Research Activities of the Department of Civil Engineering

The research activity of the Department of Civil Engineering at the School of Engineering of the International Hellenic University (IHU) is focused on the specific knowledge areas of the Civil Engineering scientific field, as described in the Department's Internal Regulations:

• Basic scientific background.
• Building works and Infrastructure.
• Geotechnical Engineering and Environmental Engineering works.
• Hydraulic, Port and Environmental works.
• Transportation works and Management of Technical works.

Further analysis into more specialized knowledge areas is provided in the Department's Study Guide.

Research Strategy - Priority Research Axes

The Department's research strategy during the current period emphasizes the priority research axes mentioned below. The Department's research strategy and the referenced priority research axes are updated at regular intervals by the Department Assembly, taking into account the research interests, research activities and research projects involving the Department's academic staff, as well as research priorities set at national and international levels.

Research Axis 1: Seismic behavior and hazard assessment of the built environment

• Study of seismic behavior of structural works and infrastructure
• Seismic hazard assessment of structural works and infrastructure
• Instrumentation of structural works and monitoring of their response
• Seismic risk management through application/utilization of new technologies (rapid earthquake damage assessment, development of interactive applications, etc.)
• Dynamic response and soil-structure interaction

Department research activity in this research axis:

	2023-present: Earthquake Resilient Schools (Acronym: EReS) European research project funded by the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) (UCPM-2022-PP: Cross-border risks and marine pollution). Total project budget: €923,784.50. [IHU project coordinator]
	2021-present: Risk Assessment of Earthquake, Fire & Flood in the Attica Region Funding: Attica Region. Coordination: National Observatory of Athens. Total project budget: €1,183,701.00.
	2020-2023: Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment Consortium (Acronym: REDACt) Black Sea Basin Joint Operational Programme 2014-20 co-financed by the European Union through the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) and by the participating countries: Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine. Total project budget: €974,860.00. [IHU project coordinator]
	2018-2020: Determination of dynamic response characteristics of cylindrical water storage tank Funded by IHU Research Committee.
	2013-2015: Innovative multi-sensor network for Deformation and Seismic Monitoring of Urban Subsidence-prone Areas (Acronym: INDES MUSA) Project "Bilateral R&D Cooperation Greece-China 2012-2014 (NSRF 2007-2013)" of the General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT) (Operational programme: Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship (EPAN II) and ROP). Total project budget: €472,990.00.
	2012-2015: Seismic vulnerability assessment of the building stock of the city of Serres (Acronym: SeiVAS) Project "Archimedes III – Enhancement of Research Groups at TEI of Serres" implemented within the framework of the Operational Programme "Education and Lifelong Learning" and co-financed by the European Union (European Social Fund) and National resources. Total project budget: €85,000.00.

Research Axis 2: Assessment, upgrading and utilization/reuse of buildings and urban spaces, focusing on sustainability and sustainable development

• Documentation, survey, assessment of buildings, building systems and urban spaces using advanced tools and cutting-edge technologies.
• Focus on architectural, construction, functional, energy/environmental issues.
• Management, upgrading, utilization/reuse proposals aimed at improving quality indicators for protection and living in the built environment

Department research activity in this research axis:

	2020-2022: S4P "Space for People: Mobility solutions for attractive public space" Lead Partner: City of Bielefeld, Germany, Programme: URBACT III.
	2015-2018: P.A.E.S. "Politiche Abitative per l' Edilizia Sostenibile" Lead Partner: University of Calabria, Italy, Programme: Erasmus+.
	2023: Research Project Proposal "Documentation, recording and modeling of Agricultural Facilities Complex for sustainable management: buildings and surrounding space of the former Agricultural Research Station of Serres" IHU Research Enhancement Programme, [the proposal is under evaluation]
	2020: Research Project Proposal "Indoor pilot 3D representation of comfort conditions in Mixed Reality environment 3DMR" Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (H.F.R.I.).

Research Axis 3: Marine and Hydraulic Engineering - Hydrodynamic Interaction of Structures and Infrastructure

• Computational and experimental modeling of hydrodynamic interaction of structures
• Analysis and design of Offshore Wind Turbines (floating and fixed bottom)
• Technology readiness development and hydrodynamic analysis of wave energy conversion device arrays
• Analysis and design of Offshore Wind Farm infrastructure
• Field measurement monitoring and analysis: (a) dynamic response, integrity and performance of marine structures and (b) environmental quantitative and qualitative indicators of marine environment
• Quantification and management of resilience of coastal and offshore infrastructure and marine environment

Indicative Department research activity in this research axis:

	2024-present: Resilience of large-scale fixed bottom offshore wind turbines in the Thracian Sea (XL-ALEX) Funded by IHU Research Enhancement Programmes "PEE 2022".
	2023-present: An alternative Floating OffshoRe wind turbine Concept technologY design (Acronym: FORCYS) Funded by Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (H.F.R.I.). Programme "Greece 2.0, Basic Research Financing Action". [IHU project coordinator]
	2023-present: Hydrogen production with the use of Solar Assisted Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion in the Mediterranean Sea (Acronym: HydrOTEC) Co-funded by EU-Horizon and GSRT.
	2022-2023: Hydromechanical properties of measured data for the Marina Ayia Napa coastal area. Funded by Cyprus Marine Environment Protection Association, Cyprus.
	2024*: East Med Marine Digitalisation for Smart Energy Transition (Acronym: e-MinDSET) HORIZON. (*the proposal is ranked 3rd reserve - awaiting announcement of final funding)
	2019-2023: WECANet COST Action CA17105 A pan-European Network for Marine Renewable Energy with a Focus on Wave Energy Funded by European Union: Horizon 2020.

Research Axis 4: Transportation works with emphasis on safety and sustainability

• Road transport with emphasis on road safety and sustainability
• Sustainable urban mobility
• Railway safety

Indicative Department research activity in this research axis: