Civil Systems

Scientists have long known that ultraviolet light can kill pathogens on surfaces and in air and water. UV robots are used to disinfect empty hospital rooms, buses and trains; UV bulbs in HVAC systems eliminate pathogens in building air; and UV lamps kill bugs in drinking water. Perhaps you have...

Rising temperatures due to climate change are causing more than just uncomfortably hot days across the United States. These high temperatures are placing serious stress on critical infrastructure such as water supplies, airports, roads and bridges. One category of critical infrastructure being severely affected is the nation’s K-12 schools. Ideally,...

Associate Professor Wangda Zuo has been elected a fellow of the International Building Performance Simulation Association. IBPSA is a non-profit international society of building performance simulation researchers, developers and practitioners dedicated to improving the built environment. Zuo is a leading researcher in building system modeling and indoor environmental modeling. He...

Researchers at CU Boulder are working with colleagues in Ireland to help policymakers and other stakeholders reduce residential energy consumption and the related greenhouse gas emissions that come from it. The project ultimetly aims to provide leaders with the data-driven tools needed to make decisions about retrofitting residential energy solutions...

A new paper published by University of Colorado researchers found that female engineers are more likely to ask questions to gain more information, and they’re likely to ask those questions of other women. While not surprising, the findings reflect a disadvantage for women when it comes to professional growth in...

Gregor Henze is expanding renewable energy research Down Under. A University of Colorado Boulder professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, Henze is a 2021 honoree of the Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Science, Technology and Innovation. Through the initiative, Henze will spend a semester in Newcastle, Australia...

“If you have a water need, there’s a creative answer that we can find.” Professor Sherri Cook is researching solutions for better wastewater treatment and reuse. An assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, Cook is focused on water and...

Every day – multiple times a day – power grid operators make a complex calculation to solve a supply and demand problem. They must quickly decide how much energy their systems need to produce to accommodate the demand from their users at that moment. On average, these calculations take about...

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder are exploring how widespread use of electric vehicles in the future may impact vulnerable communities. The work is funded by a new seed grant from the Resilient Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity Interdisciplinary Research Theme and is led by Assistant Professor Kyri Baker...

On Feb. 13, a severe winter storm swept across Texas and nearby southern states, bringing sub-zero temperatures and snowfall as far south as the border with Mexico. The polar air that descended on Texas lasted many days, leading to a statewide crisis as energy grids failed to supply enough power, fuels froze and water pipes burst.