There are many challenges facing civil engineers in the future:
- growing population
- infrastructure that is deteriorating
- preparing for the possibility of natural disasters
- updating of transportation systems to meet growing needs
Civil engineers will have to change their "old" way of thinking to include the many new and emerging areas such as biotechnology, advanced communication and information technology. They will have to partner with industry and collaborate with disciplines outside engineering. They will have to develop innovative and entrepreneurial skills.
Some of the following are still on the drawing board. Some may be already be under construction. They all reflect the need for civil engineering expertise.
- Civil engineers are exploring new ways of combining steel and concrete to produce efficient and attractive structures.
Arch Bridge Crossing the Brno-Vienna Expressway: January 2000 issue of the New Civil Engineer International
photo scanned with permission of NCE
|
|
- The highway must exit a tunnel in one hillside, cross more the 500m across a 150m deep valley and enter another tunnel on the opposite side. This is an artist's picture of the proposed bridge in Greece's Pindos mountains.
High Drama: 11/11/1999 issue of the New Civil Engineer
photo scanned with permission of NCE
|
Innovative Falkirk Wheel - 35m high rotating boat lift. It is designed to connect the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals. The wheel will be able to carry up to eight boats at a time and take about 15 minutes per lift.
- Scots Wheel: 06/01/2000 issue of the New Civil Engineer
- photo scanned with permission of NCE
|
|
An artist's picture of the 57 storey Chapultec Tower to be built in Mexico. It must resist seismic forces so will be supported by 40m deep bored piles and the steel frame will use a "redundant multiple structural system".
Height of Ambition: April 200 issue of the New Civil Engineer International
photo scanned with permission of NCE
|
- Only engineers can do these.
16/11/2000 issue of the New Civil Engineer Page 19
- Scanned with permission of NCE
|
|
Ribble Way bridge will link three footpaths. It will be made of concrete filled glass reinforced plastic and is designed to withstand floating debris that may be in the rivers when flooding occurs.
Triple Bypass: 28/09/2000 issue of the New Civil Engineer
Scanned with permission of NCE
|
|
This is an artist's idea of what buildings may look like in the future. Civil engineers are going to be needed to build unusual structures like these. (This building has been built and is part of the London, England skyscape.)
Scanned with permission of NCE
|
