NIST UNIVERSITY
Institute Park, Berhampur, Odisha-761008, India

DEPT. OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

The Department of Civil Engineering at NIST University, established in 2013, continues to evolve as a dynamic centre for academic excellence and research innovation. With a current intake of 30 students through NISTEE ranking and state-level counselling based on JEE rankings, the department is committed to nurturing the next generation of civil engineers equipped to tackle 21st-century infrastructure challenges. Our faculty members bring rich academic and research experience from premier institutions like IITs, NITs, and other leading universities, fostering a strong academic foundation while embracing cutting-edge developments in the field.

We encourage students to explore emerging areas such as green buildings, smart cities, advanced materials, geotechnical modeling, and AI applications in civil engineering. We promote a vibrant research culture by offering research assistantships, encouraging student-led innovation, and supporting participation in national-level competitions and technical festivals hosted by IITs, NITs, and other reputed institutions.

The ASCE student chapter is an active platform through which students engage in technical talks, workshops, and industrial visits. These experiences not only broaden their perspective but also prepare them to meet real-world engineering challenges with confidence and creativity. Moreover, the department welcomes summer interns from premier institutions across India, offering them opportunities to work on research projects using our advanced infrastructure and under the mentorship of experienced faculty.

Vision:

To nurture Civil Engineering graduates who excel as leaders in addressing technological and societal challenges, aligning with national aspirations, while contributing to their profession and successfully pursuing advanced studies.

Mission:

  1. To establish the Civil Engineering Department as a renowned academic and research hub, fostering excellence in the field of civil engineering.
  2. To cultivate a dynamic research and innovation ecosystem by engaging students, faculty, staff, industry, and the broader society (both rural and urban) to identify and solve real-world, environmentally sustainable engineering challenges.
  3. To actively collaborate through partnerships and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with esteemed national and international institutions and laboratories, addressing the growing demand for advanced civil engineering technologies.

LABORATORIES

  • Core lab activities involve:
    • Material testing (concrete, steel, composite materials)
    • Beam and column behaviour analysis
    • Load-deflection characteristics
    • Non-destructive testing (NDT)
    • Structural health monitoring techniques
    • Seismic response simulations
  • Key activities in the lab include:
    • Testing of soil subgrade properties
    • Evaluation of aggregate strength and durability
    • Characterization of bitumen and bituminous mixes
    • Design of flexible and rigid pavements
    • Assessment of Marshall Stability and flow characteristics

The laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art apparatus to evaluate key soil properties related to:

  • Compaction and permeability
  • Compressibility and consolidation
  • Deformation and shear strength
  • Soil dynamics and ground improvement techniques

The lab also includes a field operations unit with comprehensive equipment for:

  • Vane shear testing
  • Standard Penetration Test (SPT)
  • Laboratory Triaxial Testing

The lab also supports research and consultancy in areas such as foundation systems, ground improvement methods, soil-structure interaction, and earthquake geotechnics.

The laboratory is fully equipped with modern instrumentation to perform chemical and biological characterization of environmental samples. Key equipment includes:

  • UV-Visible Spectrophotometer
  • Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS)
  • Digital Spectrophotometer
  • BOD Incubator
  • COD Digestion Apparatus
  • pH Meter
  • Nephelo Turbidity Meter

The lab includes a comprehensive set of instruments such as:

  • Total Station
  • Electronic Theodolite
  • Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM) instruments
  • Auto Level
  • Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers
  • Plane Table
  • Planimeter

Through practical sessions and fieldwork, students gain exposure to:

  • Linear and angular measurement
  • Levelling and contouring
  • Traversing and topographic surveying
  • GPS-based positioning
  • Total Station-based data acquisition and layout work

By integrating both traditional tools and advanced technology, the Surveying Laboratory prepares students for careers in civil construction, geotechnical studies, land development, GIS, and remote sensing.

