The request to revise the catalog copy and PhD in Infrastructure and Environmental Systems
Date: March 6, 2014
To: College of Engineering
From: Office of Academic Affairs
Approved On: February 10, 2014
Approved by: Graduate Council
Implementation Date: Summer 2014
Note: Deletions are strikethroughs. Insertions are underlined.
Catalog Copy
Infrastructure and Environmental Systems
- Ph.D. in Infrastructure and Environmental Systems
Ph.D. Program in Infrastructure and Environmental Systems
ines.uncc.edu
Graduate Program Directors
Dr. Jy S. Wu, Director
Dr. John A. Diemer, Associate Director
Graduate Faculty
Civil Infrastructure and Materials
Anthony Brizendine, Professor
Tara Cavalline, P.E., Assistant Professor
Don Chen, Assistant Professor
Shen-en Chen, P.E. Professor
Chung-suk Cho, Assistant Professor
John Daniels, P.E. Associate Professor
Wei Fan, P.E., Associate Professor
Janos Gergely, S.E., P.E., Associate Professor
Johnny Graham*, Professor Emeritus
Edd Hauser, Professor
John C. Hildreth, Assistant Professor
Rajaram Janardhanam, Professor
Martine R. Kane, P.E., Associate Professor
Milind Khire, Professor
Na Lu, Assistant Professor
Thomas Nicholas, Assistant Professor
Vincent Ogunro, Associate Professor
Miguel Pando, Associate Professor
Srinivas S. Pulugurtha, P.E., Associate Professor
Brett Tempest, Assistant Professor
Nicholas Tymvios, Assistant Professor
Kimberly A. Warren, Associate Professor
David Weggel, P.E., Associate Professor
Matthew Whelan, Assistant Professor
David Young, P.E., Professor
Environmental Systems
Craig Allan, Professor
James E. Amburgey, Associate Professor
James Bowen, Associate Professor
John Daniels, P.E. Associate Professor
Rodney G. Handy, Professor
Helene Hilger*, Professor Emeritus
Hilary Inyang*, Professor
Olya Keen, Assistant Professor
Sara McMillan, Assistant Professor
Patricia Tolley, P.E., Associate Professor
Richard Tsang*, Adjunct Faculty
Jy S. Wu, P.E., P.H., Professor
Geography and Earth Systems
Manda Adams, Assistant Professor
Craig Allan, Professor
John Bender, Professor
Andy Bobyarchick, Associate Professor
Harrison S. Campbell, Associate Professor
Gang Chen, Assistant Professor
Sandra Clinton, Assistant Professor
Eric Delmelle, Assistant Professor
John Diemer, Professor
Matt Eastin, Associate Professor
Martha C. Eppes, Associate Professor
Sara Gagne, Assistant Professor
Scott P. Hippensteel, Associate Professor
Brian Magi, Assistant Professor
Ross Meentemeyer*, Professor
Heather Smith, Professor
Wenwu Tang, Assistant Professor
Jean-Claude Thill, Knight Distinguished Professor
Wei-Ning Xiang, Professor
Systems Optimization and Management
Churlzu Lim, Associate Professor
Michael Ogle, Assistant Professor
Ertunga Ozelkan, Associate Professor
Yesim Sireli, Associate Professor
S. Gary Teng, Professor
Architecture and Green Building
Mona Azarbayjani, Assistant Professor
Dale Brentrup, AIA, Professor
Thomas A Gentry, AIA, Associate Professor
Hyunjoo Kim, Assistant Professor
Kyounghee Kim, Assistant Professor
David J. Thaddeus, AIA, Professor
Biology
James Oliver, Professor
Inna Sokolova, Professor
Todd R. Steck, Associate Professor
Chemistry
Brian T. Cooper, Associate Professor
Bernadette T. Donovan-Merkert, Professor
Kenneth Gonsalves, Distinguished Professor
Craig A. Ogle, Professor
Jordan Poler, Associate Professor
Tom Schmedake, Assistant Professor
