Strategic Directions

Civil and environmental engineers are working across scales and disciplines to design, construct, operate, and manage more robust and resilient infrastructure systems that sustainably coexist with the natural environment.

The civil and environmental engineering profession is a driving force in the development of a society that is in harmonious coexistence with the natural environment; our primary task is to ensure that technological progress does not come at the expense of environmental quality or public health.

In the United States, the second half of the 20th century was an unprecedented period of major infrastructure expansion. Civil and environmental engineers are now tackling the complex challenge of managing and building upon the rapidly aging inventory of infrastructure while protecting the natural environment.

The department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at the University of Michigan is a leader in this effort. We’re building on our enduring legacy to tackle some of the most complex challenges facing our society and our planet.

CEE has identified five strategic directions that will drive our efforts over the next 10 years:

1. Resilient Interdependent Systems Engineering
2. Human-Infrastructure Interface
3. Water Systems
4. Informatics
5. Innovative and Global Education