As our engineers continue to design and create the infrastructure of the future, we must also take a moment to celebrate today’s project achievements and the work being done to help pave the way for more diverse and technologically advanced working environments in the AEC industry. In celebration of this year’s Engineer’s Week, we asked our employees about developments in their industry, and how they have engaged with new technologies over the course of their careers.

What engineering innovations do you foresee entering the industry in the coming years? What will be the impact?

Peter Garvey, Vice President, Growth Officer (Mid-Atlantic), Fairfax, Virginia

We will really see a continued and increased use of asset management, which will involve more engineers with 'programming' skills to support client needs and to stay ahead of innovation curve. Examples include augmented reality (AR) in design of basic elements, the increased expectation of sustainability in designs, and increased renewable energy solutions.

James Knoll, Project Engineer, Mount Laurel, New Jersey

The largest impact will likely be the continued proliferation and improvement of electric and autonomous vehicles. As long as the innovators and producers of these technologies are conscious and considerate of the environmental and social impact these technologies have on the world, those same innovations and technologies can be applied to public transit and that infrastructure can become more robust.

Sarah Vander Meulen, Project Engineer, Denver, Colorado

I foresee innovations to improve drinking water and wastewater treatment to a higher quality with smaller footprint requirements. I also think the world of instrumentation, real-time data monitoring, and remote operations will continue to see innovations.

Isaac Nazario, CADD Technician III, Lakeland, Florida

I believe the impact of artificial intelligence and virtual reality will be major, more so when it comes to conflicts with other companies working in the same area of our projects. It may also help to avoid repetitive tasks that are time consuming, thus helping to visualize proposed work to clients and get them more involved in the design.

Kyle Lundblom, Project Engineer, Rancho Cordova, California

A reduced carbon footprint in materials, especially for concrete structures like bridges. They are also making some groundbreaking discoveries with using organic materials to produce stronger and more efficient concrete that could simultaneously reduce the amount of methane gas produced by decomposing organic matter and give concrete structures a longer design lifespan.

How has technology changed the way you have worked over the course of your career?

Peter Garvey, Vice President, Growth Officer (Mid-Atlantic), Fairfax, Virginia

Asset management is taking over the use of spreadsheets and computer-aided design (CAD). We have been able to serve our clients with innovation in this space and meet their evolving needs quickly, while still effectively portraying progress. This, of course, does not replace the need for junior engineers to get out in the field, as seeing how things are built and maintained is paramount to success.

James Knoll, Project Engineer, Mount Laurel, New Jersey

My first instinct is to compliment the improvements to 3D modelling software since I began my career, but, honestly, communications technology has had a bigger impact. The ability to connect with team members from all over the country via tools like Microsoft Teams and the ability to easily share files via ProjectWise or OneDrive has had a truly substantial impact. In-person communication is still paramount when it is available, but remote communication has allowed for a degree of flexibility that I believe is truly invaluable.

Sarah Vander Meulen, Project Engineer, Denver, Colorado

Technology has made my job more efficient in both large and small ways. Utilizing programs that are configured to do certain tasks can streamline processes versus a more manual approach, which thus allows me to focus more heavily on larger tasks.

Isaac Nazario, CADD Technician III, Lakeland, Florida

It has made my job easier in certain aspects, mostly with updates to the software I use—Civil3D. With these updates, we can truly visualize the entirety of a space that we are working with, allowing for efficient assessments. Designing civil infrastructure has never been this efficient.

Kyle Lundblom, Project Engineer, Rancho Cordova, California

The growing efficiency of precast and preformed structure components has resulted in the greater use of those products. Anything from precast panels for building and bridges, precast girders, or units for retaining walls, having access to these resources have enabled a world of possibilities for the industry.

What advice can you provide future engineers to make themselves ready for the use of new technology?

Peter Garvey, Vice President, Growth Officer (Mid-Atlantic), Fairfax, Virginia

Listen actively to what your clients need and 'how' they want it done. It will likely be different in some ways to how it was done 10-20 years ago. Get out in the field and see with your eyes how things are built and maintained—pretty pictures don't imply good design. And finally, be in the office and watch how experienced engineers perform good design. Ask questions, learn.