Economics and Finance
Gaines Liner, Professor
Peter M. Schwarz, Professor
Weidong Tian, Distinguish Professor
Hui-Kuan Tseng, Associate Professor
AIA = Registered Professional Architect
P.E. = Professional Engineer
P.H. = Professional Hydrologist
S.E. = Structural Engineer
*Affiliated Program Faculty
Graduate Faculty
Civil and Environmental Engineering
James E. Amburgey, Associate Professor
James Bowen, Associate Professor
Shen-en Chen, P.E., Professor
John Daniels, P.E., Associate Professor
Janos Gergely, S.E., P.E., Associate Professor
Hilary I. Inyang, Duke Energy Distinguished Professor
Rajaram Janardhanam, Professor
Martin R. Kane, P.E., Associate Professor
Vincent Ogunro, Associate Professor
Olya Keen, Assistant Professor
Sara McMillan, Assistant Professor
Miguel Pando, Associate Professor
Srinivas S. Pulugurtha, P.E., Associate Professor
Brett Tempest, Assistant Professor
Kimberly A. Warren, Associate Professor
David C. Weggel, P.E., Associate Professor
Matthew Whelen, Assistant Professor
Jy Wu, P.E., P.H., Professor
David Young, P.E., Professor
P.E. = Professional Engineer
P.H. = Professional Hydrologist
S.E. = Structural Engineer
Engineering Technology and Construction Management
Chung-Suk Cho, Assistant Professor
Hyunjoo Kim, LEED, A.P., Assistant Professor
Na Lu, Assistant Professor
Systems Engineering and Engineering Management
S. Gary Teng, Professor
Ertunga Ozelkan, Associate Professor
Yesim Sireli, Associate Professor
Churlzu Lim, Associate Professor
Geography and Earth Sciences
Manda Adams, Assistant Professor
Craig Allan, Department Chair and Professor
John Bender, Professor
Andy Bobyarchick, Associate Professor
Harrison S. Campbell, Associate Professor
Gang Chen, Assistant Professor
Sandra Clinton, Assistant Professor
Eric Delmelle, Assistant Professor
John Diemer, Professor
Matt Eastin, Associate Professor
Martha C. Eppes, Associate Professor
Sara Gagne, Assistant Professor
Edd Hauser, Professor
Scott P. Hippensteel, Associate Professor
Brian Magi, Assistant Professor
Ross Meentemeyer, Professor
Heather Smith, Professor
Wenwu Tang, Assistant Professor
Jean-Claude Thill, Knight Distinguished Professor
Wei-Ning Xiang, Professor
Architecture
Mona Azarbayjani, Assistant Professor
Dale Brentrup, Professor
Kyounghee Kim, Assistant Professor
David J. Thaddeus, Associate Professor
Biology
James Oliver, Professor
Inna Sokolova, Professor
Todd R. Steck, Associate Professor
Chemistry
Brian T. Cooper, Associate Professor
Bernadette T. Donovan-Merkert, Professor
Craig A. Ogle, Professor
Jordan Poler, Associate Professor
Economics
Peter M. Schwarz, Professor
Hui-Kuan Tseng, Associate Professor
Finance
Weidong Tian, Distinguished Professor of Risk Management and Insurance
Ph.D. in Infrastructure and Environmental Systems (INES)
The Ph.D. in Infrastructure and Environmental Systems (INES) is an interdisciplinary program focusing on the complex challenges facing urbanized regions, specifically those issues related to the interplay between the environment and infrastructure needed to support the regions’ economic and social development. Understanding and solving these challenges require an integrated approach that considers three aspects (engineering, science, and management) of optimal solutions and that promotes an understanding of the interdependency of the three in earth, civil, and industrial systems.
