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19-21st April 2004 Brno, Czech Republic

Civil Engineering Education and Research in the Enlarged EU GeoEnvironmental Research in the Enlarged EU by Professor H R Thomas Director, Geoenvironmental Research Centre Head, Cardiff School of Engineering.

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19-21st April 2004 Brno, Czech Republic

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  1. Civil Engineering Education and Research in the Enlarged EUGeoEnvironmental Research in the Enlarged EUbyProfessor H R ThomasDirector, Geoenvironmental Research CentreHead, Cardiff School of Engineering 19-21st April 2004 Brno, Czech Republic Geoenvironmental Research Centre Canolfan Ymchwil Ddaearamgylcheddol www.grc.cf.ac.uk

  2. Introduction • Civil Engineering is a mature subject - in research terms. • Education and training of civil engineers is of paramount importance. • But it is not a topical subject for research. • Need to diversify. • Current “hot” areas are bioscience and medical. • Not one of the “sunrise” areas - but “sunset”. Geoenvironmental Research Centre Canolfan Ymchwil Ddaearamgylcheddol http://www.grc.cf.ac.uk

  3. Context • Future research agenda is therefore uncertain. • Future probably multi-disiciplinary. • Future probably “Sustainable development”. • My presentation “Sustainable geoenvironment”. Geoenvironmental Research Centre Canolfan Ymchwil Ddaearamgylcheddol http://www.grc.cf.ac.uk

  4. What is GeoEnvironmental Engineering? • An emerging discipline based on a merger of environmental issues, with traditional geotechnical engineering concepts • Development driven by a number of factors: • Contaminated land • Waste disposal • Sustainability • Protection of the geo-environment as a whole • Scientific Disciplines include: • Geotechnical engineering • Engineering Geology, • Geochemistry • Soil Science, • Microbiology • Plant Science Geoenvironmental Research Centre Canolfan Ymchwil Ddaearamgylcheddol http://www.grc.cf.ac.uk

  5. What is GeoEnvironmental Engineering?(Cont’d) • NBNew Discipline • Important to Governments • Multi-discipline in nature • MAJOR Research Opportunities Geoenvironmental Research Centre Canolfan Ymchwil Ddaearamgylcheddol http://www.grc.cf.ac.uk

  6. Examples of Current Projects • GeoEnvironmental Engineering Infrastructure Co-operation Network - (GeoEnvNet) FP5 - Thematic Network. • GeoEnvironmental Research Park (GRP) European Structural Funds. • Near Field Processes (NF-PRO) FP6 - IP. • Co-ordinated Action on Education and Training in RadioActive Waste Disposal (CETRAD) FP6 - Co-ordinated action. Geoenvironmental Research Centre Canolfan Ymchwil Ddaearamgylcheddol http://www.grc.cf.ac.uk

  7. Geoenvironmental Engineering - GeoEnvNet • Geoenvironmental Research Centre, UK. • Darmstadt University of Technology, Germany. • Aspo Environmental Research Foundation, Sweden. • Institute for Agrobio-technology, Austria. • Warsaw Agricultural University, Poland. • Universidad de Cantabria, Spain. • University of Ancona, Italy. • Ghent University, Belgium. • Research, Education and Training Centre, Prague. • Politecnico di Torino, Italy. • GeoDelft, The Netherlands. • Ecole National Ponts et Chausses, France. Geoenvironmental Research Centre Canolfan Ymchwil Ddaearamgylcheddol http://www.grc.cf.ac.uk

  8. Geoenvironmental Engineering - GeoEnvNet • GeoEnvNet is also collaborating with other partners in: • Sweden. • Norway. • Czech Rep. • Bulgaria. • Greece. • Turkey. • Switzerland. • Canada. Geoenvironmental Research Centre Canolfan Ymchwil Ddaearamgylcheddol http://www.grc.cf.ac.uk

  9. Geoenvironmental Engineering - GeoEnvNet Core Network Function - Infrastructure Provision • Underground Research Laboratory. • Geoenvironmental Laboratories. • Centrifuge. • High Performance Parallel computers. • Grid communication. • Sophisticated software e.g. COMPASS. • Large scale field experiments e.g. Monitored landfills. • Geoenvironmental Research Park. Geoenvironmental Research Centre Canolfan Ymchwil Ddaearamgylcheddol http://www.grc.cf.ac.uk

