Civil engineers are about to get a lot more responsibility.
A global initiative called “Vision for Civil Engineering in 2025” charges engineers with the task of designing sustainable developments and being more active in public policy.
While it’s just a roadmap for the industry, some tenets of the proposal already are being adopted throughout the county.
Mallela S. Prasada Rao, chair and associate professor of the civil and environmental engineering department at California State University, Fullerton, said it has special relevance to Orange County.
“OC, being the sixth most populous county in the U.S. coupled with its geographical location, will see a significant increase in the demand for sustainable energy, fresh water, clean air, efficient transportation and for structures that can withstand natural or intentional hazards,” he said. “This will lead to developing the next generation in infrastructure, and will be a driving force for the new economy.”
The county has seen glimpses of a move toward sustainable design, despite a slowdown in construction because of the down economy.
Recent environmentally friendly development runs the gamut from John Wayne Airport’s recent adoption of more energy-efficient exit signs to Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design-certified commercial projects.
California State University, Fullerton is implementing curriculum changes to help students prepare for future challenges in civil engineering, while addressing Vision 2025 proposals. A new online master’s degree in environmental engineering will be established in fall 2011. New courses in sustainability and green building design were introduced last year.
Vision 2025 was spearheaded by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
It was crafted in 2006 from more than 60 experts’ recommendations during an eight-year period.
The initiative is being adopted internationally as more countries work together to reach environmental goals. Last month, the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand formally endorsed the measure.
Visions 2025’s guiding philosophy states that civil engineers are entrusted by society to create a sustainable world, enhance quality of life globally, and serve as:
• planners, designers, constructors, and operators of society’s economic and social engine—the built environment;
• stewards of the natural environment and its resources;
• innovators and integrators of ideas and technology across the public, private and academic sectors;
• managers of risk and uncertainty caused by natural events, accidents and other threats;
• leaders in discussions and decisions shaping public environmental and infrastructure policy.
University of California, Irvine, civil and environmental engineering professor Michael McNally is intrigued by the last bullet point.
“That might be the biggest change,” he said. “This perspective has not been represented in civil engineering. We don’t make decisions, we provide the technical advice.”
Every municipality in OC employs engineers, who are largely responsible for designing and planning projects in their towns or cities. But they have little say when it comes to implementation or final approval, which often is determined by the lowest bid.
Politics and the bottom line sometimes overrun the most environmentally or socially impactful proposal, McNally said.
“This pyramid is kind of upside down. We have a knowledge base that should be capitalized on,” he said. “The people who tend to make decision are not trained in these areas.” n