Graduates of the INES Ph.D. program will have an understanding of complex, interdisciplinary infrastructure and environmental systems and will make significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge of those systems in academia, local, state or federal government, and not-for-profit and for-profit institutions. The educational objectives designed to achieve these goals are:
- To provide students with educational opportunities in science, engineering, and management, culminating in an interdisciplinary research-based Ph.D. in Infrastructure and Environmental Systems.
- To prepare students for careers as doctoral-level research scientists, engineers, and resource and systems managers who will lead in developing the next generation of infrastructure and environmental technology.
- To involve students in the support and expansion of the base of research in rapidly growing fields related to infrastructure and environmental systems in the Charlotte region, North Carolina, and across the nation and world.
- To enhance the educational experience in science and engineering for all students, graduate and undergraduate, at UNC Charlotte.
- To expand the educational experience of students by participating in the activities of interdisciplinary institutes at UNC Charlotte such as the Infrastructure, Design, Environment, and Sustainability (IDEAS) Center; the Center for Applied Geographic Information Science (CAGIS); the Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC); the Center for Transportation Policy Studies; and the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute.
The Ph.D. in Infrastructure and Environmental Systems (INES) is an interdisciplinary program emphasizing innovations in design, analysis, construction and operation of civil, energy and environmental infrastructure; and the scientific analysis of environmental systems. The interdisciplinary program also involves the development and sustainable use of renewable resources, and the protection of our earth and its environmental systems. The interplay between the environment and infrastructure is thoroughly studied by students as they confront the challenges facing urbanizing regions. INES engages a diverse group of talented faculty from the science, engineering and management disciplines. INES students are required to conduct interdisciplinary and original research that contributes new knowledge to the profession, as evidenced by scholarly publications in refereed journals. The program is intended to:
- Provide students with educational opportunities in science, engineering and management, culminating in an interdisciplinary research-based Ph.D. in Infrastructure and Environmental Systems,
- Involve students in emerging issues pertaining to infrastructure and the environment for promoting regional and national economic and social development, as well as policy implications, and
- Prepare students for careers as research scientists, resources and systems managers, professional engineers and educators who are capable of advancing the knowledge in science, technology and management relevant to infrastructure and environmental systems.
INES Students can participate in multidisciplinary activities provided by the UNC Charlotte research centers such as the Infrastructure, Design, Environment, and Sustainability (IDEAS) Center; the Center for Applied Geographic Information Science (CAGIS); the Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC); the Center for Transportation Policy Studies; the NSF I/UCRC Sustainably Integrated Buildings and Sites; the Integrated Design Research Lab and the Urban Institute. Current areas of INES research can be categorized as follows:
- Climate change and atmospheric dynamics
- Civil infrastructure and materials
- Earth and geo-environmental systems
- Energy and environmental economics
- Environmental science and technology
- Integrated building design and BIM
- Natural hazards and geophysics
- Quaternary geology and landform evolution
- Systems optimization and management
- Transportation systems analysis and operation
- Integrated Watershed Management
Program Learning Outcomes
Doctoral students engage in coursework that develops their competency for research. Through research students generate knowledge and become competent scientists and engineers. courses of study leading to the Ph.D. degree, becoming competent in selected topics required for completion of research at the PhD level. During this process, students acquire knowledge of foundation subjects and specialty areas with of their areas of research plans of study, and as a result they develop into professionals.an ability to function professionally.
Specific outcomes of the INES program are that students completing the Ph.D. degree will demonstrate abilities to analyze and evaluate advanced topics in engineering and/or science, to communicate technical information effectively, to discover and create new knowledge, and to understand interactions among advanced topics in engineering, science, engineering and management.
Admission Requirements
The following are general guidelines for successful admissions into the Ph.D. in Infrastructure and Environmental Systems:
- The equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate or master’s degree, from a regionally accredited college or university, in Eengineering, Eearth Sscience/ and Ggeology, chemical and biological sciences Chemistry, Biology or a related field with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.2 orand a minimum graduate GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scaleA = 4.0) in all graduate work.
