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Building and Environmental Technology

The Department of Building and Environmental Technology pursues teaching and research in the construction of buildings, bridges, dams and waterways with regards to their function, safety, environmental effects and durability. Its activities cover a broad field, from the melting of snow and flooding of regions, via houses, bridges and conduits, down to the material scale and the formation of cracks in concrete, as well as from thousand-year-old transport of pollutants in ground water to the rapid development of fire in buildings.

The department is responsible for most of the teaching for the programmes in Civil Engineering, Fire Protection Engineering and Risk Management, and a considerable part of the programme in Environmental Engineering.

Website of the Department of Building and Environmental Technology

Overview of divisions:

Building Materials

Researchers in Building Materials study the properties of various materials and their behaviour in different applications. The strength, durability and environmental effects are determined and applied in assessments of the material’s lifetime, recycling and indoor air quality. The most studied material within this field is concrete,  but other materials such as timber and masonry are also studied.

Keywords: concrete engineering, brick, calorimetry, wood, timber, moisture, damp, fracture mechanics, fracture processes, repairs, indoor environment, damage assessment and repairs, drying of construction damp, material decomposition, transport processes, plaster

Website of the the Division of Building Materials

Building Physics

In Building Physics, studies are carried out on how heat, moisture and air are transported through buildings in general and its various components. The results of this research are used to develop structural elements such as foundations, outer walls, windows and roofs. The aim is to create energy-efficient, damp-proof houses with a comfortable indoor climate.

Keywords: heat and moisture transport, indoor climate, healthy houses, energy use

Website of the Division of Building Physics

Building Services

In the field of Building Services, engineering solutions are developed to ensure a comfortable climate in buildings (ventilation, heating, cooling and regulation). A holistic approach is applied, where comfort, energy efficiency, good air quality, and systems and materials are made durable throughout their whole lifetime.

Keywords: indoor environment, indoor climate, energy use, life-cycle analysis, comfort

Website of the Division of Building Services

Contruction Management

Construction Management is an applied, interdisciplinary subject that deals with the management of the construction process from idea to re-use. Construction process means design, construction and management in a holistic perspective. Central issues are how collaboration between the various actors in the construction process should be organized and how technical solutions should be implemented to have an efficient process that results in a product that meets the set requirements.

Keywords: calculation, planning, stakeholder management, quality assurance, construction work environment, property management, construction law

More about the Division of Construction Management in Lund University's research portal

Energy and Building Design

In the area of Energy and Building Design we are studying how buildings should be designed to be both energy efficient and comfortable. Special areas of study are thermal insulation and thermal inertia, the use of passive (radiation through windows) and active (sun panels and solar cells) solar energy, as well as sun blinds to reduce dazzle and excessive indoor temperatures.

Keywords: energy use, indoor environment, daylight, solar energy

Website of the Division of Energy and Building Design

Fire Safety Engineering

In Fire Safety Engineering research focuses on fire safety in buildings and the probability and consequences of various kinds of accidents. The development of fires, human behaviour in case of fire, methods and means of extinguishing fires, and vulnerability analysis of critical infrastructure systems are studied. 

Keywords: fire, fire engineering, fire development, extinguishing agents, risk analysis, environmental effects, rescue services, evacuation safety, risk management by local authorities and in society

Website of the Division of Fire Safety Engineering

Structural Engineering

Structural Engineering is concerned with the design of load-bearing systems in buildings, bridges and other constructions to ensure safety and endurance. Durability, safety and risk assessment are central issues in this research. Research is carried out in concrete, timber and brickwork structures, as well as computer assistance in planning and construction.

Keywords: reliability, large constructions, concrete, wood, timber, brickwork, masonry, CAD, durability and safety of constructions

Website of the Division of Structural Engineering

Water Resources Engineering

In Water Resources Engineering, research is pursued on how water resides and is transported in nature and urban systems. Studies are carried out on the movement of rainwater through land and foundations, how rain and melted snow reach rivers, flooding and the design of systems to reduce the consequences of flooding, as well as on water flows, the spread of pollutants, and erosion along coasts and the banks of rivers and lakes. The research is of international character, and takes place in collaboration with many researchers and projects around the world.

Keywords: erosion, runoff modelling, ecological systems, environmental impact and protection, fractal processes, geochemical variability, incineration techniques, mixer-induced circulation, paleolimnology, remote sensing, flood control, hydrodynamics, hydrology, climate, coastal protection, soil, sediment transport, snowmelt, water, waves

Website of the Division of Water Resources Engineering

Page Manager: yens.wahlgren@lth.lu.se | 2019-04-12