James Knoll, Project Engineer, Mount Laurel, New Jersey

The same advice I would give current engineers: be flexible, be adaptable, and be willing to learn. The world around us is constantly changing. Technological innovations and improvements are a given. But, be critical. Just because something is new and shiny, does not mean it's the best option. Even so, we need to remain open-minded to change.

Sarah Vander Meulen, Project Engineer, Denver, Colorado

The world of technology is everchanging. It's important to vet new technologies, but we would be doing the industry a disservice if we never embrace new technologies that could have a beneficial impact. Challenge anyone who says "this is how we have always done it"—sometimes there are better ways to do things with new technologies.

Isaac Nazario, CADD Technician III, Lakeland, Florida

I believe it is important for future engineers to be very familiar with CAD. It will help them to understand the workflow of a project. And with constant innovation and updates to the system, always be proactive in building your knowledge of the system.

Kyle Lundblom, Project Engineer, Rancho Cordova, California

Always have a strong grasp on the basics of materials, statistics, mathematics, physics, structural analysis, etc. The concepts that provide the foundation upon which all of our work depends can never be over emphasized. In a world where technology and its capabilities are growing faster than we could ever comprehend, it is even more crucial we ground ourselves in the basics so as not to lose our footing. If I can't solve the problem with a pen, paper, and one of my textbooks, then I have no business using a program to solve it for me. As Tony Stark said to Peter Parker, "If you're nothing without the suit, then you don't deserve it."

Can you provide an example of a specific project where you used a new type of technology, or new-to-you technology, for a creative solution?

Peter Garvey, Vice President, Growth Officer (Mid-Atlantic), Fairfax, Virginia

With the rise of importance in sustainability, we have seen a huge growth in green infrastructure siting applications. Green infrastructure applications allow for a prevention of sewer overflows, especially in densely populated areas such as New York City, New York, or Boston, Massachusetts. The design elements are new and will definitely be a large portion of the future of sustainable water engineering.

James Knoll, Project Engineer, Mount Laurel, New Jersey

I am currently working with fellow engineers Bob Biller and Bobby Klemt on a staff augmentation task project for a Northeast client. We are spread out between the Bloomfield and Mount Laurel offices. We also occasionally work from home. But none of those geographic factors have even remotely hampered our ability to communicate effectively and perform tasks efficiently. At one point in this project, the three of us were in separate locations, but we had a deadline to meet. We were all working late into the night, but we were able to effectively work at our stations while in near constant communication with each other via Teams. The value of being able to easily coordinate and quickly shift cannot be overstated. While the other technologies and software we use may be critical to our ability to perform tasks, communication is paramount to our ability to be efficient and effective.

Sarah Vander Meulen, Project Engineer, Denver, Colorado

In one of my projects, we are designing a membrane bioreactor (MBR) process, as it requires a smaller footprint than a more conventional treatment process design. The site is constrained by footprint and elevated concrete and excavation costs, so we reached this decision through a value engineering process with the client and construction manager at risk (CMAR) contractor. An MBR process is newer to me and there are only approximately ten MBR treatment facilities currently in Colorado.

Isaac Nazario, CADD Technician III, Lakeland, Florida

We have recently transitioned from drafting our plant work in 2D to 3D using Plant3D. This has helped us to visualize a finished product and to coordinate better with project managers. With a few extra steps, we can create renderings and have those sent to marketing.

Kyle Lundblom, Project Engineer, Rancho Cordova, California

In California, we are often concerned with the impact of an earthquake on a structure. Our approach is not to design the structure to withstand the force of an earthquake by its own strength, but to design it to move and displace with an earthquake in such a way that the public can have ample time to evacuate or get to a safe location. In recent years, the ability of software programs like SAP2000 have made incredible advances in their ability to capture the response of a structure to an earthquake and its capacity to displace and move with the earthquake. This has allowed engineers to have an even better understanding and approach toward seismic design.