Physical Structure
The University of Passo Fundo has a set of experimental laboratories, service centers and libraries that allow the development of teaching and research activities in the PPGEng areas.
In the sequence, there is a list of the main units that provide support to the PPGEng research lines and projects, along with a brief description of their characteristics and activities.
- Teaching and Research Laboratories
a) Laboratory of Civil Construction Materials: studies on mechanical behavior, durability and characterization of materials, concrete and mortar proportioning method used in researches concerning the development of materials for infrastructure, especially for the utilization of industrial and civil construction residues.
b) Laboratory of Transport Infrastructure: studies on materials applied to roads, asphalt mixtures proportion and fatigue life of cemented material have promoted researches in the PPGEng related to the performance of road materials through preliminary laboratory and field tests. It is relevant to point out the accomplishment of fatigue laboratory tests in constructed equipment with funds from the Universal Notice. Thus, this laboratory has provided support for the development and measurement of the monitoring systems of infrastructure works, resulting into the incorporation of technical production from patents deposits.
c) Laboratory of Structural Systems: experimental assessment of components and structural systems of concrete, steel and wood. In this laboratory, two dissertations on concrete bridges and splicing on steel beams have already been developed and another one on connections in steel structures is being carried out.
d) Laboratory of Analysis, Dimensioning and Optimization: analysis of structural components, structures of reinforced and steel concrete and dynamic structural analysis related to the research line “Sustainable Infrastructure”, it has supported several dissertations on the theme of optimization of structural problems and general engineering.
e) Laboratory of Geotechnics: studies on new material applied to geotechnical and environmental works; assessment of physical and mechanical properties of geotechnical materials.
f) Laboratory of Environmental Geotechnics and Technologies of Remediation: studies on the transport of contaminants; assessment of soil remediation techniques; geotechnical characterization of solid residues, treatment and utilization of solid residues. Through the Laboratory of Geotechnics, experimental researches on soil pollution, solid residues and transport of contaminants of the PPGEng are made possible. The set of equipment available in this laboratory was obtained with the PPGEng project funds.
g) Laboratory of Environmental Sanitation: studies concerning the characterization of effluents, water and solid residues. Several PPGEng activities in the areas of bioremediation of contaminated soils and transport of contaminants have been developed in this laboratory.
h) Laboratory of Effluents and Environmental Chemistry: studies related to the chemical and physical-chemical characterization of effluents and wastewaters.
i) Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology: microbiological studies on water and soils; bioremediation techniques application.
j) Laboratory of Environmental and Soil Microbiology: application of biotechnology in the processing of mineral resources; development of biological processes in the treatment of effluents and solid residues; studies on soil and water microbiology. Through this laboratory, a lot of works in the area of treatment of effluents, remediation of contaminated soils, development and environmental application of microalgae compounds have been possible.
k) Laboratory of Unitary Operations: studies on the phenomenon of sedimentation, centrifugation and filtration. Currently, in this laboratory, a PPGEng research project on the treatment of effluents by membrane separation process is being carried out.
l) Laboratory of Environmental Comfort: evaluation of the thermal performance of the constructive components of buildings; studies on the noise control of in the built environment.
m) Laboratory and Management: studies directed at the environmental management and infrastructure systems; it supports research in “Territorial Planning and Infrastructure Management” line.
- Laboratories and Service Centers:
UPF offers service centers of great research relevance once they support chemical and microbiological analyses, as well as they assist the construction of instruments and research equipment.
a) Laboratory of Soils: physical and chemical analysis of soils;
b) Laboratory of Water: chemical analysis of water potability;
c) Laboratory of Effluent Control: analysis of sewage and industrial effluents;
d) Mechanical Technology Center: elaboration and execution of mold projects for plastic injection, sheet cutting and folding tools, welding devices, casting models, general machining and special equipment development;
e) Electronic Center: electronic maintenance of equipment, general electrical projects;
- Experimental Areas for Field Research
a) Experimental Field for the Studies of Degraded Area Recovery: monitoring of superficial waters, monitoring of groundwater, geotechnical field tests, flora and fauna investigation in degraded areas, studies on environmental recovery.
b) Experimental Geotechnics Field: experiments in the field of Geotechnics, Environmental and Pavement Geotechnics;
c)Experimental Field for Pavement Research: monitoring and assessment of mechanical resistance and deflections in pavements.
- Library Network
UPF offers a Library Network composed of nine sectorial libraries and a central unit. Its physical collections include books, periodicals, catalogues, CD-ROMs, audiovisual, legislation and norms materials. Thus, two virtual libraries are available –The University Library 3.0, including the publishers Casa do Psicólogo, Contexto, Manole, IBPEX, Papirus, Ática, Scipione and Pearson, – and My Library, including the publishers Grupo A, Atlas, Grupo GEN and Saraiva, whose collection can be accessed from any computer. Through the Library Network, UPF students have access to a lot of foreign periodicals, containing full texts, at CAPES Periodical Portal. UPF is also integrated with the National Teaching and Research Network (RNP) and takes part in the Federated Academic Community (CAFe), providing students around 100 databases, among which, in the area of Civil and Environmental Engineering, it is important to point out: BioOne; Nature; Springer Link; Wiley – Online Library.
To sum up, concerning the Graduate Program in Civil and Environmental Engineering, the University of Passo Fundo provides access to the main books and periodicals in order to best meet the demands of the disciplines taught in the programs and to assist the activities in their respective research lines.
