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Civil Engineering in 2025: The Vision and How It Was Developed

Abstract

In June 2006, a diverse group of civil engineering and other leaders, including international participants, gathered to articulate an aspirational global vision for the future of civil engineering. Summit participants saw a very different world for civil engineers in 2025. An ever- increasing global population that is shifting even more to urban areas will require widespread adoption of sustainability. Demands for energy, transportation, drinking water, clean air, and safe waste disposal will drive environmental protection and infrastructure development. Society will face increased threats from natural events, accidents, and perhaps other causes such as terrorism.

Informed by the preceding, an aspirational global vision was developed that sees civil engineers entrusted by society to create a sustainable world and enhance the quality of life. Civil engineers will do this competently, collaboratively, and ethically as master builders, environmental stewards, innovators and integrators, managers of risk and uncertainty, and leaders in shaping public policy.

Summit organizers and participants intend that the vision will guide policies, plans, processes, and progress within the civil engineering community and beyond including around the globe. Individual civil engineers and leaders of civil engineering organizations should act to move the civil engineering toward the vision.

Keywords – change, civil engineering, global, leadership, summit, vision

Introduction

Civil engineers are rightfully proud of their legacy. Over the past century, clean water supplies have extended general life expectancies. Transportation systems serve as an economic and social engine. New bridges, blending strength and beauty, speed transport and bring communities closer together. Public and private construction, for which engineers provide the essential underpinnings of design and project oversight, produces hundreds of thousands of jobs and drives community development. From the functional and beautiful Golden Gate Bridge in the U.S., Petronas Towers in Malaysia, and Pont du Gard in France to the largely hidden water supply and sanitary sewer systems, civil engineers have made their mark, day in and day out, in many aspects of the daily life of essentially everyone around the globe.

Civil engineers know they cannot rest on their laurels. An ever-increasing global population that continues to shift to urban areas will require widespread adoption of sustainability. Demands for energy, drinking water, clean air, safe waste disposal, and transportation will drive environmental protection and infrastructure development. Society will face increased threats from natural events, accidents, and perhaps other causes such as terrorism.

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Walesh, S., & Chajes, M., & Mongan, D. (2007, June), Civil Engineering In 2025: The Vision And How It Was Developed Paper presented at 2007 Annual Conference & Exposition, Honolulu, Hawaii. 10.18260/1-2--2176