- Applicants holding baccalaureate degrees with an undergraduate GPA of 3.75 or higher may be considered for admission,
- Acceptable scores on the verbal, quantitative and analytical sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are expected to be in the upper 50th percentile. The INES Admissions Committee generally expects aggregate GRE scores to be in the upper 50th percentile.
- An acceptable TOEFL score as required by the Graduate School for international students.
- Three letters of reference, two of which must be from faculty members.
- An essay which addresses the applicant’s motivation and area of research interest.
- Students entering the program will be expected to remedy any coursework deficiencies identified by their advisory committee in the first semester after enrolling in the program. The required coursework amount and kinds of remedial coursework required for the program will depend on the background of the student and will be established by the INES Director Admissions Committee and the student’s research advisor. advisory committee. It is important to note that this program will emphasize the quantitative and analytical skills necessary to confront the challenges of urban and regional growth and development.
Documents Required to be Submitted for Application of for Admission
The Office of the Graduate School at UNC Charlotte requires the following documents be submitted in the application package for each student:
- One official transcript from all colleges and universities attended
- Official GRE scores (verbal, quantitative and analytical)
- Official TOEFL scores if the student’s native language is not English.
- UNC Charlotte graduate online application
- Three letters of reference
- The essay which addresses the applicant’s motivation, prospective INES Ph.D. program focus area (civil engineering design, science, or management), and research issues of interest.
- A current CV
Admission Assessment
- An Admissions The INES Program Committee will review applications and recommend to the Program Director whether each applicant should be admitted or not and, if so, under what conditions.
- The Program’s Admissions Committee will assess each student’s previous academic coursework in light of the student’s stated direction of study. This assessment will be used to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the student’s previous academic history and to suggest specific coursework, if required, for the student’s program of study. The amount and kinds of any remedial coursework required for the program will depend on the student’s background and will be established by the Admissions Committee and confirmed by the Program Director. The Admissions Committee may also suggest specific coursework based on the student’s intended direction of study within the program. The Admissions Committee will conduct this assessment upon the student’s acceptance and formal declaration of intent to attend. For each entering student, a member of the INES Ph.D. Faculty will be selected to serve as his or her major advisor for the first year in the Program.
- For each entering student, a member of the INES faculty will be selected to serve as the student’s interim advisor for the first year of study.
Student Responsibility
Students entering the program must present evidence that they are capable of undertaking the coursework required of them. Such evidence must include familiarity, background, and/or interest in infrastructure and environmental issues., in one of the focus areas of design (engineering), science, or management.
Students may have completed equivalent courses elsewhere. Normally, transcripts will provide the evidence required by the Admissions Program Committee. However, if the student’s previous experience is offered as evidence, the student must provide all the documentation necessary to specify such experience. A more detailed list of the types of pre-requisite coursework can be found on the Program’s website.
Degree Requirements
The degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Infrastructure and Environmental Systems is awarded for completion of scholarly research that advances the knowledge base in the field of that research. Evidence of this is demonstrated by a successful dissertation defense. In addition, recipients of the degree should demonstrate a mastery of relevant subject matter and a potential for success in research and teaching.
As summarized below, the INES Ph.D. program requires a minimum of 72 post baccalaureate (semester) credit hours (a minor in this program is not applicable). A master’s degree in an appropriate field, that is consistent with the admission requirements, may count up to 30 hours of transfer credit into the INES Program upon recommendation of the Program Director and upon approval by the Graduate School.
Minimum Credit Hours to Degree Required for Master’s Entrants (42 hours)
INES Core (1512 hours)
Core courses (9 hours)
INES 8101 Environmental Systems (3)
INES 8102 Infrastructure Systems (3)
INES 8110 or an approved 8000-level course in policy, economics or managementAcquisition and Analysis of Scientific Data (3) or other approved 8000-level course (3)
Case study (3 hours)
INES 8113 Case Study (1-3)
Seminars (3 hours)
INES 8690 Seminar (1) repeated each fall for 3 years totaling 3 credit hours
Specialized (Focus Area) Electives (912 hours)*
Directed Studies (additional courses/research) (0 hours)*
INES 8999 Dissertation Research (18 hours)
Total Credits beyond Master’s Degree = 42 hours*
*Based on a maximum of 30 credit hours transferred from a master’s program. Less than 30 credit hours transferred into the INES Program will result in a higher number of credit hours to be completed at UNC Charlotte.
