Teaching and research are linked: the skills and leading edge technology utilized in research projects are transferred to students in the classroom and laboratory. The Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering conducts research of several million dollars annually, and a recent research awards list is found in the Current Research Contracts and Grants link above. To conduct research and train students, the department operates environmental, geotechnical, materials, hydraulics, structures, and transportation laboratories in the H.M. Comer and Shelby buildings. The department also features several computer labs, and the most recent additions are two Senior Design Studios equipped with the latest computer-aided design software for the use of students enrolled in CE 401 Civil Engineering Design Project.

Faculty and their students are conducting research on topics such as pre-project planning for construction projects, evacuation routing during emergencies, contaminants in wet-weather flows, affordable housing through engineering and manufacturing innovation, and the potential safety enhancements of seat belts in school buses. Additional information about ongoing projects may be found in the Current Research Contracts and Grants. The Department is also involved in four specialized research units:

Scholarly papers are one result of research projects. The faculty of the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering and their students are regular contributors to the technical literature in their respective fields. Recent publications are provided in the Current Faculty Publications .