Sustainable Infrastructure
Designing systems to support resilient communities.
At the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE), we conduct research that enables communities to plan, build, and maintain sustainable, resilient, and adaptable infrastructure systems. From transportation and construction materials to stormwater management and urban design, our work addresses the environmental footprint of the built environment while supporting long-term community and economic well-being. We collaborate across engineering, planning, and environmental disciplines to apply science and innovation to real-world infrastructure challenges.
Focus Areas
- Green Stormwater Infrastructure
Mitigating flooding through the use of infrastructure that is designed to mimic nature and capture rainwater where it falls. - Low-carbon Construction Materials and Design
Facilitating the construction of more sustainable infrastructure through low-carbon materials and innovative design. - Urban Heat Mitigation
Identifying strategies to protect cities from excess heat, such as green roofs, cool pavements, and integrating trees and other vegetation to facilitate natural cooling. - Transportation Planning and Emissions Reduction
Optimizing transportation infrastructure for current and future needs while also making these systems more climate-friendly. - Decision-support Tools
Creating tools for planners and policymakers to help make sustainable decisions.
Featured Researchers
Jeremy Guest
Professor of Civil and Environmental EngineeringDirector, Levenick CenterProfessor Guest directs the Levenick Center for a Climate-Smart Circular Bioeconomy. His work supports the design of agricultural and manufacturing production systems that reduce waste and pollution through circular resource use and climate-smart innovation.
Impact Highlights
Illinois researchers are piloting Level 1 EV charging stations across campus
Led by the Sustainable Transportation Initiative, this study aims to make EV charging available on campus at the local electricity price, and is part of a broader vision for clean, integrated mobility systems.
The Levenick Center puts recycling and regeneration at the center of how we grow and process food
Established by a $10 million gift, the Levenick Center for a Climate-Smart Circular Bioeconomy is advancing circular production approaches that reduce pollution and extend material lifecycles.
I-GUIDE is harnessing “big data” for a first-ever risk assessment of over 90,000 dams across the U.S.
With global climate change resulting in unpredictable and extreme rainfall patterns, assessing the risks and impacts of dam failures is now more important than ever.