Infrastructure and Environment research themes

All research themes at the Institute for Infrastructure and Environment.

Loch Tay with a snowy Ben Lawers and blue sky in the background

Environmental engineering is focused on developing sustainable processes to improve the natural and built environment for all living beings.

Close up photograph of Intense fire and flames

The University of Edinburgh established research in the field of Fire Safety Engineering in the early 1970s and today has the largest group of postgraduate researchers and academics specialising on fire science and fire safety engineering research in Europe.

Granular silos and spiral staircase and bright lights

The Granular and Geomechanical Processes Group conducts fundamental research on the mechanics of dry and wet granular materials and their interaction with industrial infrastructure, with broad applications in silo design, bulk solids handling, paste rheology, fluidisation and natural hazard mitigation.

Modal analysis based on vibration measurement

Research within this theme focuses on developing non-destructive testing, infrastructure sensing and monitoring methodologies and on evaluating and adapting promising new sensor technologies for tomorrow's smart infrastructure designs.

Railway engineering near and far field stress wave propagation

The multi-award winning Edinburgh Railway Group is focused on undertaking world leading research and delivering solutions to the international railway industry.

Aberfeldy all-composite bridge

Structural Engineering is about employing scientific principles and methodologies tempered by engineering pragmatism and judgement to conceive, analyse, design, construct, maintain, rehabilitate and decommission civil infrastructure components and systems, ensuring the safety of users and occupants over their design life, especially during times of extreme demand (fire, blast, earthquake, impact, storms, etc).