The Hydraulic Division of the University of Cagliari (sezione di Ingegneria Idraulica) was founded as Hydraulic Institute (Istituto di Idraulica e Costruzioni Idrauliche) in 1942. Since 1993 has been part of the Territorial Engineer Department (DIT), and in 2012 became a rib of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering (DICAAR).

Its academic and scientific history counts illustrious luminaries, including professors as Duilio Citrini and Costantino Fassò. It has also a long tradition on hydraulic and hydrological modelling for preventing natural water-forcing hazards, as well as water resources management.