American Society of Civil Engineers facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | ASCE |
|---|---|
| Founded | November 5, 1852 |
| Type | Engineering society |
| Focus | Purpose of the group is the advancement of the science and profession of Civil engineering and the enhancement of human welfare through the activities of society members. |
| Location |
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Area served
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Worldwide |
| Method | Industry standards, conferences, publications |
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Members
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143,189 (2021 ASCE Official Register) |
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Official language
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English |
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President
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Maria C. Lehman, P.E. (2023) |
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Past President
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Dennis D. Truax, Ph.D., P.E. (2022) |
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President-elect
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Marsia Geldert-Murphey, P.E. (2024) |
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Secretary and Executive Director
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Thomas W. Smith III |
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Revenue
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US $49.4 million (2022) |
| Endowment | US $29.2 million (2022) |
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Employees
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250 |
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is a group for civil engineers around the world. It was started in 1852 to help people in the civil engineering job. ASCE is based in Reston, Virginia, and it is the oldest national engineering group in the United States.
ASCE works to improve the science and job of civil engineering. It also aims to make life better for everyone through what its members do. More than 143,000 members in 177 countries belong to ASCE. Their main goals are to help members and their careers, improve technology, and encourage learning. They also want to promote the civil engineering job and support civil engineers.
Contents
History of ASCE
People in the United States first tried to create a group for civil engineers in the early 1800s. In 1828, John Kilbourn wrote about how Great Britain had formed an engineering group. He thought American engineers could do the same.
Early Attempts to Form a Society
In 1838, some civil engineers asked others to meet in Baltimore, Maryland. They wanted to start a lasting society for civil engineers. Before this, a group of thirteen engineers met in Philadelphia. They suggested creating an "Institution of American Civil Engineers."
About forty engineers came to the Baltimore meeting in February 1839. They included important engineers like J. Edgar Thomson and Benjamin Henry Latrobe II. A proposed plan for the society was written. It said the group would "collect and share professional knowledge." It also aimed to "improve the character and standing of Civil Engineers."
However, this plan did not work out. One reason was that it was hard for members to travel to meetings. Another reason was that members had to write a new paper each year or give a scientific book to the group. Some people also felt that linking with the Franklin Institute caused problems.
The American Society of Civil Engineers and Architects
In the 1840s, many new professional groups started in the United States. These groups wanted to improve standards, share knowledge, and support research. Examples include the American Medical Association (1847) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1848).
During this time, new attempts were made to form an American engineering group. The Boston Society of Civil Engineers was formed in 1848. Then, in October 1852, a group in New York tried to form a "Society of Civil Engineers and Architects." This effort was led by Alfred W. Craven. The group decided to call itself the "American Society of Civil Engineers And Architects." Its first meetings were held in City Hall Park, Manhattan. The group stopped meeting in 1855 because of the American Civil War.
Late 19th Century Developments
The society met again more than twelve years later, in 1867. Many of the first members were there, like James Laurie. They worked hard to restart the society and make it permanent. They also elected 54 new members. The group agreed that James Laurie, its first president, had done a great job keeping the society alive.
On March 4, 1868, the group voted to change its name to "American Society of Civil Engineers." But it was not until 1877 that they officially registered the society in New York state.
The ASCE first met at the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York. Later, they moved to different places in New York City. In 1895, ASCE built a new main office at 220 West 57th Street. This building was used until 1917.
20th Century Milestones
Nora Stanton Barney was one of the first women in the U.S. to get a civil engineering degree in 1905. That same year, she became a junior member of ASCE. She was the first female member. However, in 1916, she was not allowed to become a full member because she was a woman. In 2015, ASCE officially recognized her as an ASCE Fellow after she had passed away.
In 1999, ASCE chose the top ten "civil engineering achievements" of the 20th century. These were projects that greatly improved life. They showed amazing engineering work, courage, and had a big impact on communities.
Some of these achievements and their examples include:
- Airport design: Like the Kansai International Airport in Japan.
- Dams: Such as the Hoover Dam in the United States.
- Interstate Highway System: The entire system of major roads.
- Long-span bridges: For example, the Golden Gate Bridge in California.
- Rail transportation: Like the Eurotunnel connecting the UK and France.
- Sanitary landfills and waste disposal: Improvements in how we handle trash.
- Skyscrapers: The Empire State Building in New York City.
- Wastewater treatment: The Chicago wastewater system.
- Water supply and distribution: The California State Water Project.
- Water transportation: The Panama Canal.
What ASCE Does
ASCE's main goal is to help its members, their jobs, and the public. It also helps new technology grow and provides ways for engineers to keep learning. The society promotes high standards in the profession and supports civil engineer leaders. It also works to protect our infrastructure (like roads and bridges) and the environment.
