About the department
The Department of Infrastructure Engineering sits within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology and houses the disciplines of Geomatics, Civil Engineering and Environmental Hydrology and Water Resources.
Our focus is on engineering infrastructure that’s sustainable. Infrastructure that considers the natural environment it supports, as well as the economy.
You’ll see this in our research and in the design of our courses, with undergraduate pathways in the Bachelor of Design and the Bachelor of Science right through to our flagship Master of Engineering programs.
An integrated future …
In combining these disciplines, our vision reflects industry practice.
To this end, we’re not just equipping you for a career in engineering. Our aim is to share knowledge, build capability and manage information to solve complex engineering challenges and develop future leaders in the community.
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Annual reports
Our department annual reports from 2011 onwards.
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Alumni
How alumni can get continue as part of our community and a list of our recent research student alumni.
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Surveying and geomatic engineering collection
Our historical geomatics collection includes examples of types of instrument used for astronomical, angular and distance measurement, together with instruments for the computation, plotting and presentation of the survey data.
Infrastructure Engineering Strategy 2019–2020: OHS Objectives
The Department of Infrastructure Engineering is fully committed to establishing a safer workplace that protects all staff and students by eliminating, or better managing, health and safety hazards.
We, the Senior Executives, are fully committed to the provision of appropriate support for training in order to assist all staff and students to fulfill their responsibilities and maintain a safe working environment. Through consultation and cooperation with the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology OHS team, we create a systematic approach to managing health and safety risks across our labs and our wider department environment, in which staff, students and contractors can observe OHS rules and safe working practices and make every effort to reduce the risk of injury to themselves, their fellow colleagues, students, and others.
Head of Department and Infrastructure Engineering Senior Executive
Research
Our researchers contribute to the creation of sustainable infrastructure, delivering valuable benefits to the community, economy and environment.
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Geomatics
Spatial information underpins the digital transformation of society. Geomatics studies the production, management, analysis and communication of spatial information. This includes disaster management, land administration, measurement science and 3D modelling, smart cities, smart buildings, and smart mobility, spatial data infrastructure, spatial data infrastructure.
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Environmental hydrology and water resources
We focus on the broad topics of: hydrological processes; ecohydraulics; and environmental sensing and modelling.
Civil engineering streams
Civil and Structural Engineering (including Building and Construction) is the centre of growth in the Department, and it already plays a vital role in research and in teaching. This discipline brings together the strategic research themes listed. This encompasses research, engineering, and field application activities that also include commercial and industry-funded activities.
A key theme is computer simulation-guided engineering of engineered and natural complex systems with the aim to understand cause and effect chains that control their emergent behaviour. What-If? scenario analysis and experimental design studies are used to detect unwanted side effects of engineering measures prior to implementation. This is supported by high-performance computing and software engineering efforts aimed at creating technology and capabilities for the multi-stakeholder engagement that current civil engineering projects nowadays demand.
* Photo credit: Winter Storm by Tony Armstrong-Sly, CC BY-NC 2.0
Industry collaboration and engagement
We collaborate with a wide variety of industry partners, including governments and commercial businesses. We explore fundamental research as well as creating solutions for specific problems.
View a showcase of projects carried out in collaboration with industry partners and which demonstrate our research capabilities:
Industry collaboration projects
Industry engagement in teaching
We recognise the value of a curriculum guided by industry. We invite industry members to contribute to the ongoing refinement of our curriculum.
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Host a student intern
Host a Masters student within your organisation through our internship programs.
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Student industry projects
Engage our students to work on a technical project of relevance to your organisation. These projects are undertaken by Masters students on campus.
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Industry Advisory Group
Our advisory group provides valuable insights on our strategic planning, teaching, and research programs, to ensure they are relevant to industry needs.
Study
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Undergraduate
We offer majors in all our disciplines via the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Design.
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Graduate coursework
We offer a range of masters degrees.
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Graduate research
Our graduate research programs — the MPhil and the PhD — are built on world-leading projects and are led by staff with international recognition for their multi-disciplinary research contributions. There is a vast array of research projects underway at Melbourne, working to solve big issues for industry, business, government and society.
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Internships
A unique opportunity to practise technical skills in a real-life work environment, supported by a dedicated workplace and an academic supervisor. Gain practical experience to enhance your employment prospects and networking opportunities.
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Sustainability
We are committed to achieving the University’s Sustainability Plan to address environmental sustainability and its inherent social impact across all our activities. Our first objective is to incorporate the Sustainable Development Goals into our subjects.
Leadership
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Head of Department
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Deputy Head (Research)
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Deputy Head (Academic)
- Eileen Doufas-Shea
Executive Assistant to Head
- Ana Bamborough
Department Administrator
Discipline leaders
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Discipline Leader, Environmental Hydrology & Water Resources
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Prof Abbas Rajabifard
Discipline Leader, Geomatics
Civil engineering stream leaders
News and events
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University of Melbourne alumnus Ali Aien is helping to design a new order of mapping addressing some of the shortfalls of traditional two-dimensional maps.
Infrastructure -
Can recycled glass replace some of the essential elements of concrete, making it more sustainable?
Future infrastructure -
Associate Professor Rory Nathan explains his work in assessing the risk of sewage spills for Melbourne's sewerage system.
Water security -
Victoria is launching a monitoring system to track the movement of COVID-19 in the state’s population by identifying the presence of the coronavirus in the sewerage system.
Water security -
University of Melbourne researchers have joined an international collaboration with Indian institutions to protect diminishing clean water supplies by harnessing new water sources that are currently only partially, or not at all, tapped.
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As the global population continually grows and a changing climate brings highly variable rainfall, pressure is building – both locally and internationally – to secure more reliable water supplies.
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Aerial hyperspectral imaging and modelling techniques are being developed to help growers better evaluate stress on their crops.
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In many developing countries, improving access to water can be life-changing, particularly for women.
News