Vision 2025: A New Role for Civil Engineers Andrew W. Herrmann, P.E., SECB, F.ASCE VI 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 2020 U.S. National Academy of Engineering

What will the world be like in 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 society to create a sustainable world and enhance the global quality of life, civil engineers serve 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 –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

Download in 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?