Publications and Information
ASCE shares technical and professional information with civil engineers. It does this through many publications and products. These include 35 technical and professional journals, such as:
- ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering
- Journal of Environmental Engineering
- Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
- Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems
- Civil Engineering, the society's monthly magazine
They also publish online databases, conference papers, and technical reports. The ASCE Library has over 470 e-books and standards.
Conferences and Education
Each year, over 55,000 engineers learn new skills through ASCE's education programs. ASCE holds more than 15 conferences and over 200 training classes. They also host more than 300 live online seminars. These meetings bring together civil engineering experts to discuss important topics. These topics include America's infrastructure, sustainability, and bridge safety.
Engineering Programs and Certification
ASCE's engineering programs help advance the science of engineering. They create technical content for ASCE's publications and conferences. This work is done by over 600 technical committees. ASCE also helps create industry standards.
Civil Engineering Certification Inc. (CEC) is connected to ASCE. It offers special certifications for civil engineering areas. This means engineers can show they have advanced knowledge in a specific field. Some of these certifications are for:
- Water Resources Engineers
- Geo-Professionals (dealing with earth materials)
- Coastal, Ocean, Port & Navigation Engineers
ASCE Institutes
ASCE has nine special institutes. These groups serve engineers who work in specific areas of civil engineering:
- Architectural Engineering Institute (AEI)
- Coasts, Oceans, Ports and Rivers Institute (COPRI)
- Construction Institute (CI)
- Engineering Mechanics Institute (EMI)
- Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI)
- Geo-Institute (G-I)
- Transportation and Development Institute (T&DI)
- Structural Engineering Institute (SEI)
- Utility Engineering & Surveying Institute (UESI)
Advocacy for Civil Engineering
ASCE works to improve laws and policies related to engineering. They talk to lawmakers at federal, state, and local levels. In 2015, ASCE focused on federal laws about:
- Funding for transportation programs.
- Laws about cleaning up old industrial sites (brownfields).
- Programs for dam and levee safety.
- Funding for clean water and drinking water programs.
- Support for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education.
- Laws about earthquake and windstorm safety.
At the state and local level, ASCE works on:
- Rules for engineers to get their licenses.
- How engineering services are chosen for projects.
- Funding for infrastructure improvements.
- Raising the minimum requirements for becoming a professional engineer.
In 2018, ASCE's main goals for federal advocacy included:
- Civil engineering education.
- Clean water and wastewater issues.
- Safety from natural disasters and infrastructure security.
- Funding for research and development.
- STEM education support (for K-12 students).
- Sustainable engineering practices.
- Transportation infrastructure.
State advocacy goals in 2018 included:
- Engineer licensing.
- Reducing the impact of natural hazards.
- STEM education support.
- State support for civil engineering education.
- Sustainable engineering.
- Funding for transportation infrastructure.
Strategic Issues and Initiatives
ASCE has three main goals to help the civil engineering job:
- Sustainable Infrastructure: Building things that last and don't harm the environment.
- The ASCE Grand Challenge: Finding ways to improve infrastructure and make it more resilient.
- Raise the Bar: Improving the education and training needed to become a civil engineer.
Awards and Honors
ASCE gives many awards to civil engineers. These include the Norman Medal (started 1874) and the Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize. They also give the Outstanding Projects and Leaders (OPAL) awards for construction, design, education, government, and management. The Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement (OCEA) award is for projects. ASCE also offers scholarships for student members.
The Wesley W. Horner award is for published papers about water, drainage, or sewage. It especially honors engineering work that helps environmental engineering. The Lifetime Achievement Award has been given since 1999. It recognizes five different leaders in design, construction, government, education, and management.
Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize
In 1946, ASCE started giving annual awards to encourage research in civil engineering. In 1964, Mrs. Alberta Reed Huber provided money for these awards. She did this to honor her husband, Walter L. Huber, who was a past president of ASCE. The Huber Prize is a top award for mid-career research in civil engineering. It is given for great achievements and contributions to research in all areas of civil engineering.
ASCE Foundation
The ASCE Foundation is a charity started in 1994. It helps civil engineering programs that improve quality of life and promote the profession. It also helps engineers prepare for the future. The Foundation is a separate group from ASCE, but it works closely with ASCE. Its board of directors includes ASCE officers and employees. The Foundation mainly supports ASCE's charity, education, and science programs. Its biggest focus is on lifelong learning, supporting infrastructure investment, and the role of civil engineers in sustainable practices. In 2014, the Foundation provided almost US$4 million for these areas.
See Also
In Spanish: Sociedad Estadounidense de Ingenieros Civiles para niños
- ASCE Library