LABORATORIES

Structural Engineering Laboratory

The Structural Engineering Laboratory at NIST University is an integral part of the Civil Engineering Department, supporting teaching, research, and consultancy. It bridges theory and practice by enabling students and researchers to study the behavior of structural elements under various loading conditions. Equipped with advanced instruments, the lab conducts experimental investigations on models and full-scale structures under static, dynamic, and cyclic loads, simulating real-world forces like wind, earthquakes, and live loads.

NIST CE LABORATORIES
NIST CE LABORATORIES
Transportation Engineering Laboratory

The Transportation Engineering Laboratory at NIST University supports academic and research activities in highway and pavement engineering. It offers hands-on training and is equipped for testing soils, aggregates, and bitumen, as well as advanced bituminous mix and pavement design in line with national and international standards.

Geotechnical Laboratory

The Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory at NIST University is a core facility for exploring the engineering behavior and fundamental properties of soils, supporting both academic instruction and advanced research. The lab plays a critical role in training students in the principles of soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering, essential for safe and sustainable infrastructure development.

NIST CE LABORATORIES
NIST CE LABORATORIES
EnvironmentaL Engineering Laboratory

The Environmental Engineering Laboratory at NIST University is a modern facility focused on water, wastewater, and air quality analysis. It supports education and research in environmental protection and pollution control through hands-on testing. Equipped with advanced instruments, the lab enables precise analysis of BOD, COD, pH, turbidity, heavy metals, and nutrients in environmental samples./p>

Surveying laboratory

The Surveying Laboratory at NIST University is a well-equipped facility that offers practical training in both conventional and modern land surveying techniques. It plays a crucial role in providing students with hands-on experience in spatial measurement, mapping, and geospatial data analysis-essential skills for any civil engineer.

NIST CE LABORATORIES
NIST CE LABORATORIES
Basics of Civil Engineering Laboratory

This laboratory is equipped with instruments which give clarity on basic concepts on mechanics of Civil engineering like analysis of trusses and various types of beams.

RESEARCH AREAS

Students in our department have the opportunity to actively engage in research across four core areas. Undergraduates gain exposure through various coursework, while graduate students can specialize in the area that inspires them most.

Structural Engineering continues to evolve with advancements in smart materials, green buildings, and performance-based design. Students are involved in research that promotes both innovation and sustainability in construction practices.

Current Research Focus Areas:

  • Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (FRP) for retrofitting
  • Self-compacting and eco-friendly concrete
  • Seismic-resistant multistoried building design
  • Finite Element Modeling (FEM) of structural components

Faculty Mentors:

  • Ramakanta Choudhary
  • Surya Narayan Patra

Career Paths:

  • Smart infrastructure development
  • Green building consultancy
  • Structural health monitoring
  • Public and private construction sectors

In the context of climate resilience and urban expansion, geotechnical engineers are essential in tackling challenges like foundation failures, slope instabilities, and ground improvement for sustainable construction.

Current Research Focus Areas:

  • Ground improvement using geosynthetics
  • Foundation design under complex loading
  • Slope stabilization and landslide risk analysis
  • Soil behavior modeling using AI/ML tools

Faculty Mentors:

  • Barada Prasad Sethy
  • Sujit Kumar Rout

Career Paths:

  • Infrastructure resilience consultancy
  • Geo-disaster risk management
  • Foundation and underground structure design
  • Oil & mining industries

With increasing climate variability and urban water challenges, research in this area focuses on optimizing water systems for sustainability and environmental impact.

Current Research Focus Areas:

  • Urban flood modeling and mitigation
  • Smart water distribution networks
  • Climate-resilient irrigation planning
  • Hydrological modeling and river basin management

Faculty Mentor:

  • Mrs. Padminee Samal

Career Paths:

  • Water resource and flood risk analyst
  • Government water and irrigation boards
  • Hydrologist in climate resilience projects
  • Sustainable water infrastructure development

Modern transportation engineering is driven by data analytics, smart mobility, and sustainable transport planning. Research in this area supports the design of systems that are efficient, safe, and future-proof.

