UpDate - Vol. 15, No. 34, Page 3
June 6, 1996
Planet protection; Engineers' research focuses on environmental issues

     In today's complex world, geoenvironmental and geotechnical
issues, (those dealing with industrial, residential and farming
pollutants in the soil and water) are assuming increased importance.
     Three faculty members in the Department of Civil and
Environmental Engineering are involved in different aspects of
geotechnology-C. P. Huang, Distinguished Professor of Environmental
Engineering, Visiting Assistant Prof. Hoe Peter Ling and Dov
Leshchinsky, professor of geotechnical engineering.
     Huang is involved in research on cleaning up contaminated soils
and water.
     His research involves electrokinetics, the movement of particles
in fluids. Using soils, the focus of his research is to facilitate the
movement of liquids through membranes with small permeability to
contain the contaminants, which can then be detoxified. Huang compares
the process to the filtering function of a kidney.
     Ling is conducting research on the containment of contaminants in
soil in such areas as landfills and waterways. He is experimenting
with geomembranes, synthetic materials that are used to prevent
contaminants and heavy metals from migrating to groundwater.
     He also is involved in developing technology for the Waterways
Experiment Station of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. His project
involves capping sediments found in the beds of waterways by
depositing layers of sand to isolate the contaminants.
     Ling pointed out that, in the past, there was not much concern
about the effect on the environment of construction of such projects
as dams. Now, there are multiple regulations and standards in the
United States that must be met to ensure the impact of construction
does not damage surrounding areas. The U.S. leads in its efforts to
protect the environment, Ling said, but Europe and other areas of the
world are beginning to realize the importance of geoenvironmental
issues.
     Students in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
also have an increased awareness of these issues, Ling said. A new
course, "Geoenvironmental Engineering," focusing on the proper design
of waste contamination systems, was introduced last spring and
attracted 10 students. This spring, the enrollment tripled to 31
students.
     Leshchinsky, has been involved in soil mechanics and earth
structure engineering, including a Delaware River project.
     The channel of the river must constantly be dredged for shipping.
He said this disturbs the river bed and releases contaminants if not
treated properly. The dredged material is now placed in a area
encircled by dikes, built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers near the
Port of Wilmington. The earthen dikes are reinforced with geosynthetic
material that allows their construction over extremely soft foundation
soil. The dikes contain the dredged material and prevent contaminants
from entering the river water.
     He said that seismic events, such as earthquakes also are a
concern in the construction of landfills and other areas used to
contain contaminants and heavy metals. These structures must be
designed to withstand this kind of natural disaster so that
contaminants and heavy metals are not released into the environment.
     "The three of us approach the problems of contamination from
different perspectives. Our interests and specialties balance each
other in research and provide an overview of geoenvironmental
engineering for students in the department," Leshchinsky said.
                                                   -Sue Swyers Moncure