D-BAUG opens its doors to secondary school students
By taking part in the ETH Study Weeks 2025, the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering (D-BAUG) at ETH Zurich reaffirmed its commitment to promoting and raising awareness of its study programmes. Of the 134 pupils who were distributed across seven different disciplines, 22 applied to participate in the Civil Engineering programme, while 16 chose Environmental Engineering.
Civil Engineering: From Planning to the Construction of a Bridge
The Civil Engineering study week focused on the engineering planning process of a bridge. Participants had the opportunity to engage in the entire planning process: from stakeholder analysis to technical execution. As a concrete example, the Rhine bridge between Flaach and Rüdlingen served as the basis for exploring the challenges of bridge planning and construction. At the Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology, students examined, for instance, how flooding can alter the riverbed around bridge piers and how such factors are accounted for in design.
Corrosion of steel in concrete was another topic addressed through hands-on experiments. Participants learned how to produce environmentally friendly concrete without compromising long-term resistance to corrosion. Additional focal points included the investigation of bridge foundations and soil analysis to assess where a bridge might be safely constructed. Using the D-BAUG geotechnical centrifuge – the most powerful research centrifuge in Europe – students tested their theoretical calculations and explored how groundwater can affect the load-bearing capacity of a foundation.
The week was rounded off with an excursion to the SBB Railway Laboratory, where pupils gained insight into the complexities of transport planning and enjoyed exclusive access behind the scenes of Swiss railway operations.
Environmental Engineering: Tackling Global Environmental Challenges
Participants in the Environmental Engineering programme were offered an engaging introduction to the challenges of modern environmental technologies. A key focus was urban water management and the question of how cities can be built in ways that conserve natural resources while addressing the realities of climate change.
Using models and practical experiments, students explored the impact of pollutants on water bodies and learned how innovative solutions can mitigate these effects. The topic of fish migration and river protection also featured prominently: How can fish ladders and bypass systems be developed to maintain natural migratory patterns while allowing for the generation of climate-neutral electricity?
Through remote sensing, students worked with satellite data to analyse environmental changes such as glacier melt and deforestation, gaining insight into how such data can support environmental protection efforts. Air pollution detection and its implications for human health formed another key focus. Participants were introduced to an innovative colour-based test that enabled them to measure organic compounds in the air.
Throughout the ETH Study Weeks, participants gained exclusive insights into the fields of Civil and Environmental Engineering. They were not only introduced to theoretical concepts but were also able to apply their knowledge through hands-on experiments and field visits. The academic coordinators used this opportunity to illustrate the diversity and societal relevance of both disciplines, and to demonstrate how engineers in these fields contribute actively to addressing global challenges.
Special thanks go to the doctoral students, scientific staff, and professors whose dedicated support made the successful implementation of the D-BAUG study weeks possible.
Final presentations delivered to fellow students, parents, and the Rector of ETH Zurich.
From the module “Introduction to Earth Observation”. Organised by Professor Dr Irena Hajnsek, Institute of Environmental Engineering.
