ReseaRch Quality assuRance foR the futuRe a ... - Lund University

Panel 17 – LTH | Building
3. DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING
AND ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY
3.1 Overall assessment
The Department of Building and Environmental Technology has five divisions
which are active in research. These are: Water Resources Engineering;
Structural Engineering; Building Materials; Building Physics; and
Fire Safety Engineering/system safety. They conduct research into a range
of issues in the general areas of the built society, physical infrastructure
and the environment. The research of the department makes a significant
national contribution in all five areas, with some distinct and unique
research topics also acknowledged at international level.
The total number of staff has decreased between 2003 and 2007 with
significant drops in doctoral students and other personnel. Academic staff
numbers are close to stable; however, it is noted that staff replacements
and continuity may be a problem in the future. There were 11 professors
in 2007. The total number of doctoral students was 54, 18 of whom
worked full time.
The Division of Water Resources Engineering has been very active in international
recruitments. According to separate information, the division
had 22 PhD students, 3 postdocs, and 3 visiting researchers from abroad
during the evaluation period.
Total revenue dropped from 82.8 MSEK to 77.6 MSEK and total
research funding from 58.0 to 53.1 MSEK between the years 2003 to
2007. Grants for research have fallen from 33.2 to 24.7 MSEK over the
same time period. EU funding was lower in 2007 than in 2003 but was
highest in 2006.
3.2 Research infrastructure
The department appears to be well equipped with large laboratories.
There is no indication that the facilities are internationally leading but
they seem to fit the purpose for which they are used. The laboratories
listed are for structural and material testing: calorimetry, building
physics, and fire testing.
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