  10. Geoenvironmental Engineering - GeoEnvNet Network activities: • Establishing and developing the network - Network now in the third year of its existence. • Regular (6 monthly) meetings and Workshops/Conferences have been held. • Study Panels - Five study panels formed. • The development of a "virtual" network - virtual network in operation. Geoenvironmental Research Centre Canolfan Ymchwil Ddaearamgylcheddol http://www.grc.cf.ac.uk

  11. Geoenvironmental Engineering - GeoEnvNet • Five study panel reports are being produced, covering the following areas: • Landfills. • "Underground" waste disposal. • Contaminated land. • Future research needs. • Training requirements for European research and industry. Geoenvironmental Research Centre Canolfan Ymchwil Ddaearamgylcheddol http://www.grc.cf.ac.uk

  12. Geoenvironmental Engineering - GeoEnvNet Virtual Network - www.grc.cf.ac.uk/geoenvnet • Website provides: • Administrative resource for the partners • Chat forum • Notice board • Briefcase for document distribution. • The website allows the network to be accessible to the wider geoenvironmental community. • The virtual network was built, and is maintained, by GRC. Geoenvironmental Research Centre Canolfan Ymchwil Ddaearamgylcheddol http://www.grc.cf.ac.uk

  13. Geoenvironmental Research Park • A £5.1M Objective 1 ERDF Project. • 3 years duration from 2002 to 2004. • Aim of the proposal: • Phase 1 - To create a Research Park, hence create opportunities for existing SMEs. • Phase 2 - Creating SMEs. • Contaminated Land. • Industrial Waste. Geoenvironmental Research Centre Canolfan Ymchwil Ddaearamgylcheddol http://www.grc.cf.ac.uk

  14. Geoenvironmental Research Park • The Welsh Development Agency. • BP Chemicals Ltd. • TRL Limited. • Minton Treharne & Davies. • Trinity College, Carmarthen. • Hafren Group. • Excel Industries. • Aggregate Industries. • Envirogene (new) • GRC leads a consortium of partners: Geoenvironmental Research Centre Canolfan Ymchwil Ddaearamgylcheddol http://www.grc.cf.ac.uk

  15. OVERVIEW • Projects completed • List of Target SMEs made and companies visited. • Report produced on SME needs. • Web site and initial publicity produced. • Kidwelly optical lagoon - new technique researched and demonstrated. • Neath Canal - new technique investigated and demonstrated. • Grass seed mulching product demonstrated. • Construction of 100m flood bund from waste materials demonstrated. Geoenvironmental Research Centre Canolfan Ymchwil Ddaearamgylcheddol http://www.grc.cf.ac.uk

  16. GRP Projects • Neath canal sediment Geoenvironmental Research Centre Canolfan Ymchwil Ddaearamgylcheddol http://www.grc.cf.ac.uk

  17. GRP Projects • Mulching trials Geoenvironmental Research Centre Canolfan Ymchwil Ddaearamgylcheddol http://www.grc.cf.ac.uk

  18. GRP Projects • Vegetated bund Geoenvironmental Research Centre Canolfan Ymchwil Ddaearamgylcheddol http://www.grc.cf.ac.uk

  19. EU Centres of Excellence UK Research Links International Research Links UK Industrial Links International Industrial Links GRP Creation of new SMEs Support for existing SMEs Geoenvironmental Research Centre Canolfan Ymchwil Ddaearamgylcheddol http://www.grc.cf.ac.uk

  20. Conclusions • Examples of current approaches given to demonstrate established procedures. • Clearly these already include partners from the new member states. • I do not therefore envisage any major changes in the short term. • In the future FP7 - Look forward to partners from the new countries leading projects Especially partners from the Czech Republic. • In the future - Cohesion Funds in the new EU for new partners. Geoenvironmental Research Centre Canolfan Ymchwil Ddaearamgylcheddol http://www.grc.cf.ac.uk

  21. THANK YOU. • Být zavázán tebe. Geoenvironmental Research Centre Canolfan Ymchwil Ddaearamgylcheddol http://www.grc.cf.ac.uk

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