In recent years, a troubling number of bridge collapses have made headlines across the country—from high-profile disasters to lesser-known structural failures in small towns. While many of these incidents stem from aging infrastructure, lack of maintenance, or environmental wear, they highlight a growing concern: our traditional methods of assessing and maintaining structural integrity may no longer be enough.
As civil engineers look to the future, one question is becoming increasingly urgent: Can artificial intelligence (AI) help prevent structural failures before they happen?
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), over 42% of bridges in the U.S. are more than 50 years old. While not all are unsafe, many require significant rehabilitation or monitoring. In fact, the ASCE’s 2021 Infrastructure Report Card gave U.S. bridges a grade of C, citing a significant maintenance backlog and limited resources for inspection and repair.
Bridges are subject to an array of stresses: temperature swings, vibrations, freeze-thaw cycles, corrosion, and increasingly, the effects of extreme weather events due to global warming. While routine inspections remain essential, many are still conducted manually and only every few years which leave long windows of time where small issues can escalate into serious hazards.
Traditionally, structural engineers rely on a mix of visual inspections, load testing, and periodic structural assessments. While effective in many cases, this approach has limitations:
The challenge is clear: to improve public safety, we need a smarter, faster, and more proactive way to identify weaknesses before they lead to failure.
Artificial intelligence is already transforming industries from medicine to transportation—and civil engineering is no exception. When applied to structural health monitoring, AI has the potential to:
For example, an AI system might detect an increase in vibrations or microcracks—well before they become visible to the human eye—allowing engineers to intervene early with targeted repairs.
Paired with technologies like drones and high-resolution cameras, AI can also analyze images for surface damage, cracks, or material degradation, creating a more complete and automated assessment.
Several forward-looking infrastructure projects are already leveraging AI to monitor safety. The St. Anthony Falls Bridge in Minneapolis, for instance, was rebuilt with more than 300 embedded sensors that provide continuous data on temperature, strain, and vibration—feeding into algorithms that monitor structural health in real time.
In other cases, state Departments of Transportation have partnered with universities and private tech firms to test AI-based systems that combine drone imagery, machine learning, and IoT sensors to better predict structural issues—especially in hard-to-access or remote locations.
These technologies aren’t just futuristic ideas—they’re being used today to make bridges smarter, safer, and more resilient.
AI doesn’t replace engineers—it empowers them. With better data, faster analysis, and early detection capabilities, engineers can design more resilient structures, optimize maintenance schedules, and respond to risks more proactively.
For firms involved in bridge design, inspection, or rehabilitation, embracing AI means offering clients greater safety and long-term cost savings. It also positions engineering professionals as leaders in a rapidly evolving field where innovation is no longer optional—it’s expected.
As infrastructure continues to age and climate pressures increase, the future of structural engineering will depend on the ability to predict and prevent rather than simply react. AI offers a powerful way forward—but only when guided by the insight, ethics, and experience of skilled engineers.
By integrating smart systems into traditional engineering workflows, we can move toward a future where structural failures are the exception—not the expectation.
When people think about wildlife conservation and ecosystem restoration, they often picture biologists, ecologists, and park rangers. But there’s another group working behind the scenes that plays a crucial role—engineers. From designing habitats to restoring natural waterways, engineers are increasingly vital partners in efforts to protect our planet’s biodiversity and rebuild damaged ecosystems.
Through creative problem-solving, technical expertise, and innovative designs, engineers help turn conservation ideas into practical, lasting solutions. Here are four key examples of how engineers are making a difference in wildlife conservation and ecosystem restoration:
Highways and roads often cut through critical wildlife habitats, causing dangerous encounters between vehicles and animals. Wildlife crossings—such as overpasses, underpasses, and eco-bridges—are engineered structures that allow animals to safely cross busy roads.
Example:
In Banff National Park in Canada, engineers designed and built more than 40 wildlife crossings along the Trans-Canada Highway. Since installation, wildlife-vehicle collisions have dropped by more than 80%. These crossings have helped species like bears, wolves, and elk move freely across their natural ranges without risking their lives.
Why It Matters:
Wildlife crossings protect animals, improve genetic diversity by connecting fragmented populations, and make roads safer for humans too.
Healthy rivers, streams, and wetlands are essential for countless species, but human development often alters or damages these ecosystems. Engineers specializing in hydrology and environmental engineering design projects to restore waterways to their natural flow patterns, improving habitat quality.
Example:
The Kissimmee River Restoration Project in Florida is one of the largest river restoration efforts in the world. Engineers helped re-engineer the channelized river, reestablishing more than 40 miles of meandering river and over 20,000 acres of wetlands. As a result, native fish and bird populations are returning, and water quality has improved significantly.
Why It Matters:
Restoring waterways boosts biodiversity, improves water filtration, supports fish and bird habitats, and strengthens resilience against flooding.
In coastal areas where coral reefs and natural habitats have been destroyed, engineers design artificial reefs—structures placed on the seafloor to promote marine life growth. These reefs provide essential shelter, feeding grounds, and breeding spaces for a wide variety of marine species.
Example:
The Osborne Reef in Florida was originally a failed project using old tires, but modern engineers have learned from past mistakes. New projects, like the Biorock® reefs, use mineral accretion technology that encourages rapid coral growth and strengthens reef structures. These engineered reefs have been used successfully in places like Indonesia and the Maldives.
Why It Matters:
Artificial reefs enhance fish populations, protect coastal areas from erosion, and help revive local economies that depend on fishing and tourism.
Today’s engineers are designing eco-friendly buildings, bridges, and infrastructure that minimize environmental disruption and even enhance natural ecosystems. This approach, often called “green infrastructure”, helps support wildlife while serving human needs.
Example:
In Singapore, the Parkroyal Collection Pickering Hotel features living walls, rooftop gardens, and water recycling systems. Engineers worked with ecologists to create a building that serves as both a luxury hotel and a green sanctuary for birds and insects in the middle of an urban environment.
Why It Matters:
Green infrastructure reduces the environmental footprint of cities, helps maintain urban biodiversity, and makes living spaces healthier for people and wildlife alike.
Whether it’s building safe pathways for animals, reviving rivers and wetlands, supporting ocean ecosystems, or integrating nature into cities, engineers are indispensable partners in conservation. Their work ensures that solutions are not only visionary but also technically feasible, durable, and scalable.
As global challenges like habitat loss, climate change, and species extinction continue to rise, the collaboration between conservationists and engineers will only become more critical.
In short, saving the planet isn’t just about passion—it’s about smart design and technical expertise, too.
Engineering is a field built on innovation, and the way it is taught is evolving just as rapidly as the technology engineers develop. With advances in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, online learning, and hands-on simulations, the future of engineering education is becoming more interactive, accessible, and adaptive than ever before.
Technology is transforming how students learn, collaborate, and prepare for real-world engineering challenges. In this blog post, we will explore how four key technological advancements are revolutionizing engineering education and what the future holds for aspiring engineers.
Traditional engineering education often relies on textbooks, lectures, and static 2D models. However, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are bringing engineering concepts to life, allowing students to engage with complex structures and machinery in a fully immersive environment.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are transforming engineering education by making learning more personalized, data-driven, and efficient.
The rise of remote learning and online engineering courses has made high-quality engineering education accessible to students worldwide. No longer confined to traditional classrooms, students can now engage with top-tier engineering programs from anywhere with an internet connection.
Digital twins—virtual replicas of physical systems—are changing the way students design, test, and refine engineering projects in a digital environment before they are built in the real world.
As technology continues to evolve, the future of engineering education will become even more immersive, adaptive, and globally connected. Some key trends to watch include:
✅ Blockchain for Credentialing – Engineering students may soon store their degrees, certifications, and project work on blockchain-based digital portfolios, making it easier for employers to verify their skills.
✅ Collaborative Robotics – Students will work alongside AI-driven robots in smart labs, learning how to program and interact with automated systems.
✅ Sustainable Engineering Education – Universities will incorporate more green engineering and sustainable technology courses, preparing future engineers for eco-friendly solutions.
✅ Gamification of Learning – Interactive, game-based learning platforms will make mastering engineering concepts more engaging and competitive.
The future of engineering education is exciting, dynamic, and tech-driven. Through virtual reality, AI-powered learning, remote education, and digital twin simulations, students will gain hands-on experience in ways that were previously unimaginable. These advancements are not just making learning more efficient—they are shaping a new generation of engineers who are better prepared to tackle real-world challenges with innovative solutions.
As technology continues to evolve, engineering education will continue to break barriers, enhance accessibility, and redefine how knowledge is transferred, ensuring that the next wave of engineers is ready for the demands of the future.
Batteries are at the heart of modern technology, powering everything from smartphones and laptops to electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems. However, as our energy demands grow, traditional battery technology faces challenges related to efficiency, cost, sustainability, and environmental impact. Engineers are leading the charge in developing the next generation of batteries—ones that are more powerful, longer-lasting, safer, and environmentally friendly.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the critical role engineers play in battery innovation, highlight some of the most exciting advancements in battery technology, and discuss what the future holds for energy storage.
Traditional lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries have dominated the market for decades, but they have limitations, including:
To overcome these challenges, engineers are developing new battery technologies that improve performance while reducing environmental and economic costs.
One of the most promising advancements is solid-state battery technology, which replaces the liquid electrolyte found in conventional Li-ion batteries with a solid material.
Lithium-sulfur batteries offer an alternative to traditional Li-ion batteries by replacing costly cobalt and nickel components with sulfur, a more abundant and environmentally friendly material.
Sodium-ion batteries use sodium (Na) instead of lithium (Li), offering a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative.