Minimum Credit Hours to Degree Required for Bachelor’s Entrants (72 hours)
INES Core (1512 credit hours)
Core courses (9 hours)
INES 8101 Environmental Systems (3)
INES 8102 Infrastructure Systems (3)
INES 8110 or an approved 8000-level course in policy, economics or managementAcquisition and Analysis of Scientific Data (3) or other approved 8000-level course (3)
Case study (3 hours)
INES 8113 Case Study (1-3)
Seminars (3 hours)
INES 8690 Seminar (1) repeated each fall for 3 years totaling 3 credit hours
Specialized (Focus Area) Electives (1512 hours)
Directed Studies (additional courses/research) (2430 hours)
INES 8999 Dissertation Research (18 hours)
Total Credits beyond Bachelor’s Degree = 72 hours
Plan of Study
Students who enter the Ph.D. Program must prepare a plan of study before the end of their second semester in the Program. The plan of study will propose a schedule for completion of all coursework by the student. Each plan will be approved by the student’s doctoral committee and by the Program Director.
Admission to Candidacy
After passing the qualifying examination, a student can propose a dissertation topic. A student advances to candidacy after the dissertation topic has been approved by the student’s doctoral committee. Candidacy must be achieved at least 6 months before the degree is conferred.
Financial Support
The INES program offers financial support in the form of assistantships and tuition grants as described below.
Assistantships
Research and teaching assistantships are available from the INES Program on a competitive basis to qualified applicants/students.
Tuition Grants
Tuition grants including partial and full out-of-state and in-state tuition support are available on a competitive basis for out-of-state and in-state students, respectively.
Graduate Course Requirements
All courses taken for credit in the INES Ph.D. program shall be graduate level courses (6000-level and 8000-level: graduate students only), and the majority shall be at the Ph.D. level (8000-level: Ph.D. students only). Core courses, the case study course, and seminar courses (all designated INES 8000-level courses) will be open only to Ph.D. students. All 6000-level courses available as specialized electives will be open only to graduate students (Master’s and Ph.D.). No credit will be given in the INES Program for graduate coursework completed at the combined undergraduate–graduate level (5000-level at UNC Charlotte).
For students entering the INES Ph.D. Program who have completed a master’s degree, the minimum number of hours specified below in each category will be adjusted based on the number of transfer credits awarded to the student for his/her master’s work.
INES Core (Core Courses + Case Study + Seminars = 125 credit hours)
INES Ph.D. students participate in interdisciplinary activities throughout their program of study. Students begin with a set of interdisciplinary core courses that teach them about key aspects of infrastructure and environmental systems present in all applications of INES. These common aspects are reflected in four (4) five (5) core offerings (3 core courses; 1 case study; and 1 continuous seminar). First, students complete 2 required core courses and 1 additional core course selected from a menu of other course offerings. Then, at midpoint, students participate in an interdisciplinary case-study course, and, finally, Students must complete the three core courses in their first year of study and throughout the program, students will participate in interdisciplinary seminars courses.
Focus Area (Specialized Elective Courses = 125 credit hours minimum)
It is recognized that doctoral degree study requires advanced knowledge of issues, the breadth of which depends on the context and objectives of the academic program. Both the infrastructure and the environment involve broad and multi-faceted issues. Beyond the core, a student needs to support doctoral research with enrollment in particular courses related to his/her research. For this reason, a minimum of 125 credit hours have been reserved for specialized (focus area) electives. The objective of these specialized electives is to provide an opportunity for students, their advisors, and their doctoral committee to select a complementary set of specialized courses intended to focus the student’s area of interest and research.
