Villanova University's College of Engineering Launches New Center of Research

Villanova's College of Engineering has launched a new center of research that brings concepts of sustainability within the study and practice of engineering to life. The new Villanova Center for the Advancement of Sustainability in Engineering (VCASE) houses multi-disciplinary research and teaching in a number of emerging areas and seeks to protect and restore the environment through the systems-based integration of sustainability principles into engineering solutions.

"In the 21st century, engineering innovations will be judged not only on how effectively they solve a particular problem, but also on the net impact they leave on the planet. The importance of working across disciplines to mitigate that impact, while respecting the complexity of our environment, cannot be overstated," said Dr. Robert Traver, PE, D. WRE, professor of civil and environmental engineering and director of VCASE. Traver is also the director of the Villanova Urban Storm Water Partnership and recently served on the National Academy of Sciences panel tapped to review the White House Council on Environmental Quality's proposed revisions to federal principles and guidelines for water resources planning.

VCASE draws together faculty and students from the college's four academic departments (chemical, mechanical, electrical and computer, and civil and environmental), whose research efforts are organized into five main research focus areas:
• Biomass resources and conversion technologies;
• Alternative and renewable energy;
• Environmental sustainability;
• Infrastructure materials and transportation systems; and
• Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership, which has promoted a partnership approach to sustainable storm water management for more than 10 years.

In addition to the College of Engineering's state-of-the-art laboratories, VCASE student and faculty researchers also leverage Villanova's campus infrastructure, which serves as a living laboratory for conducting real-world experimental studies. The on-campus research sites include storm water wetlands, bio-infiltration and bio-retention basins, bio-swale, green roof, geothermal wells, rain barrels, pervious concrete and porous asphalt and solar panels.

Source: Villanova University