventually hire her upon graduation at a UBC industry event!

Read more about Rebecca’s story at the link in our bio.

Danilo (Giniw) Caron is the recipient of the Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology Momentum Fellowship. Currently in his 2nd year of the PhD program at , Caron aims to transcend the traditional borders of Civil Engineering; focusing on working with ecosystems holistically and developing infrastructure. His research includes exploring the impact of Indigenous law and governance on construction.

Read more about how Caron is working towards inclusion and representation at the link in our bio.

Congratulations to Dr. Tony Yang on receiving $812,000 in industrial funding! Dr. Yang hopes to work towards enhancing the efficiency and safety of construction projects through accelerating building processes, improving on-site monitoring and reducing human errors. He envisions fully autonomous construction sites operated by AI, robotics and 5G technology in the near future.

Read more about Dr. Yang’s research at the link in our bio!

$53,000 in annual renewable funding has been allocated to the Collaborative PhD Program, which will focus on supporting research on stormwater management and heatwave mitigation, while also fostering cross-disciplinary knowledge and collaboration amongst students from a wide range of fields.

Dr. Jongho Lee of has teamed up with Dr. Simcha Srebnik from and Dr. Feng Jiang from to spearhead the program. Their combined expertise will allow students to think across disciplines to develop holistic solutions and position UBC as a leader in climate-focus research.

Get all the details at the link in our bio!

Sameer Hasham first joined RJC Engineers while on co-op during his undergraduate degree at . After graduation, he rejoined the company, this time as a design engineer. Recently named as one of the CCE’s Top 10 consulting engineers under 40, Sameer now leads a team of engineers and technologists on Vancouver Island.

Read more about his journey in the link in our bio!

Welcome back to school! As we move into the colder months, we’re giving away 5 hoodies to a few lucky students! Winning is easy — just be sure to follow and tag 3 friends in the comments. For 3 extra entries, share this post on your story!

Hoodies come in your choice of black, grey, red or white. Winners will be contacted via this account on the 30th of September. Good luck! 🍀

The UBC Sustainability Fellowships are awarded to full-time faculty who are spearheading the development of innovative sustainability courses and programs. We are proud to announce that Dr. Tamara Etmannski of is one of the 2024/25 recipients! She is no stranger to the grant, having previously been a Sustainability Fellow in the 2022/23 academic year. We are excited to witness her assist in propelling sustainability education here at UBC.

Read the full story at the link in our bio!

We’d like to congratulate Dr. Sheryl Staub-French on her new role as Head, pro tem, of the Department of ! Dr. Staub-French will be stepping in for Dr. Bernard Laval, who is currently on administrative leave. She is also the Faculty of Applied Science’s Associate Dean of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

Congratulations to the newest faculty member to be promoted to Professor — Dr. Amy Kim! Dr. Kim is a leading researcher in the field of transportation engineering and was one of only 6 recipients of the UBC Killam Accelator Research Fellowship. is very lucky to have her!

Learn more about Dr. Kim and her work at the link in our bio!

We would like to congratulate Dr. Amy Kim, Dr. Carlos Molina Hutt, Dr. Omar Swei and Dr. Jasmin Jelovica on being promoted to Associate Professors! The Department is extremely grateful for their exceptional contributions to the research and teaching being conducted here at .

Learn more about this milestone and their achievements at the link in our bio!

Meet Steven Song, the Civil Class of 2024’s Student Speaker! When reflecting on what made his time at UBC so memorable, Steven attributes it all to the seemingly trivial moments, such as his first co-op interview, the daily practices, and working on group assignments late into the night. Though he didn’t know it at the time, these experiences ended up paving the way for further opportunities.

Congratulations to Steven and the rest of the 2024 graduates! Read more about Steven’s journey at the link in our bio.

A few shots from the Commencement Reception 2 weeks ago! Congratulations once again to the Class of 2024 — we are so proud of everything you have accomplished during your time at UBC, and are incredibly excited to see where the future will take you.

Please join us in welcoming a new world-class researcher and educator to our department! Dr. Enda Murphy brings to UBC Civil Engineering 17 years of applied research and consultancy experience. He is currently finishing his PhD at the University of Ottawa, and is passionate about working towards a better understanding and management of coastal hazard risk.

Read more at the link in our bio!

Meet Kelly Kim, a passionate Civil Engineering Student. While balancing academics with leadership roles in Concrete Toboggan Design and Civil Club presidency just to name a few, her dedication to being involved in her community truly inspires us all. ⭐️

In her own words, she provides advice to students who want to leave a mark in their community during their undergraduate journey.

“Step out of your comfort zone, embrace opportunities, and make a lasting impact.” 🏆

Read more about Kelly and her club and work experiences via the link in our bio.

Twelve different projects across UBC, including five at the department of Civil Engineering, are part of a $450,000 funding boost from the Province to help advance approaches in disaster and climate risk assessment and management in B.C.

New provincial funding will advance research by the UBC Disaster Resilience Research Network Four of the twelve funded projects are under the guidance of UBC Civils' faculty, exemplifying the department's pivotal role in this endeavor

Don't miss out on the UBC Engineering Virtual Open House event starting this Thursday!

📅 Oct 12, 6-8 pm
📅 Oct 13, 4-6:30 pm
📅 Oct 14, 9-11 am

Register now for your chance to learn about admission process, student experience, and professional development support: bit.ly/3Yfi4J8

We can't wait to see you there! 🎉✨

The 2023 Climate Action Award given to REACT Lab, led by Associate Professor Alex Bigazzi, and their partners is a testament to the transformative power of research-driven collaboration, paving the way for a greener future!

UBC REACT Lab Wins 2023 Climate Action Award This award highlights the effectiveness of the program in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting equity

Calling all industry and government officials, students and researchers, and community members!

Join on October 13th for a vital technical briefing where we'll share invaluable insights from our recent expedition to Turkiye, offering a deeper understanding of earthquake dynamics and guiding informed decisions.

Register here: bit.ly/3LEIdvQ
UBC Civil Engineering