Specialized elective Focus area courses will come from many fields and sub-fields of various academic disciplines to address the program’s focus on INES Design, Science and Management.departments of UNC Charlotte. Many acceptable courses in each focus area are currently offered in various departments (ENGR, CEGR, GEOG, ESCI, EMGT, ARCH, BIOL, CHEM and ECON) at the master’s level and Ph.D. levels. Selected courses must be approved by each student’s advisor and doctoral committee. Coursework for specialized electives can be in the following disciplines.
Focus Area 1: Infrastructure and Environmental Systems Design (INESD)
The engineering, analysis, and design of infrastructure and environmental systems requires expertise in subject matter areas related to engineering principles, applications, and design methodologies. These areas include plan formulation, dimensioning of systems that could be structural and/or control systems, selection of material properties, and configuration of monitoring methodologies and approaches. Also, some basic knowledge of the causes and effects of the physical sciences as well as functional requirements of the facilities concerned needs to be provided to the student. .
Focus Area 2: Infrastructure and Environmental Systems Science (INESS)U
Human activities have major impacts on environmental systems. In order to understand those impactsSuccessful development and management of infrastructure require baseline scientific information on the nature of the ambient environment is required. The coursework This focus area is designed for the INES students who areis interested in understanding environmental systems includingand their responses to the build world. operation of infrastructure. This focus area encourages the studentCourses will help students to deepen their his or her knowledge in the physical, chemical and biological processes that operate in the environment in which we live.
Focus Area 3: Infrastructure and Environmental Systems Management (INESM)U
To be able to efficiently and effectively plan and manage infrastructure system or environmental system operations, the INES student interested in this focus area needs to obtain, integrate, and utilize knowledge in operations efficiency, effective policy development and deployment, legal issues and government regulations, intelligent support systems for decision making, effective environmental and/or socio-economic impact control measures, efficient systems project management, comprehensive evaluation of system performance, and smart systems implementation and management that includes the consideration of facility, people, policy, technology, economics, and procedures. The students who choose to focus in this area of INES will obtain the expertise in effective systems management and implementation in infrastructure system and/or environmental system areas and will work as senior managers and/or researchers in the above areas.
Directed Studies (2430 credit hours minimum)
In recognition of varying backgrounds, preparation, interests, and goals, each student may complete additional credits through directed studies (courses, research, or individual study), with the consent of his/her advisor and doctoral committee. This category may include courses within a student’s focus area as well as courses outside the focus area. Within the directed studies category, a student may complete a maximum of 9 credits of independent study toward the Ph.D. degree.
Dissertation Requirement (18 credit hours minimum)
The INES doctoral program includes a minimum of 18 hours of dissertation credit (INES 8999). The number of research credits taken each semester must be approved by the student’s advisor and doctoral committee. If more than 18 hours of dissertation credit are needed, the student should register for INES 8998.
Each student must complete and defend a dissertation based on a research program approved by the student’s doctoral committee. The dissertation must be of high quality and represent an original piece of research that advances the body of knowledge in infrastructure and environmental systems. Oral presentation and successful defense of the dissertation before the student’s doctoral committee in a forum open to the public will be required.
A copy of the student’s dissertation will be made available to the graduate faculty of the program at least two weeks prior to the public defense. The dissertation must be written in a format acceptable to the Graduate School.
Student Advising
Upon acceptance into the INES Ph.D. Program, a student will be assigned an interim advisor by the Program Director. Within the first year in the Program, each student will select a permanent doctoral research advisor. This selection will be approved by the Program Director and Dean of the Graduate School. At any time a student may request a change in of initial supervisor or research advisor. These requests will be submitted to the Program Director for consideration and action.
