Learn. Innovate. Discover.

Our faculty are recognized nationally and internationally for their exceptional research. Through extensive interaction and collaboration with other distinguished research groups, our team of faculty and student researchers provides novel research and technological developments to increase sustainable practices in a variety of industries. We attract the brightest minds in the field and train early-career, technically competent scientists and engineers - the future leaders, consultants and regulators for the discipline.

With our talented people and extraordinary research facilities, the Geotechnical Centre is pioneering the way to innovative, environmentally conscientious solutions for future generations.

What is Geotechnical Engineering?

Geotechnical engineering involves any aspect of engineering relating to soil and rock such as mining, analysis and design of dams, foundations and tunnels, and understanding the behaviour of slopes and groundwater.

Geoenvironmental engineering deals with the interactions between wastes and the geosphere including management of solid waste, migration of contaminant through the subsurface and remediation of contaminated sites.

Geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering has been designated as one of the University of Alberta's areas of research excellence.

News & Events

Professional Development Opportunities

CaRRL is proud to host the 3rd Canadian & Cold Regions Rail Research Conference April 21-22, 2026!

The Canadian Rail Research Laboratory (CaRRL) was established to be Canada's premier education and research program in railway engineering. Housed within the University of Alberta's Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, CaRRL features a large, dedicated laboratory space inside the Natural Resources Engineering Facility. Dr. Michael Hendry is the Director of CaRRL and holds the NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Railway Engineering, and Dr. Renato Macciotta is the Associate Director of CaRRL. For further insights into our work, please visit our website at www.carrl.ca.

For more information, email Jen Stogowski

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SAVE THE DATE! 9th International Short Course on Design and Assessment of Mine Waste Structures - APRIL 30 - MAY 5, 2026

Join us for a comprehensive five-day workshop with 40 hours of lectures on a range of topics, including:

• Characterization of Ore and Rock • Engineering Properties of Tailings and Waste Rock

• Geochemical Characteristics • Conventional Tailings Embankment Design

• Failure Mechanisms and Case Studies • Oil Sands Tailings, Dam Design and Construction

• Surface Tailings Disposal • Waste Rock Impoundments

• Surface Impoundments Siting, Challenges • Hydrology and Groundwater

and Case Studies • Dam Safety and Inspection

• Seepage Analysis and Saturated/ • Stability Analysis of Tailings Impoundment

Unsaturated Flow • Covers and Closure

• Settlement and Deformation Analysis • Seismicity and Dynamic Analysis

• In-situ Characterization, Testing, Monitoring • Mine Waste Management in the Arctic

• Water Balance and Control in Surface • Compliance Regulations, Current & Emerging

Impoundments Practices

• Future Directions – Where are we going now?

For more information, email Jen Stogowski

Graduate Student Seminar Series

Join us for our weekly Graduate Student Seminar Series. Each week, we host a guest speaker or geotechnical graduate student presentation. In-person sessions are located in room 7-395 of the Donadeo Innovation Centre for Engineering. Please follow our LinkedIn page or click the button below for updates on upcoming seminars.

The 2024/2025 seminars have concluded. We are looking for industry professionals to act as guest speakers for the 2025/2026 seminars. For more information, please email Jen Stogowski.

Learn More

Join us online

Alumni, colleagues and friends of the Geotechnical Centre are invited to connect with us on our UAlberta Geotechnical Centre LinkedIn page! Follow us to stay up to date with the new and exciting developments at our Centre and what cutting-edge research our faculty members and graduate students are conducting.

We also have a LinkedIn Group where we post professional opportunities, news and events within the geotechnical community. Please let us know if you have any exciting news to share with our community—we look forward to hearing from you!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to learn about the latest research and technological advances in the fields of geotechnical engineering!

For more geotechnical engineering events, visit the Geotechnical Society of Edmonton and Canadian Geotechnical Society.