Current Research Focus Areas:

  • Traffic flow and congestion analysis
  • Transport modeling using AI & GIS
  • Smart road infrastructure
  • Sustainable urban mobility and EV planning

Faculty Mentor:

  • Sujit Kumar Rout

Career Paths:

  • Smart city transport planning
  • Traffic and mobility modeling
  • Highway and transit system design
  • Transportation policy and governance

Modern transportation engineering is driven by data analytics, smart mobility, and sustainable transport planning. Research in this area supports the design of systems that are efficient, safe, and future-proof.

Current Research Focus Areas:

  • Traffic flow and congestion analysis
  • Transport modeling using AI & GIS
  • Smart road infrastructure
  • Sustainable urban mobility and EV planning

Faculty Mentor:

  • Sujit Kumar Rout

Career Paths:

  • Smart city transport planning
  • Traffic and mobility modeling
  • Highway and transit system design
  • Transportation policy and governance

OUR ESTEEMED RECRUITERS

TCS
Western Digital
zenus
Utkarsh
surya international

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

Utkarsh Verma
Utkarsh Verma
Batch: 2018–2022
GATE Score: 548
K. Jaganmohan
K. Jaganmohan
Batch: 2019–2023
GATE Score: 592
Nikhil Kumar
Nikhil Kumar
Batch: 2020–2024
GATE Score: 520

STUDENTS PLACEMENTS

Ronit Kumar Sahu
Ankit Mahato
Batch: 2025
Company: Utkarsh Group
Ronit Kumar Sahu
Ronit Kumar Sahu
Batch: 2025
Company: Surya International
Arpita Rani Dash
Arpita Rani Dash
Batch: 2025
Company: Zenus Group
Debashis Mohapatra
Debashis Mohapatra
Batch: 2025
Company: Zenus Group
Tulasi Kumari Pradhan
Tulasi Kumari Pradhan
Batch: 2025
Company: Zenus Group

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS (INTERNSHIPS)

Ayush Jena
Ayush Jena
Batch: 2022
Internship: NHAI
Ronit Kumar Sahu
Ronit Kumar Sahu
Batch: 2025
Internship: NHAI
Divya Prerana Pattnayak
Divya P. Pattnayak
Batch: 2025
Internship: RVNL
Debasish Mahapatra
Debasish Mahapatra
Batch: 2025
Internship: RVNL
Ankit Mahato
Ankit Mahato
Batch: 2025
Internship: RVNL
Bibhudatta Panda
Bibhudatta Panda
Batch: 2025
Internship: RVNL
Arpita Rani Dash
Arpita Rani Dash
Batch: 2025
Internship: RVNL
Tulasi Kumari Pradhan
Tulasi Kumari Pradhan
Batch: 2025
Internship: RVNL
Sai Chandan Sahoo
Sai Chandan Sahoo
Batch: 2025
Internship: RVNL

ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENTS

Sucharita Sahu
Sucharita Sahu
2nd Rank, OSSC JEE
Batch: 2022
Debadatt Behera
Debadatt Behera
66th Rank, OSSC JEE
Batch: 2020
Deeptirani Mishra
Deeptirani Mishra
101st Rank, OSSC JEE
Batch: 2020
Ayush Jena
Ayush Jena
Sr. Engineer, L&T Construction
Batch: 2022
Research_R&D

Research is given equal importance in addition to academics, in the Department of Civil Engineering, NIST. The Faculty members of the department carry out both core and interdisciplinary research with other departments of the institute

FACULTY

SYLLABUS

 

With the boom in the construction industry, the demand for Civil Engineers is ever increasing. Civil Engineering students not only display a good understanding of subjects like Physics and Mathematics, but also showcase their talent in practical application of physical and scientific principles for solving the problems of society. Considered to be the second-oldest engineering discipline, Civil Engineering is the science of design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment. Applying the principles of geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, environmental engineering, transportation engineering and construction engineering, civil engineers take up residential, commercial, industrial and public works projects of all sizes and levels of construction. Therefore, they are considered to be specialists in construction activities like building roads, canals, br/idges, industrial estates, independent houses, apartment complexes, shopping complexes and cinema theatres, among others.