What civil engineers are reading this week

• What topics will dominate civil engineering in 2026? Leaders break out their crystal balls

  Nobody can see the future, but these engineers do their best. In many cases it comes down to what region of the U.S. they are in. By all accounts, the profession is poised for a big year despite challenges.

• Hi-def mapping at a continental scale: Could it help solve infrastructure inequality?

  Combining high-precision satellite data with on-the-ground information helps a team in Africa, where huge informal settlements lack basic infrastructure, understand inequality at a block-sized scale.

• Now you can explore your city’s infrastructure in Google Earth

  The Ask Google Earth feature now allows users to find specific types of infrastructure within defined areas, from the number of stop signs to storm drains, which may aid urban planning and analysis.

• 90 years later, Oregon’s Coos Bay Bridge stands as testament to perseverance, New Deal

  Engineer Conde B. McCullough oversaw development of the bridge, which opened in 1936, specifying details down to paint color, but was absent for much of its construction. What ingenuities did the team employ?

• How fast is too fast? States revisit speed limits

  Faster roads or safer roads? State lawmakers across the country are looking at speed limit rules for all drivers.

• With 1 in 3 engineering roles unfilled, Engineers Without Borders USA prepares next generation

  A skills gap has created a desperate need for engineers in the U.S. The consequences include delayed infrastructure projects, strained utilities, and communities waiting longer for essential services.