(i) Dynamic response of stiffened isotropic/composite shells
(ii) Retrofitting of concrete structures with FRP composites
(iii) Dynamic response of foundation
(iv) Modeling foundation vibration
(v) Machine foundation
(vi) Dynamic properties of layered/non-homogeneous soil
(vii) Discrete fiber reinforced soil
(viii) Swell-shrink behavior of expansive soil
(ix) Mechanism of breaching of fuse plug in earthen dams
(x) Urban drainage planning
(xi) Neural network Application in Hydrology and Water Resource Management
(xii) Rainfall – runoff modeling
(xiii) Sedimentation studies of Hirakud Reservoir
(xiv) Application of Neural networks and Neuro- fuzzy techniques for reservoir Management
(xv) Snow dynamics
(xvi) Lime-fly ash stabilization of subgrade, sub-base and base courses of pavements

The current research works that are being carried out in the department are:

1. Institute is one of the “State Technical Agency” (STA) appointed by “National Rural Roads Development Agency”(NRRDA), Ministry of Rural Development, Govt.of India, New Delhi. As STA the department is involved in scrutiny of the DPRs for rural roads under PMGSY including quality monitoring and research activities to PMGSY roads. As the Head of this department is a member of the state level steering committee for PMGSY works of Orissa, the department also takes part in the policy making decision for implementation of the above works in the state.

2. The Department is one of the ‘ State Resource Institute’ (SRI) appointed by Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India for supporting the ‘National Programme Capacity Building for Engineers in Earthquake Risk Management’ (NPCBEERM) in state. The Govt. of Orissa has identified this department for providing practical training to the engineers in practice of the state and guidance to the urban local bodies as consultant in structural design and construction of earthquake resistant building.

3. The department is entrusted to prepare developmental plan of Sambalpur town under Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) by Ministry of Urban Developments, Govt. of India. Under this programme, the department has already prepared DPR in six major sectors, such as, Development & Improvement of Roads, Bridges and Parking Lots of Sambalpur Town (Rs. 58 Crores), Water Supply to Uncovered Area of Sambalpur Town (Rs. 24 Crores), Improvement of Sanitation System of Sambalpur Town (Rs. 5 Crores), Solid Waste management of Sambalpur Town (Rs. 3 Crores), Preservation & Development of Water Bodies and Water Retaining Structures of Sambalpur Town (Rs. 8 Crores), Unban Renewal and Heritage Conservation of Sambalpur Town (Rs. 9 Crores) for the holistic development of the Sambalpur town and submitted to Ministry of Urban Development, Govt. of India for necessary financial support. The Govt. of India has already sanctioned the budget for two sectors namely, Water supply and sanitation.

4. The “Integrated Wasteland Development Project” (IWDP) is taken up by the department to give technical guidance for holistic development of Kilasama Mini-Watershed of Kilasama G.P., Dhanakauda Block of Sambalpur District. This project is funded by the Department of Rural Development, Govt. of India, being an implementation Project; it is operated by the Watershed Association in the village level with direct involvement of beneficiaries such as SHGs and User groups.

5. The Department has conducted the Hydrological Survey work for Ash Pond and Redmud Pond at NALCO, M&R Complex, Damanjodi.

6. The “Hydrological survey for measurement of total area of power channel in Hirakud power system supported by Orissa Hydro Power Corporation(OHPC) through IDCO” is taken by the Department.

7. The Department has provided the technical inputs for rehabilitation of Training Centre of NTPC, Kaniah using Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Techniques.

8. The Department involves in regular extensive laboratory testing of Civil Engineering Materials such as, Cement, Sand, Coarse aggregates, Steel, Water, Soil, Bitumen etc., received from various Govt., Public and Private Sectors.