Research

The following research centers are affiliated with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Mines

Advanced Water Technology Center

The Advanced Water Technology Center (AQWATEC) aims to advance the research and development of novel water treatment processes and hybrid systems to enable sustainable and energy efficient utilization of impaired water sources to provide potable and non-potable water supplies. Our focus areas include:

  • engineered natural systems for elimination of chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) from the environment
  • traditional and novel membrane separation processes for water purification, reuse, and desalination including zero-liquid discharge
  • development of multiple-barrier hybrid processes to provide more efficient water treatment systems
  • advanced concepts in decentralized water treatment facilities
  • development of more efficient water treatment systems for the industrial and renewable energy sector

For more information, please contact Dr. Tzahi Cath.

Center for Environmental Risk Assessment

The Center for Environmental Risk Assessment (CERA) aims to promote and enhance environmental risk assessment research and educational activities at Mines. By bringing diverse interdisciplinary expertise to expand fundamental knowledge related to any aspect of environmental risk assessment, the Center facilitates the development of significantly improved, scientifically based approaches for estimating human and ecological risks associated with exposures to anthropogenic and natural environmental chemicals and processes.

For more information, please contact Dr. Chris Higgins.

Center for Experimental Study of Subsurface Environmental Processes

The Center for Experimental Study of Subsurface Environmental Processes (CESEP), established in 2003 at Colorado School of Mines, is a University, National Laboratory and Industry collaborative center focusing on research and technology development for the protection of water and environmental quality through experimental, numerical and theoretical investigation of complex subsurface systems and their interaction with surface and atmospheric systems. We utilize knowledge from diverse disciplines to provide a broad and thorough understanding of environmental and hydrologic processes, integrating both fundamental and applied sciences to help solve problems that are of importance to the society in general and to governmental and industrial sectors.

For more information, please contact Dr. Tissa Illangasekare

Re-Inventing the Nation’s Urban Water Infrastructure

Re-Inventing the Nation’s Urban Water Infrastructure (ReNUWIt) is an interdisciplinary, multi-institution research center whose goal is to change the ways in which we manage urban water. Our goal is safe, sustainable urban water infrastructures enabled by technological advances in natural and engineered systems, and informed by a deeper understanding of institutional frameworks.

For more information, please contact Dr. John McCray.

Center for Underground Construction and Tunneling

The Center for Underground Construction and Tunneling (UC&T) is a collaborative interdisciplinary group of research faculty and students from Civil and Environmental Engineering, Geology and Geological Engineering, and Mining Engineering with additional involvement from Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Geophysics, Computer Science and Economics. The Center is actively engaged in cutting edge research with both private entities and government organizations. This research includes both applied and theoretical topics with the aim of advancing the knowledge and state of the art practice in underground construction and tunneling. Some of the key research areas currently underway include soil conditioning, tunnel boring machine (TBM) look ahead techniques, cross passage design and construction, TBM construction process, analysis of tunnel-induced ground deformation, and data-driven modeling techniques for TBM performance and ground deformation prediction.

For more information, please contact Dr. Mike Mooney

The University Transportation Center for Underground Transportation Infrastructure

The University Transportation Center for Underground Transportation Infrastructure is a Tier 1 University Transportation Center funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation under the FAST (Fixing America’s Surface Transportation) Act. UTC-UTI is devoted to the advancement of Underground Transportation Infrastructure as cost-effective, safe and sustainable solution to increasing demand for conveying people, goods and services particularly in many urban areas in the US. UTC-UTI is a collaborative effort between Colorado School of Mines (CSM), California State University Los Angeles (CSULA) and Lehigh University, with CSM as the lead institution. The Center addresses the FAST Act Research Priority Area: “Improving the Durability and Extending the Life of Transportation Infrastructure.” The main research focus of the Center is the development and deployment of major improvements in the design, planning, construction, maintenance, operation, retrofit and expansion of underground transportation infrastructure to make them more durable and to extend their lifetime.

For more information, please contact Dr. Marte Gutierrez

ConocoPhillips Center for a Sustainable WE²ST:

ConocoPhillips Center for a Sustainable WE²ST: Water-Energy Education, Science and Technology (WE2ST) was created to promote the joint sustainability of on unconventional energy production and water resources through education of energy-water literate graduate and undergraduate students, and by conducting world-class research on both community acceptance of unconventional resource development, and water resources related to unconventional energy production.

For more information, please contact Dr. Terri Hogue.