Construction Engineering

Description

Objectives

The main objective of the doctoral programme in Construction Engineering is to train students as specialists in the area of structural engineering and construction. The aim is to train professionals who can conceive, design, calculate and construct safe, durable, functional and aesthetic structures, using traditional and new materials, and to assess and maintain existing structures, including those that form part of historical heritage. In addition, the course is designed to provide solid training in efficient management of projects and works, with a focus on technological, construction, economic, environmental, sustainable development and life-cycle aspects. The overall educational goal of the research stage is to provide high-level scientific and technical training in the fields of structural and construction engineering. This training will enable students to generate new knowledge, propose new research paths and study unresolved problems regarding new materials, the resistant and functional behaviour of structures, new structural forms, new calculation and experimental methods, new construction systems and new ways of considering the relations between the natural and built environment. In addition, students are trained to communicate and transmit their knowledge and research by writing scientific documents such as journal articles and conference papers. In this way, students can demonstrate their capacity to understand the field of study in which they are involved and their ability to conceive, design and execute high-quality research, with the possibility of expanding the frontiers of knowledge and incorporating this knowledge into the production sector through research and development departments of construction companies and civil engineering consultancies.

Capacities

To achieve the objectives, the programme employs the right teachers in terms of quality, capacity and dedication. This is reflected in the students’ satisfaction, as they give a highly positive assessment of aspects relating to thesis supervision and monitoring. Student surveys also show that the main reason for selecting the doctoral programme is the prestige of the department and its teachers. A high proportion of doctoral theses prepared full-time. This can be achieved as many doctoral students have grants, awarded within the research projects with which they are associated or by their governments in the case of foreign students, most of whom are funded by grants in their countries of origin.

All thesis supervisors publish in JCR-listed journals with a high impact index, ranked in the first quartile (see http://futur.upc.edu/, http://futur.upc.edu/EC, http://futur.upc.edu/ATEM, http://gric.upc.edu/ca/publicacions )

The programme is divided into three research lines:

1. Structural technology
2. Construction materials
3. Research and innovation on industrial construction

The three research lines in the programme are associated with four consolidated research groups (GRC), recognised in the Government of Catalonia’s calls.

Since its creation, the doctoral programme has obtained the following quality awards:
- Quality award MCD2005-00345: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
- Excellence award MEE2011-0393: 2011, 2012, 2013

Rationale for the programme

The doctoral programme was created in academic year 1992-1993 as a result of the need to communicate, update and develop available knowledge relating to the various facets of construction engineering (materials, techniques, management and environment). This need is even more noticeable today, given the major scientific and technical advances made in this knowledge area. Progress been boosted by general technological development, the establishment of the knowledge society and the increasing importance of concepts associated with sustainable development.

In recent decades, major technological advances have been made that have contributed to expanding and improving the characteristics of materials; design and calculation methods; instrumentation and testing procedures; assessment, repair and reinforcement systems; and opportunities to recycle materials and structures. In addition, there are vital concerns about the environment and how to adapt existing technology to sustainable, quality construction.

All of this has led to a considerable increase in available knowledge on aspects of construction engineering (behaviour and resistance of structures in the short- and long-term, durability, etc.). In turn, it opens up possibilities for new concepts relating to the design, construction or maintenance of constructions based on approaches that are more scientific, and therefore more reliable, as well as more sustainable economically and environmentally. However, the new developments also generate many unknowns, due to the speed at which they have occurred and the lack of knowledge of many aspects that have not been studied in depth, particularly in the area of new materials, reuse and the life cycle of structures. The regulations are being rapidly adapted to the technological developments, and are therefore undergoing significant conceptual and practical changes.

All of these changes have revolutionised professional practice in the area of construction. Consequently, professionals need to update their knowledge and qualified training is required to achieve this. This programme is designed to create a research and training environment so that this aspect can be included in the third-cycle training of our students.

The doctoral programme fits perfectly within priority policies and strategic research lines in Catalonia, Spain and Europe. The lecturers who are responsible for the research lines covered by the doctoral programme carry out their research activity in European, Spanish and Catalan projects. The programme is fully justified by its coherence and participation in areas of experience and priority research activity of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (civil engineering). It is associated with two of the University’s nine strategic, cross-disciplinary technological areas: materials technology, and construction technologies and public works.

The rationale for the programme is related to the need for highly qualified people in research, development and innovation in the Catalan industrial sector. It is supported by the fact that it is the only programme of these characteristics and content taught in all Catalonia.

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