Carnegie Mellon University Civil and Environmental Engineering

Congratulations to CEE Assistant Professor Sarah Fakhreddine on receiving an NSF CAREER Award! Her innovative research is helping shape the future of sustainable groundwater management by exploring how strategies to replenish water supplies can also protect water quality. We're thrilled to see Sarah's work recognized through one of the NSF's most prestigious honors for early-career faculty.

Congratulations to Sarah Fakhreddine, Noelia Grande Gutiérrez, and Tathagata Srimani on receiving the NSF's prestigious Faculty Early Career Development Award.

https://engineering.cmu.edu/news-events/news/2026/06/12-nsf-career-awards.html

Every minute counts after a roadway crash. But first responders often arrive with limited information, making an already dangerous situation even more challenging.

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University's Mobility Data Analytics Center are working to change that. Led by CEE & Heinz College Professor Sean Qian, a new AI-powered dashboard will combine real-time traffic, weather, and crash data to help predict incidents and provide emergency crews with a clearer picture of what they're heading into, potentially notifying responders 15 to 25 minutes earlier than current systems.

The project, part of a U.S. Department of Transportation Safe Streets for All initiative in Westmoreland County, aims to reduce secondary crashes, improve traffic flow, and make roads safer for everyone.

Read more: https://cee.engineering.cmu.edu/news/2026/06/11-ss4a.html

CEE Professor Costa Samaras was featured in a Bloomberg article examining proposed changes to federal science funding. Samaras emphasized that research on the unequal impacts of air pollution across communities is foundational to understanding and addressing environmental challenges, and noted that limiting such work could hinder critical climate and environmental research.

White House Plan to Vet Grants Puts Climate Science in Jeopardy The Trump administration’s proposal to tighten political control over federal grants would hinder research, experts say.

Last week, alumni, parents, and friends joined us for a Faculty on Tap event in Denver, CO, featuring Greg Lowry, Interim Head and Hamerschlag University Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Lowry shared how researchers at CMU’s Center for Engineering Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CERCA) are using AI, data analytics, and engineering innovation to help communities prepare for the impacts of a changing climate. The discussion covered transportation networks, coastal infrastructure, and water, energy, and agricultural systems, highlighting how engineering resilience can help future-proof critical infrastructure.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for an engaging evening of conversation and connection!

On May 8, we celebrated 117 graduates as they crossed the stage and joined the global Carnegie Mellon Civil & Environmental Engineering alumni community.

From proud families and friends to memorable moments with classmates and faculty, commencement marked the culmination of years of hard work, perseverance, and achievement.

Take a look back at the celebration and relive the day through our photo gallery:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/cmucee/albums/72177720333744171/with/55281231811

Congratulations again to the Class of 2026! We can't wait to see the impact you'll make in the years ahead.

New research from CMU's Pingbo Tang and colleagues introduces an AI-driven framework that assists air traffic controllers in optimizing runway assignments while accounting for real-world uncertainties, including unpredictable schedules, aircraft speed and behavior, and ground congestion.

When tested with operational data from LAX, this method reduced taxiway conflicts by 75%, cut fuel use by 15%, and increased airport capacity by nearly 20%. By enabling controllers to quickly assess trade-offs among safety, efficiency, and environmental concerns, this human-AI partnership has the potential to improve operations without expensive infrastructure upgrades.

Read more: https://engineering.cmu.edu/news-events/news/2026/06/03-airside-efficiency.html

Last week, CMU's Center for Engineering Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CERCA) played a prominent role at the 2026 National Adaptation Forum in Pittsburgh.

Students, postdocs, and faculty shared research on resilience, infrastructure, water resources, and community-focused climate solutions while connecting with researchers and practitioners from across the country. The forum also highlighted Pittsburgh’s resilience efforts through a field tour of the Negley Run Watershed and its green stormwater infrastructure projects.

Through research, collaboration, and community partnerships, CERCA continues to advance solutions to help communities adapt and thrive in a changing climate.

Read more: https://engineering.cmu.edu/cerca/news/2026/05/21-national-adaptation-forum.html

Six CEE faculty members have received Pennsylvania Infrastructure Technology Alliance (PITA) grants supporting innovative projects focused on transportation, urban systems, mobility, sustainability, and next-generation infrastructure technologies.

The awards highlight CMU CEE’s interdisciplinary approach to solving complex real-world challenges through data-driven research and collaboration across academia, industry, and government.

Congratulations to Mario Berges, Kaushik Dayal and Matteo Pozzi, Katherine Flanigan, Corey Harper, Sean Qian, and Costa Samaras.

Read more: https://cee.engineering.cmu.edu/news/2026/05/20-pita-awards.html

For nearly two decades, Cathy Schaefer has been part of the Carnegie Mellon community, helping support the mission of the College of Engineering through her work in finance and administration. Today, as Director of Finance and Administration for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, her CMU journey has become a true family experience.

Alongside her children, Cole and Lillian, both students at the Tepper School of Business, Cathy is also pursuing her own degree through Carnegie Mellon’s Master of Science in Business Analytics program.

From after-school visits to campus offices and summer STEM camps to shared professors and classroom conversations, the Schaefer family’s connection to CMU spans generations, programs, and experiences.

We’re proud to celebrate Cathy’s dedication to the CMU community and the inspiring example she sets every day for students, colleagues, and her family alike. ❤️

Read the full story from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon: https://www.cmu.edu/tepper/news/stories/dinner-table-boardroom?fbclid=IwY2xjawRxWslleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeBYlU94z4LvgePiobTRDNOsFGn93FICpnWE5hqr5e5Dagmuxvf2kOYYDAvC0_aem_1GDU_X5TV1eb2iYkOWJv2A