Program Overview
The Texas A&M University civil and environmental engineering department's Graduate Assistantships in Areas of National Need (GAANN) program in infrastructure resilience in the context of advanced construction methods focuses on addressing our country's needs for resilient infrastructure. These infrastructure needs will be met through the adoption, advancement and implementation of novel construction methods.
Another purpose of the program is to increase the Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering's doctoral program enrollment. We also aim to support the variety of areas in academia and the civil engineering profession.
Providing Solutions
Disasters caused by various natural hazards, such as hurricanes, floods and earthquakes, have emphasized the need for quickly constructible and resilient infrastructure. This speeds up the recovery of affected areas and reduces the socioeconomic impacts after disasters. It also helps to prevent more disasters.
Traditional construction methods are time-consuming and use extensive manual labor. Manual labor is in short supply in many parts of the country. Advanced construction methods, such as 3D printing and robotic modular construction, are attractive alternatives.
Advanced construction methods offer the basis for novel design solutions that:
- Provide for significant construction speed through automation.
- Lower environmental impacts through reduced material usage and waste.
- Aim to lower construction costs.
Our GAANN program addresses current infrastructure challenges. It is a unique, educational and research program on infrastructure resilience in the context of advanced construction methods. The program aims to train a new generation of engineers who have surpassed traditional discipline boundaries and have a basic understanding of advanced construction methods.
More Information
See information on our project faculty, program structure and research areas.
For further questions, please email us at civil-gaann@tamu.edu.