iTEC, Institute of Construction & Environmental Technologies

Build and maintain for the future

Safe and functional habitats are essential for the wellbeing and development of human communities. However, current building practices put pressure on energy and material resources, and create waste. Profound changes are therefore expected in the future of construction. The iTEC institute addresses these challenges, using today’s most advanced techniques and methods to contribute to the built environment of tomorrow.

Aims

The iTEC focuses on the built environment at all levels: construction materials, single structural elements, and the development of complete structures. It focuses on the development of methods, technological procedures and products in the field of civil and environmental engineering.

By providing services, contributing to construction and environmental standards, developing new tools, and hosting advanced training courses, the iTEC enables the transfer of scientific knowledge to the construction industry, and the conversion of research into practice. iTEC’s application-oriented research makes it a preferred partner of innovative companies and public services.

Core competences

The iTEC specializes in conceptual design, physical and digital modeling, advanced design and evaluation methods, diagnostics, and the improvement of existing structures and schemes.

Analyzing small- and large-scale mechanical, physical and chemical behavior in the lab as well as in-situ is one of iTEC’s core competences.

iTEC’s researchers are highly qualified specialists with particular expertise in the following areas:

Experimental techniques at small and large scales, using state-of-the-art laboratory infrastructure that is often unique in Switzerland and even in Europe
Modeling of physical phenomena
Digital tools for advanced analysis and simulation
Monitoring and surveying techniques
Advanced signal processing and data treatment
Sophisticated evaluation and optimization methods
Strengthening techniques
Damage assessment

As a member of the Smart Living Lab, the iTEC contributes to the development of new building and construction technology, and so to the creation of the habitats of tomorrow.

Research areas

Structures

Structural behaviour of materials and construction elements (both new and existing)
Design and development, characterization and evaluation, modelling and testing, soil-structure interactions, and assessment of building vulnerability to natural hazards, including seismic assessment

Geotechnical engineering

Mechanical behavior of soils and rocks
Design, modelling and testing of geotechnical and underground works, including analysis of ground-structure interactions and assessment of the natural hazards related to geomaterials

Soil and Water

Soil characterization, management and protection, watercourse revitalization, water treatment and management, urban and environmental hydraulics, hydraulic structures, and assessment of water-related natural hazards

Transport and Mobility

Traffic simulations, road safety, new technologies in transport and mobility, mobility indicators and behaviours, infrastructure design and maintenance, traffic management concepts