News Faculty Awards & Achievements

University of Pittsburgh to Offer Programs in Mining, Transportation Engineering

Beginning in spring 2007, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering will offer new programs in mining engineering and transportation engineering.

Undergraduate Certificate in Mining Engineering

An undergraduate certificate program will be offered in the area of mining engineering. Pitt developed this program to address the increasing demand for mining engineers in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

The Certificate in Mining Engineering will require a five-course sequence, including:

• Mining Systems – Underground Coal Mining
• Advanced Mining Systems
• Mine Ground Control and Ventilation
• Engineering Geology
• Rock Mechanics

Pitt has a strong history in mining engineering as many of our engineering alumni have achieved great success and leadership positions in the mining industry. The program is being developed in conjunction with our alumni at CONSOL Energy, Beckwith Machinery, Eickhoff, and Jenmar Corporation.

For additional information about this program, please contact Amir Koubaa (akoubaa@engr.pitt.edu).

Graduate Program in Transportation Engineering

The new graduate program in transportation engineering focuses on a comprehensive approach to transportation engineering with emphasis on three major areas:

• Planning
• Design
• Operations

Faculty aim to enhance not only the students’ analytical, quantitative, and communication skills, but also their product development and product management skills so that they are better prepared to face the challenges of the profession. The opportunity to apply these skills is provided through the capstone project management course that incorporates all phases of an engineering project (project conception, preliminary design, stakeholders’ involvement, environmental impact, financial aspects, etc.).

The program is structured so that it can be completed in two years, and all courses are offered at times that accommodate the schedules of both full-time and part-time students.

For additional information, please contact the CEE department at cee@engr.pitt.edu

Construction Management Program Prepares for 2007 and Beyond

From its roots in the early 1990s, the Construction Management (CM) Program has worked diligently to meet the needs of its students and the construction industry. The results of those efforts have seen 104 students earn construction management certificates and 54 students earn advanced degrees. In keeping with its mission to achieve scholarly excellence and educate technically proficient problem solvers, the University of Pittsburgh Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has undertaken a number of significant initiatives that will ensure the program’s future, including:

• Formation of an advisory board consisting of leaders from several construction and engineering firms in the area. We believe that our success is dependent on meeting the needs of industry, and the board will provide invaluable assistance in curriculum development to address the latest advances in this dynamic industry.
• Benchmarking of the CM Program at Pitt to similar programs offered by other leading engineering schools in the country in an effort to ensure relevancy and completeness of our curriculum. We are happy to report that the courses offered by the CM Program at Pitt compare favorably to the courses offered by other universities.
• Green construction is a growth area in every aspect of our industry. The department has taken a lead in this area and is working hard to incorporate elements of green construction in several courses that are currently available as well as developing new courses to meet industry needs.
• We believe that our graduates offer an excellent insight into the CM Program and how it prepared them for and assisted them in their careers. A survey is currently underway to compile insights from all past graduates.
• Our relationship with the local construction industry is the backbone of the program. The local Master Builders Association funded scholarships for two undergraduate students, while the Construction Financial Managers Association is currently developing its program for scholarship assistance. In addition, efforts are underway to establish a student chapter of the Associated General Contractors.

Disinfection 2007 Conference Held in Pittsburgh,
Organized by Pitt Faculty Member

The international conference Current Practice and Future Trends in Disinfection: Water, Wastewater, Stormwater, Water Reuse, and Biosolids, part of Disinfection 2007, was held in Pittsburgh February 4–7, 2007, and organized by Leonard W. Casson, associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh.

The conference was sponsored and organized by the Disinfection Committee of the Water Environment Federation, the Pennsylvania Water Environment Association (PWEA), the American Water Works Association, the International Water Association, the International Ozone Association, and the International Ultraviolet Association. The conference provided a forum for water industry professionals concerned with disinfection needs and technologies.