The department conducts basic research as well as project based research in cooperation with our partners in industry and the public sector. We often engage our senior level students, allowing them to work on real-life issues and actual problems as they specialize. Each research initiatives is grounded in one or more of our 6 distict research groups, which are closely tied to the specializations in our degree programmes.

The department is a partner in the International Center of Geohazards, one of the nation's 21 Centres for Excellence. In addition we participate in several EU-based projects of varying nature.

Current research activity at the Department of Civil and Transport Engineering includes the following topics and issues:

• Building physics and technology (moisture, heat transport, fire resistance)
• Wooden materials in buildings
• Improved altitude determination with GPS and altimetry
• Close-up photogrammetry and architectural photogrammetry
• Numerical soil modeling, dimensioning of constructions
• Landslide and avalanche danger evaluation, tripping and prevention
• Flux forced movements of slender constructions
• Arctic constructions
• Tunnel construction, complete contour drilling, rock blasting
• Project management
• Driver support systems / traffic behavior, simulation and real-time analysis
• Road construction materials, asphalt paving and recycling

See also a selection of PhD dissertations (pdf) from the department.

In the final sections of their study, master's degree students participate in research through project and thesis work. Students are offered their choice of assignments from the relevant projects the department is involved in at the time. As mentioned, the issues and puzzles to be solved are often tied to our partners in industry, or research institutions and environments the likes of SINTEF.

Each project thesis is required to result in new know-how, applicable to industry and commerce, and suitable for publication in discipline related journals.