The National Laboratory for Civil Engineering (Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil – LNEC), established in 1946, is a public research institution, devoted to science and technology, with the status of state Laboratory.
The basic missions of LNEC are to contribute to the pursuit of the public policies and to provide expert support to the public authorities in the various Public administration sectors, particularly in what concerns the quality and safety of works, the protection and re-qualification of both natural and built heritage, as well as the technological upgrading and innovation, namely in the building construction sector.
The organization structure of this institution comprises 8 operative services that correspond to its major lines of activity, namely: Geotechnics department; Concrete Dams department; Buildings department; Structures department; Hydraulics and Environment department; Materials department; Transportation department; and Scientific Instrumentation Centre.
