Research
Duke Civil and Environmental Engineering research focuses on the broad themes of creating healthy, safe environments and engineering complex earth, water and built systems. Collaborating across disciplines and around the world, we apply engineering methods to solve global challenges posed by growing human needs and activities and uncertain environmental forces, with the goal of creating a healthier, safer and more sustainable world.
Duke CEE Research Areas
Computational Mechanics & Scientific Computing
Duke computational mechanics faculty develop efficient, precise algorithms to study and solve complex problems governed by the laws of mechanics.
Environmental Health Engineering
We study the connections between human and environmental health to understand risks and build resilience in both living populations and global ecosystems.
Geomechanics & Geophysics for Energy and the Environment
Our researchers work to address issues related to underground engineering, exploration, resource use and environmental hazards.
Hydrology & Fluid Dynamics
Our research efforts in this area focus on pressing problems in environmental fluid dynamics, hydrology and water resources.
Risk & Resilient Systems
Our researchers are finding new and better ways of estimating and quantifying the dynamics, uncertainty and risks prevalent in engineered and natural systems
Duke CEE Research Facts
- #17 in faculty scholarly productivity in civil engineering among U.S. engineering schools (Academic Analytics, v.2020)
- #27 in faculty scholarly productivity in environmental engineering and U.S. engineering schools (Academic Analytics, v.2020)
- $6.4 million in new research awards, fiscal 2020
- 62% of Duke engineering undergraduates engage in hands-on research with a faculty member
Major Centers & Initiatives
CEE faculty lead or participate in these Duke-based externally funded research centers and training initiatives:
