Perspectives In Civil Engineering

This report contains 27 papers that serve as a testament to the state-of-the-art of civil engineering at the outset of the 21st century, as well as to commemorate the ASCE's Sesquicentennial. Written by the leading practitioners, educators, and researchers of civil engineering, each of these peer-reviewed papers explores a particular aspect of civil engineering knowledge and practice. Each paper explores the development of a particular civil engineering specialty, including milestones and future barriers, constraints, and opportunities. The papers celebrate the history, heritage, and accomplishments of the profession in all facets of practice, including construction facilities, special structures, engineering mechanics, surveying and mapping, irrigation and water quality, forensics, computing, materials, geotechnical engineering, hydraulic engineering, and transportation engineering. While each paper is unique, collectively they provide a snapshot of the profession while offering thoughtful predictions of likely developments in the years to come. Together the papers illuminate the mounting complexity facing civil engineering stemming from rapid growth in scientific knowledge, technological development, and human populations, especially in the last 50 years. An overarching theme is the need for systems-level approaches and consideration from undergraduate education through advanced engineering materials, processes, technologies, and design methods and tools. These papers speak to the need for civil engineers of all specialties to recognize and embrace the growing interconnectedness of the global infrastructure, economy, society, and the need to work for more sustainable, life-cycle-oriented solutions. While embracing the past and the present, the papers collected here clearly have an eye on the future needs of ASCE and the civil engineering profession.

This book presents an integrated systems approach to the evaluation, analysis, design, and maintenance of civil engineering systems. Addressing recent concerns about the world's aging civil infrastructure and its environmental impact, the author makes the case for why any civil infrastructure should be seen as part of a larger whole. He walks readers through all phases of a civil project, from feasibility assessment to construction to operations, explaining how to evaluate tasks and challenges at each phase using a holistic approach. Unique coverage of ethics, legal issues, and management is also included.

Developing countries face the challenge of maintaining economic growth and socio-economic development, at the core of which sits the construction industry. Considerable research on construction in developing countries took place in the 1970's and 1980's, but little since, a gap which this book fills. Including contributions from prominent academics and practitioners in Australia, China, the Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, and the UK, this is a truly international analysis of a subject of global interest. The most insightful and relevant of recent research on topics such as Millennium Development Goals, the informal construction sector, human resource development, technology, finance and social change, are all addressed in the context of the construction industry in the developing world. Also considered are other key aspects of construction industry development such as institution building, nurturing of contractors and consultants and championing of industry development programmes. While the challenge has grown and the needs have become even more pressing, the research to date has rarely presented effective solutions. Focussing on those aspects of the construction industry most crucial to development, this is a much needed up-to-date study that sheds new light on a variety of concepts and issues. This is essential reading for researchers, professionals and students interested in the construction industry in developing countries. Readers of this book will be interested in its companion volume; Contemporary Issues of Construction in Developing Countries.

This book compiles proven strategies and information on civil engineering education and the skills necessary for successful practice of civil engineering such as critical thinking, design thinking, leadership, and communication skills. It also addresses other relevant topics including professional ethics, global perspectives, assessment, recruitment, retention, and more. It is designed so that each chapter can be used separately or in combination with other chapters to help enhance and foster student learning as well as development of skills required for engineering practice. Features Includes overviews of successful academic approaches for each topic including implementation examples in every chapter Explains how assessment and the resulting data can be used for holistic evaluation and improvement of student learning Addresses the complexities of moral and professional ethics in engineering Highlights the importance of adopting a global perspective and the successful strategies that have been used or considered in educating resilient, globally minded engineers Compendium of Civil Engineering Education Strategies: Case Studies and Examples serves as a useful guide for engineering faculty, practitioners, and graduate students considering a career in academia. Academic faculty and working professionals will find the content helpful as instructional and reference material in developing and assessing career skills. It is also useful for intellectually curious students who want a deeper understanding and appreciation of the need for professional development and life-long learning.

This book presents an integrated systems approach to the evaluation, analysis, design, and maintenance of civil engineering systems. Addressing recent concerns about the world's aging civil infrastructure and its environmental impact, the author makes the case for why any civil infrastructure should be seen as part of a larger whole. He walks readers through all phases of a civil project, from feasibility assessment to construction to operations, explaining how to evaluate tasks and challenges at each phase using a holistic approach. Unique coverage of ethics, legal issues, and management is also included.

This book covers the economics of construction safety, such as the asymmetric information of different construction practitioners in Hong Kong, studies feminism in Australia’s traditionally male-dominated construction industry, and researches an efficient Small-Scale Contractors’ construction health and safety performance management in Zambia. It also constructs the risk rating matrix and assesses occupational hazards identification and risk Assessment in Kaligandaki’s Construction Project. Besides, it throws light on construction safety informatics, such as scaffolds safety via rule-based safety checking and BIM. It compares safety awareness in academic databases in construction, manufacturing, traffic, and health and food industries. It studies construction, real estate hazard, and urban renewal hazard articles indexed on the Web of Science. It conducts a systematic literature review on safety culture. Lastly, it reviewed refurbishment and demolition work in Hong Kong’s legal databases.

While the ASCE Body of Knowledge (BOK2) is the codified source for all technical and non-technical information necessary for those seeking to attain licensure in civil engineering, recent graduates have notoriously been lacking in the non-technical aspects even as they excel in the technical. Fundamentals of Civil Engineering: An Introduction to the ASCE Body of Knowledge addresses this shortfall and helps budding engineers develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes suggested and implied by the BOK2. Written as a resource for all of the non-technical outcomes not specifically covered in the BOK2, it details fundamental aspects of fourteen outcomes addressed in the second edition of the ASCE Body of Knowledge and encourages a broader perspective and understanding of the role of civil engineers in society as well as the reciprocal influence between civil engineering and social evolution. With discussion questions and group activities at the end of each chapter, topics covered include humanities and social sciences, experimentation, sustainability, contemporary issues and historical perspectives, risk and uncertainty, communication, public policy, globalization, leadership and teamwork, and professional and ethical responsibilities. Suitable for both current and former students in pursuit of further breadth and depth of knowledge and professional maturity, this primer promotes introspection, self-evaluation, and self-learning. It details those attitudes that are essential to the achievement of personal and professional success and advancement to positions of leadership, and encourages an appreciation of the human values that are fundamental to professional practice.