American Society of Civil Engineers Florida Section (FLASCE)

By Tonya Mellen, PE PRESIDENT ASCE FLA EAST CENTRAL BRANCH Founder, Mellen Consulting

Future World Vision Prepares Engineers for Changes in the Built Environment

Future World Vision is an initiative created by ASCE that looks 50 years ahead to anticipate, reimagine and prepare for changes in the built environment. It was developed to allow participants to be free from the constraints of the way we have and are doing things, to how we might or could do them in the future.

The program is not meant to predict the future. Instead, Future World Vision visualizes several scenarios where emerging technologies and innovative designs can be analyzed, updated, changed and reset.

One such scenario, Mega City 2070, is a 3D digital model with an immersive story. You can explore the Mega City at street level as a visitor or delve into any of several adaptive corridors that let you see detail. You also have access to the research that informed the model and can comment as well as read comments left by others. The program is available for downloading on any pc or laptop for free.

Another scenario, The Floating City, is a 4D digital model available on Meta Quest 2 or Oculus headsets. The ASCE Future World Vision also includes Rural City, Frozen City and Off World City, which are at various stages of development.

One very exciting initiative for the general public is the Imax movie, Cities of the Future: Reimagining our World. In October, the movie will premiere in science centers and planetariums all over the country. You can view the trailer at www.futureworldvision.org.

ENCOURAGING INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION

Civil Engineers will be the leaders in solving the issues of the future, and we need to train and develop the next generation of engineers with this in mind. The Mega City 2070 project can help us with this daunting task by highlighting how civil engineering involves innovation and collaboration.

Projects include civil engineers, architects, planners and other professionals, requiring a multidisciplinary approach just like with our everyday work.

The program is also focused on sustainable infrastructure solutions, highlighting the importance of minimizing the impact of development on the environment. It highlights the need for innovative solutions to address the challenges faced by urban infrastructure.

We can use this tool to emphasize that civil engineering is a constantly evolving field, and we have the opportunity to be at the forefront of cutting-edge research and development. The Mega City 2070 project presents a bold vision of the future, one in which civil engineers have the potential to make a significant impact on the world.

ENGAGING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENGINEERS

Of all the aspects of Future World Vision, inspiring the next generation of civil engineers is the most important. ASCE has developed a curriculum for all ages and degrees of participation to complement the Mega City 2070 program and the Floating City 4D experience. Students from elementary school to college can be exposed to civil engineering in an exciting and informative platform not seen before.

Elementary teachers can utilize the ASCE Mega City 2070 program and available teaching aids to introduce students to the role civil engineers have in shaping the future of the world they live in as it will grow and change throughout their lifetime. The interactive nature of the program is a wonderful tool to inspire creativity and show young students all the hidden systems that lie beneath the ground.

STEM teachers in middle and high school can use the program to challenge students to think about how our cities are growing and how growth could be smarter, more inclusive, and environmentally sound. There are six elements of the program: Alternative Energy, Autonomous Vehicles, Climate Change, Smart Cities, High Tech Construction/Advanced Materials, and Policy and Funding. Each of these is a subject for research and discussion as they apply to each of the Mega City 2070 adaptive corridors.

ASCE has developed teaching aides, lesson plans and other curriculum available for downloading and Branches throughout the state have speakers ready to present in classrooms, along with exciting field trip opportunities.

Once a student has decided to pursue civil engineering, Future World Vision – and particularly the Mega City 2070 – serves a different purpose. Higher education institutions are ideally positioned to advance multidisciplinary thought leadership, creating a common collaborative platform for engineering professionals and new specialties to respond to new challenges and technologies. Future World Vision can help inspire students to push to new heights in ingenuity, future planning and innovation.

ASCE has been working with civil engineering programs at universities throughout the country developing accredited curricula for full semester classes and postgraduate research projects. Not only will students benefit, but their work will enhance the Mega City 2070 program with expanded research and commentary. Future World Vision is an initiative created by ASCE initiative that brings together civil engineers’ best ideas to imagine what the future might look like beyond what we might have experienced in the past. Information on ASCE’s Future World Vision and all of its aspects can be found at www.futureworldvision.org.

If you are interested in hosting a presentation at your organization or company, contact the ASCE Florida Section at judy@fla-asce.org.