Vision 2025:A New Role for Civil Engineers

Andrew W. Herrmann, P.E., SECB, F.ASCEVI Congreso Nacional de la Ingeniería Civil

Valencia, Spain – 23/2/12

“Change is constant, but, on an absolute basis, our world has changed more in the last one hundred years than in all those preceding.”

– Educating the Engineer of 2020U.S. National Academy of Engineering

What will the world be likein 2025?

Will civil engineers play the same role as today?

Future of Civil Engineering Summit

In June 2006, some 60 civil engineer and non-engineer leaders gathered…

ASCE-Hosted Summit, Lansdowne, Virginia

Future of Civil Engineering Summit

…to look over the horizon.

Broadly speaking, there are only two futures for civil engineering:

the one the profession creates for itself or, in the void,

the one others create for civil engineering

Why a Summit?

Future of Civil Engineering Summit

Created a picture of the world in 2025

Forged an aspirational Vision

Entrusted by societyto create a sustainable world andenhance the global quality of life,

civil engineersserve competently, collaboratively, and ethically

as:

Master Builders

1. Master planners, designers, constructors, and operators of society’s economic and social engine—the built environment

Stewards of the Environment

2. Stewards of the natural environment and its resources

Innovators

3. Innovators and integrators of ideas and technology across the public, private, and academic sectors

Managers of Risk

4. Managers of risk and uncertainty caused by natural events, accidents, and other threats

Leaders in Public Policy

5. Leaders in discussions and decisions shaping public environmental and infrastructure policy

Vision 2025

Sets an aspirational target for a new global state of affairs:–The role of civil engineers in the

economy of the future……where civil engineers are: Entrusted Leaders Ethical role models Innovative thinkers – opportunity finders

The Excitement

Students on Vision 2025:

“A powerful statement.”

“Very impressive and enlightening.”

“One of the best professions.”

“Civil engineers will elevate standards of living.”

“Civil engineers are intelligent, charismatic, and powerful.”

The Excitement

Engineering organizations around the world have embraced the Vision– ASCE speakers invited for major presentations /

interaction in Brazil and Portugal– South Africa carried on discussions similar to the

Vision 2025 dialogue– An Arabic translation is being reviewed– In U.S., a professor at the University of Alabama

highlighted Vision 2025 to recruit students and dramatically increased enrollment

Spanish Translation

In June 2010, the Spanish Association of Civil Engineers*:– Endorsed Vision 2025– Dedicated its Spanish translation

A great service to the Spanish-speaking world

*Asociación de Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales y Puertos

Vision 2025 in Chinese

In 2010, the China Civil Engineering Society endorsed the Vision

Working with ASCE, a Chinese translation was posted later that year

ASCE is partnering with the Chinese on a sustainability conference

Achieving Vision 2025

Organizers of the 2025 Summit:

“…want this vision to guide policies, plans, processes, and progress within the civil engineering community and

beyond—and around the globe.”

–The Vision for Civil Engineering in 2025

Achieving the Vision for Civil Engineering in 2025:A Roadmap for the Profession

Provides focused outcome statements, lists of tactics

Specific examples on how to advance the profession

Vision Outcomes– Master Builders

– Stewards of the Environment

– Innovators

– Managers of Risk

– Leaders in Public Policy

Roadmap: What It’s All About

Themes– Education– Leadership– Collaboration– Sustainability– Resilience– Competence– Diversity– Globalization– Advocacy– Creativity

24 Supporting Outcomes

How you can get involved

Read the Vision 2025 and the Vision 2025 Roadmap documents

Society / Organization leader:– Share the Vision with others and inspire their

endorsement– Develop activities / programs that create

interest

Individual civil engineer:– Undertake one or two new activities

ASCE: Achieving the Vision

Monitoring where ASCE programs fit into the Roadmap

ASCE’s priority strategies are clearly connected:– Infrastructure– Raise the Bar– Sustainability

A Vision 2025 brochure is being planned

Vision 2025 and the Vision 2025 Roadmap reports are available at

www.asce.org

– Click on “Issues & Advocacy” on main navigation bar; then “Vision 2025”

– Order a free hard copy in English

– Download a PDFs in English, Spanish, and Chinese

www.asce.org/Vision2025

Downloadin Spanish

The Challenge

Turning excitement into action

“By achieving the Vision, we as civil engineers will have reshaped our professional stature and remained the force behind our own destiny, discovering a practical reality in what was once just imagined.”—Achieving the Vision for Civil Engineering in 2025:

A Roadmap for the Profession

Questions?