Modern infrastructure systems are more interdependent than ever, with digital systems increasingly intertwined with physical infrastructure.
That’s not necessarily a problem statement. That’s simply reality.
Often, this infrastructure is designed, operated, and overseen separately. So who’s accountable for its performance? Who ensures it operates in the public interest? Who’s in charge?
Civil engineers – though still viewed as critical technical experts – may risk being left on the sidelines while essential infrastructure system decisions are often shaped outside their traditional domain.
This is the infrastructure landscape as laid out by the ASCE Collaborative Innovation Team at the recent quarterly ASCE Board of Direction meeting. CIT then backed up their presentation with a three-fold approach for positioning civil engineers for infrastructure systems leadership.
- Developing an infrastructure systems accountability framework.
- Fostering systems integration through a cross-institute pilot.
- Advancing workforce transformation to build the skills needed for system-level leadership.
In the immediate, CIT is planning an infrastructure systems leadership workshop, gathering leaders from four key areas: standards writers, knowledge providers, adoption enablers, and industry coordinators.
“The CIT approach is all about action, all about engagement,” said ASCE President Marsha Anderson Bomar, Ph.D., H.ITE, AICP, ENV SP, NAE, F.ASCE. “I really feel like they have hit on something here. I think it’s going to be hugely beneficial to us as an organization and very, very useful for our membership.”
It’s also representative of the kind of innovative, big-picture approach the board has taken all year as it works to transform the organization and the industry.
The July board meeting also featured meaningful, engaging presentations from Jodi Godfrey, senior research associate for the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation Research, about attracting young talent to the industry; and Allie Kelly, executive director of The Ray, a national nonprofit that partners with government agencies to develop innovative transportation infrastructure.
“Very forward thinking,” said Anderson Bomar. “These are people who don’t get stuck in the mud of how we’ve always done things. They’re open to risk and failure, knowing that they can pivot and improve if need be.
“I think a lot of times as civil engineers, we don’t venture into innovation because we’re afraid of failure. But you’re always going to fail, and maybe multiple times before you have success, when you’re doing new things or doing things in a new way.
“That’s how innovation happens.”
Other board meeting highlights
- ASCE Publications has been busy preparing the newest entry in its suite of journal offerings, the AI in Civil Engineering Journal, set to begin accepting submissions in early 2027.
- The board received an update on planning for ASCE2027: The Infrastructure and Engineering Experience, scheduled for March 1-5 in Philadelphia. The next big milestone is early September with the opening of registration.
- The board received a comprehensive report on the organization’s infrastructure resilience efforts, including work from the Infrastructure Resilience Division, government relations and advocacy efforts, institute and Center for Technical Advancement initiatives, workforce development work, ASCE standards and publications, among others. ASCE headquarters is hosting an AI Roadmap Summit Aug. 31 through Sept. 1, the ASCE Infrastructure Resilience Vision and Roadmap Workshop, Sept. 14-15; and convening the ASCE Resilience Forum at WSP New York City office, Sept. 24.
