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January/February 2026 print issue

Photograph courtesy of GettyImages.com/Lavin Photography
The photograph shows a body of water surrounded on both sides by autumnal-colored trees. In the foreground and background are bridges, and to the left is a cityscape. The sun is rising over the landscape.

Civil Engineering magazine January/February 2026

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Features

A pond, surrounded by houses and trees, is shown with marshy planted areas marked off by stakes and strings.
Hydraulic ‘memory’ guides New York City’s Bluebelt program

New York City’s Bluebelt projects work with how water naturally wants to flow.

Hydraulic ‘memory’ guides New York City’s Bluebelt program
A green gloved hand for someone wearing a white protective suit takes a water sample using a clear beaker.
Anaheim, California, treatment plants remove PFAS from drinking water


The $150 million effort cleaned up the city’s drinking water.

Anaheim, California, treatment plants remove PFAS from drinking water
A blue commercial truck crosses a steel bridge. Below the bridge is water.
Engineers, volunteers converge to restore local access to flood victims

Resilient bridge design is on display as teams rebuild private bridges destroyed by floods.

Engineers, volunteers converge to restore local access to flood victims
The photo shows the Seattle skyline and the new waterfront park illuminated at night.
Seattle waterfront project creates 20-acre urban park

The revitalized downtown area serves as the city’s new ‘front porch.’

Seattle waterfront project creates 20-acre urban park
A blurred image of a six-ton bronze bell that hangs in a park, surrounded by brick buildings. A red bow is added over the image.
A piece of American history is home in Philadelphia

The Bicentennial Bell, a gift from England, hangs in a renovated garden.

A piece of American history is home in Philadelphia

Departments

Photo shows a lake and in the background are autumnal-colored tress and a small mountain.
HISTORY LESSON

An inverted siphon brought water to 1800s Nevada boomtowns

The Marlette Lake Water System made mining for precious metals feasible.

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash
A QUESTION OF ETHICS

Engineering professionals must reject practices of unfair competition

Misusing access or influence for gain is prohibited by the ASCE Code of Ethics.

An up-close view of a small, rain-filled pothole on a street. In the blurred background is a line of cars parked on a curb.
TECHNOLOGY

A new AI-powered tool could speed up road assessments

It promises incredible value for cash-strapped municipalities and others.

Rendering shows people walking along a wooden boardwalk. To the left is a body of water, and there are yachts in the water. To the right of the boardwalk are trees and a pavilion.
FAST FORWARD

New concept transforms Italian seaside community

The design weds sustainability, development, and beauty.

Photo of Supreme Court facade by Ian Hutchinson on Unsplash
THE LAW

“Time is of the essence” clause doesn’t negate absence of completion date

Contractor hoping for a payday does not sway the court’s decision.

Photo by Sara Kurig on Unsplash
WISH I'D KNOWN

Imperfection can be a powerful engineering tool

Real-world problems can be chaotic, without a single perfect solution.

There are four images on the picture. The first shows a crumpled piece of pager. The second the crumpled paper transformed into another shape. The third shows a swan, and the fourth shows the bird taking flight. These images represent evolution, transformation, innovation, and creativity.
PRESIDENT'S NOTE

Uniting the infrastructure community at ASCE2027

The conference is all about big ideas and even bigger solutions.

ANTIQUE TYPEWRITER ON WOODEN DESK
EDITOR'S NOTE

Engineering our water

This issue covers water: stewarding it, purifying it, and recovering from it.

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