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South Dakota State University

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at South Dakota State University (SDSU) conducts comprehensive research across key civil engineering disciplines, addressing both regional and national infrastructure challenges. Transportation Engineering research addresses infrastructure durability and safety, exemplified by studies on enhancing the performance and durability of the highway infrastructure and asphalt pavements. Projects focus on asphalt pavement materials, damage mechanisms, binder-aggregate interaction, and the development of long-lasting road surfaces. The SDSU’s asphalt laboratory has state-of-the-art equipment for characterizing asphalt mix and binder. The concrete lab is fully equipped for the preparation and comprehensive testing of concrete mixes. Structural Engineering research focuses on enhancing infrastructure resilience, with projects like rehabilitating double-tee bridges and developing methodologies for load rating such structures. The department's Lohr Structures Lab facilitates advanced testing capabilities. In Geotechnical Engineering, researchers investigate subgrade stabilization, the use of geosynthetics in pavement systems, deep foundation design, and slope stability, among many other projects related to transportation geomaterials. Ongoing studies aim to improve road performance. The advanced Geotech lab supports both experimental and applied research that contributes to safer and more reliable infrastructure development across the region. In Environmental Engineering, the Water and Environmental Engineering Research Center (WEERC) leads studies on wastewater treatment, contaminant transport, and nutrient removal to combat algal blooms. Notable projects include evaluating woodchip bioreactor denitrification kinetics and assessing biodegradation of pharmaceuticals in activated sludge systems. Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics research includes advanced studies on sediment transport under breaking waves, utilizing volumetric three-component velocimetry. A major area of focus includes bridge scour analysis, where researchers evaluate local erosion around bridge foundations to improve scour prediction methods and enhance the safety and service life of hydraulic structures. With state-of-the-art laboratories and a strong culture of collaborative research, SDSU's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering plays a pivotal role in advancing the durability and performance of transportation infrastructure through innovative materials, design practices, and long-term system improvements.