Greetings from the Head of the Department

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the website of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA) at UPC. This site is designed as a bridge to the outside world, showcasing the teaching and research activities carried out in our department. Our aim is for it to serve as both an information hub (passive) and a communication channel (active) for our staff, current and prospective students, the international academic community, and society at large.

Established in October 2015, the department comprises six sections that build upon the rich history of the six former departments that merged to create the major unit we are today—both in terms of people (311 teaching and research staff members) and in terms of teaching and research output.

DECA carries out teaching assignments across twelve faculties and one research institute at UPC, highlighting the versatility of our Teaching and Research Staff (PDI). A significant share of this teaching is delivered at the Barcelona School of Civil Engineering (Escola de Camins). For this reason, the UPC-Camins-BarcelonaTech Federation was created in 2016, driven jointly by DECA and the School. The third pillar of this Federation is the Camins Cross-Disciplinary Management Unit (located in Building B2 on the Campus Nord), which provides shared administrative and support services to the academic units within the Camins environment.
A cornerstone of any university department is the coordination of research led primarily by our faculty and PhD candidates (early-career researchers), with the essential support and involvement of our Technical, Management, and Administrative Staff (PTGAS)—among whom the laboratory staff deserves special recognition. Our faculty participates in twenty-seven research groups and eight doctoral programs, driving high-impact research that translates into PhD dissertations, articles in top international journals, and presentations at national and international conferences.

Ultimately, all this academic and scientific activity is driven by a clear commitment to serving society. A purpose embedded in our very name: a civil commitment to people, cities, and their infrastructure, and an environmental commitment focused on sustainability, environmental protection, and the future of our surroundings.

In 2025, DECA celebrated ten years since the unification of the six departments in the Camins area. We want this journey to remain one of continuous growth and development as we consolidate our position as a department of excellence.

Warmest regards on behalf of the executive team and all department staff.