Engineering the Future of Civil Engineering in the U.S.

Traditional pride of U.S. civil engineers in their work increasingly competes with negatives. Examples of the latter are growing frustration with lack of appreciation and respect, the “shortage” of civil engineers, low compensation, reduction in academic preparation, “slippage” relative to essentially all other professions, encroachment of other professions and entities into the traditional CE arena, and absence from the political arena and public media. This paper critiques the U.S. CE education-experience-licensure-certification-continuing professional development process. It advocates a new paradigm consistent with the essentiality and complexity of infrastructure development and environmental protection in society. Civil works will always be in demand—that is unquestionable. To be decided, however, is who will lead the planning, design, construction and operation of civil works and protection of the environment; civil engineers or others? U.S. civil engineers are faced with a leadership and management challenge. They must engineer their future or others will engineer it for them. See full of journal at http://www.springerlink.com