Other Requirements
Requirements for grades, transfer credits, residency, and time limits for completion match those described generally for the university. Various forms must be submitted to the Graduate School at various times by each INES student. Those forms include: Application for Transfer of Credit into a Graduate Degree Program,; INES Plan of Study,; Appointment of Doctoral Committee,; Application for Qualifying Examination,; Qualifying Examination Report,; Graduate School Petition for Topic Approval,; Application for Candidacy,; Application for Degree,; and Dissertation Defense Report for Doctoral Candidates. Refer to the appropriate sections of this Catalog and to the INES and Graduate School websites for details.
Comprehensive (Qualifying) Examination
Each student must complete a three-part qualifying examination: two written parts and one oral part. The first written examination covers two INES core courses (INES 8101 and INES 8102). The second written examination covers specialized elective areas focus area courses selected by the student’s advisor and doctoral committee. The third examination is an oral examination and is administered by the student’s doctoral committee and requires a presentation and defense by the student of his or her proposed research topic. Students who enter the Ph.D. Program directly from a baccalaureate program generally will sit for the two written examinations before the end of their third post-baccalaureate year in the program; students who enter from a master’s degree program must sit for both written parts before the end of their second year in the program. To sit for these examinations, a student must have at least a 3.0 GPA and must have removed all conditions upon admission.
A student may attempt to pass each part of the qualifying exam no more than twice. Failure of any of the three parts a second time will result in termination of enrollment in the Ph.D. Program.
Doctoral Committee
Each student’s Doctoral Committee will contain five members. One committee position will be filled by a UNC Charlotte Graduate Faculty member appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School. The remaining four members will be recommended, before the completion of the student’s first year in the program, by the student’s Doctoral Research Advisor, with input from the Program Director. Recommended faculty members should have expertise in the student’s area of research interest. The Program Director will approve, with subsequent concurrence by the Dean of the Graduate School, the four recommended faculty members to serve on the Committee. The doctoral program committee of each student will be chaired by the student’s Doctoral Research Advisor.
At least three of the Doctoral Committee members must be INES Program Faculty members. At least one of the four members must come from a different academic department No more than three doctoral committee members can come from the same academic department, in order to reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the program. The inclusion of one member from outside the University of North Carolina Charlotte is strongly encouraged, and this person must also be a member of the UNC Charlotte Graduate Faculty.
Dissertation
The INES doctoral program includes a minimum of 18 hours of dissertation credit. Each student must complete and defend a dissertation based on a research program approved by the student’s doctoral committee. The dissertation must be of high quality and represent an original piece of research that advances the body of knowledge in infrastructure and environmental systems. Oral presentation and successful defense of the dissertation before the student’s doctoral committee in a forum open to the public will be required. A copy of the student’s dissertation will be made available to the graduate faculty of the program at least two weeks prior to the public defense. The dissertation must be written in a format acceptable to the Graduate School and shall satisfy all requirements and deadlines specified by the Graduate School. Students are strongly encouraged to publish in refereed journal before graduation.
Application for Degree
Each student should make application for his/her degree by completing the online Application for Degree through Banner Self Service no later than the filing date specified in the University Academic Calendar.
Research Opportunities
INES faculty members reside in two primary departments (Civil & Environmental Engineering and Geography & Earth Sciences) and sixfive supporting departments (Biology, Chemistry, Economics and, Finance, Systems Engineering & Engineering Management, and the School of Architecture). INES Faculty members in these departments currently conduct research in their specialized areas of interest as well as in inter-disciplinary areas. (See current areas of research listed at the beginning of this INES catalog). Several international universities collaborate with INES to implement joint supervision of doctoral research. Every INES Faculty member is qualified to serve as the doctoral advisor for Ph.D. students. Ph.D.-level research is currently being conducted in the areas of water resources engineering, water and waste water analysis and treatment, bioremediation, drinking water and pathogenic studies, water quality modeling, waste containment, contaminant transport, deep foundations, soil-structure interaction, in-situ soil assessment, geosynthetics, waste-to-energy, sustainable materials, energy infrastructure, material reuse, composite materials, masonry structures, bridge monitoring, extreme (blast) loading, progressive collapse, material corrosion and durability, structural insulated panels, non-destructive testing, human factors in transportation engineering, highway safety, traffic operations, transportation planning, and intelligent transportation systems, hydrology, hydrogeology, Quaternary science, tectonic geomorphology, tropical meteorology, atmospheric modeling, GIS, remote sensing, coastal processes, structural geology, tectonics, geochemistry, petrology, sedimentology, and stratigraphy.
