Water, transportation, buildings - the Department focuses on these cornerstones of a modern civil engineering degree, emphasizing both basic and applied research.

Water is a precious, limited resource that is essential for life on our planet and is also exceptionally important as both a source and a reservoir of renewable energy. Land, water and air transportation routes are the lifeblood of human civilization. The life and continued development of all civilization is fundamentally dependent on buildings, and buildings have to be planned and maintained. As a result, buildings must be able to withstand disasters, which means that paying attention to and incorporating environmental influences is critical.

In October 2002, geosciences became yet another cornerstone of the Department of Civil Engineering, Geo- and Environmental Sciences. What is it that makes the geosciences so important? Simple: Geoscience professionals seek ways of protecting the environment in the face of a human population that continues both to grow and to intensify its use of the planet's resources. Only by studying the earth as a whole do we show respect for the earth as our natural habitat, strike a balance between protecting and utilizing the earth’s resources, and provide future generations with a sustainable basis for their lives. Our job is to find solutions to problems affecting the environment and modern society. By working with other researchers, geoscientists protect people from natural disasters while securing and protecting natural resources.

Geoecology is an interdisciplinary field in which scientists address environmental problems by trying to understand how the environment works. The principal aim of this field is to identify and solve problems associated with human impact on the environment.