UF Geotechnical Engineering
Welcome to the University of Florida Geotechnical Engineering website. The purpose of this site is to showcase the accomplishments of our extraordinary past and current graduate students. It should be recognized that none of their accomplishments would have been possible without the leadership of the dedicated Geotechnical Faculty and the support of the dedicated Department of Civil Engineering Staff. The research was made possible by the utilization of the excellent University of Florida geotechnical facilities.
Florida is one of the fastest growing states in America. Because of this, the infrastructure of Florida must be maintained and upgraded at an explosive pace in order to avoid disaster and the minor inconvenience of traffic. In addition to being within a hurricane zone, Florida is also has a karst terrain with the potential for many sinkholes. The combination of people, sinkholes, natural disasters, and the pace of construction has provided many practical research opportunities within the state of Florida.
The city of Gainesville is located within reasonable driving distance of Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, and Tallahassee. Gainesville is more than just another college town and has much to offer in terms of events, culture, and activities. Devils Millhopper Geological State Park is located just north of Gainesville. Fresh food can be purchased year round at local farmer markets. Many non-chain restaurants are also available to the residents and visitors to the city of Gainesville. The University of Florida is mostly located in the southwest quadrant of the city of Gainesville.
The University of Florida has one of the largest and most active graduate student populations in the United States. Many opportunities to get involved are presented from the onset at the new graduate student orientation week. The University of Florida is also the home of the 2006 NCAA Men's Intercollegiate Basketball champions, and students are invited to attend home games for free.
The Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering is conveniently located in Weil Hall between the football stadium and Reitz Student Union. Graduate students are spread throughout the building, but are typically grouped by both their research division and advisor. The department maintains an excellent graduate student support staff to ensure that each individual graduate student is eventually eligible for their desired degree.
The focus of the Geotechnical Division is on both practical research and course work. As previously mentioned, the population growth of Florida has put certain demands on practical research that this University is prepared for and that this faculty is performing. The results of research will go well beyond the borders of Florida through journal articles and conferences. However, the courses taught by the Geotechnical faculty do not take a back seat to research. They are constantly updated with the most relevant practices, methodologies, and research endeavors. This is possible because the faculty members teach courses corresponding to their research interests and specialties. These courses prepare graduate students for future endeavors in both industry and academia.
