Interdepartmental Research Initiatives

Interdisciplinary research is common at MIT, and faculty members in the Department of Civil and Engineering often collaborate with colleagues in the School of Engineering, the School of Science, the School of Architecture and Planning, and the Sloan School of Management. Two of the largest of these collaborative efforts are directed by CEE professors.

Center for Environmental Sensing and Modeling

CENSAM is a collaborative research program initially headed by Professor Andrew Whittle and involving many faculty members from CEE and other departments and universities. Researchers primarily from MIT and universities in Singapore are developing pervasive environmental sensor networks to collect data from many sources on parameters such as air and water quality. They plan to use this data to provide accurate, real-time monitoring, modeling and control of the environment from the microscale of a building to the macroscale of, for example, East Asia. CENSAM was established under the auspices of the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) in January 2008.

Concrete Sustainability Hub

The Concrete Sustainability Hub (CSH), established with the goal of accelerating emerging breakthroughs in concrete science and engineering and transferring that science into practice, using sponsored research funding during the next five years. Researchers from MIT’s School of Engineering, School of Architecture and Planning and Sloan School of Management are expected to participate in the CSH’s research activities. MIT established the CSH collaboratively with Industry sponsors the Portland Cement Association (PCA) and Ready Mixed Concrete (RMC) Research & Education Foundation. Professor Franz-Josef Ulm of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is director of CSH. Professor John Ochsendorf of CEE and the Department of Architecture is co-director. Hamlin Jennings, adjunct professor in CEE, is executive director of CSH.

Earth System Initiative

ESI is a research and educational enterprise dedicated to studying the physical, chemical and biological processes of Earth. ESI research cuts across environmentally oriented disciplines such as geology, atmospheric science, oceanography, biology, chemistry and environmental engineering. Professor Dara Entekhabi is director of the initiative, which involves about 20 members of the CEE faculty and many other faculty from MIT.

Future of Urban Mobility

The Future of Urban Mobility is a collaboration between MIT and the National Research Foundation of Singapore to develop new models and tools for the planning, design and operation of future urban transportation. Headed by Professor Amedeo Odoni of CEE and the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the central theme of the effort is to bring together recent advances in information technology and transportation science to increase the efficiency of urban transportation systems, while at the same time ensuring a sustainable and livable environment – first in Singapore, and ultimately on a global scale. Other key CEE faculty participants are Professors Cynthia Barnhart, Moshe Ben-Akiva and Patrick Jaillet. The project is part of the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART).

Geospatial Data Center

GDC works to connect geospatial theory with practice and create geospatial software platforms to allow for excellence in research and education. GDC research projects include the application of geospatial data to optimize supply-chain management and to address cyber security issues, as well provide accurate and advanced data collection to evaluate climate, energy, water, sanitation and health concerns. Professor John Williams of CEE is director and CEE alumnus Abel Sanchez S.M. '98, Ph.D. '03 is executive director.

Transportation @ MIT

Transportation@MIT is a coordinated effort to address one of civilization’s most pressing challenges: the environmental impact of the world’s ever-increasing demand for transportation. Building on MIT’s rich tradition of engineering research and interdisciplinary collaboration, the initiative knits together the wide-ranging, robust research already under way at the Institute and creates new opportunities for education and innovation. Professor Cynthia Barnhart of CEE, who is also associate dean of engineering, heads this initiative.