{"id":350,"date":"2023-01-13T12:31:45","date_gmt":"2023-01-13T17:31:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research-multi-dev.utk.edu\/energy-dev\/?page_id=350"},"modified":"2026-04-21T11:35:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T15:35:25","slug":"sustainable-infrastructure","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/research.utk.edu\/iee\/research-areas\/sustainable-infrastructure\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainable Infrastructure"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Sustainable Infrastructure<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Preparing communities for long-term growth and resilience<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A sustainable built environment supports healthy individuals, thriving commerce, and resilient communities. We seek to improve the buildings where people live, work, and play; the roads, rails, and trails that connect people and businesses; and the essential structures that keep everyday life running safely and smoothly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UT faculty design, deploy, and test novel materials, construction methods, and maintenance technologies. They actively engage communities to understand and solve real-world challenges across Tennessee and the US.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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UT’s Approach<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our faculty\u2019s work influences every stage of a structure\u2019s life cycle. They start with novel materials and\u00a0emerging technologies<\/a>\u00a0like additive manufacturing and\u00a0evolve structural design and construction methods\u00a0to achieve greater durability, reduced material waste, and\u00a0improved energy efficiency<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other researchers focus on community and regional infrastructure design. The Tennessee RiverLine<\/a> initiative, for example, connects communities to the riverline ecosystem by making tourism and recreation opportunities more accessible for more people.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

UT and TVA collaborated to study opportunities for the Tennessee Valley region to pursue economic development while accelerating decarbonization. The Valley Pathways study<\/a> provides insights for sustainable infrastructure buildouts and upgrades, including electric vehicle chargers<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

UT is leading multiple advancements in mobility infrastructure<\/a>. One team from Knoxville and Chattanooga developed research to support Tennessee Department of Transportation strategies for smart vehicles and connected infrastructure. Other researchers are developing lower-carbon materials<\/a> and applying novel technologies<\/a> to help cities build and maintain longer-lasting infrastructure. In one long-term project, researchers developed a next-generation polymer composite for bridge decks; they use smart sensing technologies to monitor its real-world performance<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Faculty and students also study the infrastructure communities rely on to deliver energy<\/a> and clean water\u2014and to responsibly deal with waste, wastewater, and storm water. The Tennessee Water Resources Research Center<\/a> at UT has been awarded $1 million from the Environmental Protection Agency to help rural Tennessee communities<\/a> improve their wastewater infrastructure. Other teams are developing physics-informed machine learning models<\/a> that will eventually enable engineers to make key improvements in urban water treatment systems. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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UT is at the forefront of sustainable manufacturing. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies and fostering partnerships with academia and industry, we are pioneering solutions that enhance efficiency and stability in construction, building energy, and advanced construction materials. Our collaborative efforts are unlocking new opportunities to revolutionize the construction and manufacturing industries, paving the way for a greener, more resilient future.\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Hongyu \u2018Nick\u2019 Zhou, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Highlights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Palomino\u2019s Research Aims to Barricade Floodwater Contamination<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Angel Palomino is applying funding from the National Science Foundation to develop a sustainable, cost-effective composite barrier to keep potential contaminants from escaping retention ponds, landfills, and other holding areas during flood events.
 
Read about Palomino\u2019s research.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Reimagining the Urban Jungle: Award Supports Zhou\u2019s Eco-Minded Plan<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Nick Zhou is combating the urban heat island effect by designing a building material that mimics the preferred microenvironment of moss. Applied on building exteriors, it could grow moss that would cool building surface temperatures.

Learn how urban landscapes may become cooler.<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Tennessee RiverLine Develops Ideas for Improvement Projects in Seven Communities<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Tennessee RiverLine, founded in the College of Architecture and Design and the Herbert College of Agriculture, has developed concepts for riverfront infrastructure that can improve people\u2019s access to, and experiences on, the Tennessee River.

Learn more about the Community Planning Initiative.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Liu Wins Fifth R&D 100 Award<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yilu Liu, UT-ORNL Governor\u2019s Chair Professor for Power Grids, has won her fifth R&D 100 Award for the Universal GridEdge Analyzer\u2014 a real-time, highly accurate, and GPS-synchronized power grid monitoring device used at distribution level that can help improve the security and resilience of the nation\u2019s energy infrastructure.

Discover Liu\u2019s award-winning research.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Facilities & Initiatives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our research takes place in communities and inside world-class laboratories. Faculty have resources to study traditional and emerging materials, construction methods, and technologies driven by advancements in machine learning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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