Institute for Infrastructure & Environment

The Institute for Infrastructure and Environment undertakes cutting-edge research to deliver technological advances and inform government policy on topics relevant to the global challenges of: climate change; sustainable development; infrastructure deterioration; and personal and national security.

Our research

Our research includes the specialist themes of water management; ultra-speed railways; systems, sustainability and society; construction materials and geo-mechanics; and structures. Within these themes our staff possess the expertise and experience necessary to undertake projects ranging from ‘blue skies' research, through research investigations of innovative technologies, to industry sponsored consultancy projects.

Our work ranges from multi-million pound research council projects, such as the Flood Risk Management Research Consortium, to individual PhD studentships on topics as diverse as numerical modelling of wave propagation in soil, to the impact of psychological states on situational awareness in transport domains.

For an up to date list please visit the Heriot-Watt Research Gateway.

League tables

We are currently ranked top 10 for Civil Engineering in the Guardian League Table for UK Universities, and top 150 globally in the QS World University Rankings.