Courses in Infrastructure and Environmental Systems (INES)
Notes:
- Permission of the instructor is required on all classes in the INES Ph.D. program
- Some of these courses may be offered during one of the summer sessions as well as during one of the listed semesters. Check with summer course schedules for details.
INES 8090. Topics in Infrastructure and Environmental Systems. (3) Selected topics in civil and environmental engineering, earth sciences, engineering management, biology, chemistry, economics, or public policy. May be cross-listed with advanced graduate courses offered by respective departments. May be repeated for credit. (On demand)
INES 8101. Environmental Systems. (3) Prerequisite: Admission into the INES PhD program. Examines the principles of energy and mass transport as applied to the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and the Earth’s biogeochemical systems and how these impact human activities and infrastructure. Emerging environmental issues and technologies in the areas of environmental impact due to human activities and natural disasters, and environmental sustainability including industrial ecology, waste minimization and recycling, will also be examined. (Spring)
INES 8102. Infrastructure Systems. (3) Prerequisite: Admission into the INES PhD program. Overview of urban infrastructural development. Sustainable design features for facilities including municipal, transit, industrial, agricultural, telecommunications, and waste management. Impact of infrastructure development on environmental management including storm water quality and quantity, soil and channel erosion, urban air quality, sprawl, and waste production, treatment, and storage. (Fall)
INES 8110. Acquisition and Analysis of Scientific Data. (3) Prerequisite: Admission into the INES PhD program. The study of theories and techniques for acquiring and analyzing scientific data and information related to the analysis, design and management of the infrastructure and the environment. Includes pertinent aspects of data analysis such as statistical analysis, uncertainty, detection limits, correlation methods, trend analysis, and data management/warehousing. Includes applications of GIS and non-destructive assessment technologies to data acquisition. (Fall or Spring)
INES 8113. Case Study. (1-3) Prerequisites: INES 8101 and INES 8102. Students work together on interdisciplinary teams to study relevant environmental and infrastructure problems presented through case studies. The intent of the course is to directly involve the students in ongoing urban community projects. May be repeated for credit. (Fall or Spring)
INES 8201. Environmental and Ecological Economics. (3) Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Students will explore the ways in which ecosystem services are measured, valued, and monetized by the society. The course is divided into three lecture modules: (a) environmental economics, (b) risk analysis and management, and (c) ecosystem services and valuation. It is appropriate for advanced graduate students with background in engineering, environmental sciences, business, and public policy. (On demand)
INES 8690. Seminar. (1) Prerequisite: Admission into the INES PhD program. Students are required to actively participate in program seminars delivered by student researchers, faculty and invited speakers. These seminars are advertised to the campus and professional communities. Participation in these seminars count for a total of 3 credits (1 credit for each semester). Prior to graduation, each student makes at least one seminar presentation and provides at least one formal critique of a presentation. May be repeated for credit. (Fall)
INES 8890. Doctoral Independent Study and Project. (1-9) Individual investigation and exposition of results. May be repeated for credit.
INES 8998. Doctoral Dissertation Research. (1-9) Each student will continue an individual investigation culminating in the preparation and presentation of a doctoral dissertation, upon meeting the 18-credit hours requirement of INES 8999. Graded on a Pass/Unsatisfactory basis. May be repeated for credits. (Fall, Spring, Summer)
INES 8999. Doctoral Dissertation Research. (1-9) Students initiate and conduct an individual investigation culminating in the preparation and presentation of a doctoral dissertation. Maximum of 18 hours allowed under this course registration (Fall, Spring, Summer)