Approved by the Infrastructure and Research Policy Committee on February 10, 2021
Approved by the Public Policy and Practice Committee on May 5, 2021
Adopted by the Board of Direction on July 16, 2021
Policy
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) supports basic and applied research and development (R&D) along with demonstration and commercialization programs in civil engineering. Research programs should be structured to meet needs for:
• Revitalizing the nation’s public works infrastructure to protect citizens by improving quality, function, resilience, and life-cycle costs.
• Enhancing environmental quality and fostering sustainable development.
• Identifying, proving, and fielding emerging technologies, materials, and processes to improve security, durability, resilience, sustainability, and performance of engineered systems.
• Enhancing the security, safety, and resilience of critical infrastructure to protect the safety and economic vitality of the nation against natural and man-made hazards.
• Advancing the competitiveness and business performance of the practice of civil engineering and the industries supported by civil engineering services to improve the nation’s competitiveness.
• Providing new developments in civil engineering practice that will keep the profession responsive to the needs of those we serve.
Issue
Research provides an important avenue to meet the fundamental objective of ASCE, which is the advancement of the science and profession of civil engineering to enhance the public health, safety, and welfare. Research that is properly conceived, conducted and implemented, can provide significant advances in the quality of life for individuals and communities by providing essential services and contributing to a more sustainable and resilient infrastructure.
Rationale
ASCE must play an active role in meeting its objective to enhance public health, safety, welfare, security, and economic vitality. As society continually changes and science advances, meeting this goal requires that ASCE champion research, development, and the dissemination of new applications and methodologies. ASCE must provide leadership in identifying research needs and in working to increase the amount of funding for civil engineering research provided by local, state, federal, and private agencies, and organizations. U.S. infrastructure, as assessed in the ASCE 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure as being in mediocre condition, needs dramatic improvement to support the economy and the country as a whole. Significant investment in research and development will facilitate a durable, secure, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure that will meet the needs of the 21st century.
ASCE Policy Statement 187
First Approved in 1976
Approved by the Public Policy and Practice Committee on May 5, 2021
Adopted by the Board of Direction on July 16, 2021
Policy
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) supports basic and applied research and development (R&D) along with demonstration and commercialization programs in civil engineering. Research programs should be structured to meet needs for:
• Revitalizing the nation’s public works infrastructure to protect citizens by improving quality, function, resilience, and life-cycle costs.
• Enhancing environmental quality and fostering sustainable development.
• Identifying, proving, and fielding emerging technologies, materials, and processes to improve security, durability, resilience, sustainability, and performance of engineered systems.
• Enhancing the security, safety, and resilience of critical infrastructure to protect the safety and economic vitality of the nation against natural and man-made hazards.
• Advancing the competitiveness and business performance of the practice of civil engineering and the industries supported by civil engineering services to improve the nation’s competitiveness.
• Providing new developments in civil engineering practice that will keep the profession responsive to the needs of those we serve.
Issue
Research provides an important avenue to meet the fundamental objective of ASCE, which is the advancement of the science and profession of civil engineering to enhance the public health, safety, and welfare. Research that is properly conceived, conducted and implemented, can provide significant advances in the quality of life for individuals and communities by providing essential services and contributing to a more sustainable and resilient infrastructure.
Rationale
ASCE must play an active role in meeting its objective to enhance public health, safety, welfare, security, and economic vitality. As society continually changes and science advances, meeting this goal requires that ASCE champion research, development, and the dissemination of new applications and methodologies. ASCE must provide leadership in identifying research needs and in working to increase the amount of funding for civil engineering research provided by local, state, federal, and private agencies, and organizations. U.S. infrastructure, as assessed in the ASCE 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure as being in mediocre condition, needs dramatic improvement to support the economy and the country as a whole. Significant investment in research and development will facilitate a durable, secure, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure that will meet the needs of the 21st century.
ASCE Policy Statement 187
First Approved in 1976