Graphene, a highly conductive and ultra-thin material, is being integrated into battery designs to enhance performance.
Engineers are also working on sustainable ways to recycle used batteries and repurpose them for secondary applications.
As engineers continue to innovate, the next generation of batteries will unlock new possibilities for energy storage, transportation, and sustainability. Future advancements may include:
✅ Wireless charging infrastructure – Enabling continuous power transfer for EVs and portable electronics.
✅ Biodegradable batteries – Reducing environmental waste.
✅ Quantum batteries – Utilizing quantum mechanics for ultra-high efficiency and near-instant charging.
The global push for renewable energy, electric mobility, and climate change solutions will drive further investment in battery technology. Engineers are at the forefront of this transformation, ensuring that future batteries are safer, longer-lasting, and environmentally responsible.
The engineering behind next-generation batteries is shaping the future of energy. Whether through solid-state batteries, lithium-sulfur innovations, sodium-ion alternatives, graphene-based designs, or advanced recycling methods, engineers are pioneering solutions to overcome the limitations of current battery technology.
As advancements continue, we can expect faster charging, longer-lasting, and more sustainable batteries—powering everything from smart devices to electric vehicles and renewable energy grids. The work of engineers in battery development is paving the way for a cleaner, more efficient world, making energy storage safer, greener, and more accessible than ever before.
Autonomous vehicles, once the stuff of science fiction, are now on the brink of revolutionizing how we move. From self-driving cars to autonomous trucks and drones, these vehicles promise safer roads, reduced congestion, and greater mobility. However, as engineers work tirelessly to bring autonomous technology to fruition, they must also grapple with various challenges and potential pitfalls. Here, we’ll explore the promise and perils of autonomous vehicles, shedding light on their benefits and risks to society.
Improved Safety:
One of the most compelling arguments favoring autonomous vehicles is their potential to save lives. According to the World Health Organization, road traffic injuries are a leading cause of death worldwide, with millions of lives lost each year due to accidents caused by human error. Autonomous vehicles have the potential to dramatically reduce the number of accidents by eliminating human error from the equation. With advanced sensors, cameras, and artificial intelligence, these vehicles can react faster and more accurately to potential hazards on the road, leading to fewer accidents and fatalities.
Reduced Congestion:
Autonomous vehicles have the potential to make our roads more efficient by reducing congestion and improving traffic flow. With the ability to communicate with each other and with traffic infrastructure in real time, autonomous vehicles can optimize their routes and speeds to minimize delays and bottlenecks. This could lead to shorter commute times, less time wasted sitting in traffic, and reduced fuel consumption and emissions.
Greater Accessibility:
Autonomous vehicles can potentially increase mobility for people who cannot drive due to age, disability, or other factors. By providing a safe and reliable means of transportation for those who cannot drive themselves, autonomous vehicles have the potential to improve access to jobs, healthcare, education, and other essential services. This could lead to greater independence and quality of life for millions of people around the world.
Ethical Dilemmas:
As autonomous vehicles become more widespread, they will inevitably face ethical dilemmas that must be addressed. For example, in a situation where an accident is unavoidable, how should the vehicle prioritize the safety of its occupants versus the safety of pedestrians or other cars? These are complex moral questions that engineers, policymakers, and society must grapple with as autonomous technology continues to advance.
Job Displacement:
The widespread adoption of autonomous vehicles can potentially disrupt entire industries and displace millions of workers. For example, autonomous trucks could eliminate the need for long-haul truck drivers, while autonomous taxis could put taxi and rideshare drivers out of work. This could lead to widespread economic hardship and social unrest if adequate measures are not taken to retrain displaced workers and ensure a smooth transition to an autonomous future.
Cybersecurity Risks:
As autonomous vehicles become more connected and reliant on technology, they become more vulnerable to cybersecurity threats. Hackers could potentially gain control of autonomous vehicles, causing chaos on the roads or even using them as weapons. Ensuring the cybersecurity of autonomous vehicles will require robust encryption, authentication, intrusion detection systems, constant vigilance, and rapid response to emerging threats.
Autonomous vehicles hold immense promise for the future of transportation, offering improved safety, reduced congestion, and greater accessibility for all. However, they also pose significant challenges and potential risks that must be addressed. By carefully weighing the benefits and drawbacks of autonomous technology and taking proactive measures to mitigate its risks, engineers can help ensure that the promise of autonomous vehicles is realized while minimizing their perils. As we navigate the road ahead, it’s essential that we proceed with caution, foresight, and a commitment to building a safer, more sustainable future of transportation.
New Jersey professional engineers are required to earn 24 PDH biennially. Two of these credit hours must be in the area of ethics. All of the required hours can be earned through online continuing education courses. Continuing Education is known as continuing professional competency (CPC) in New Jersey. All New Jersey engineering licenses are renewed on April 30th of even numbered years.
NJSPE currently offers an ethics course titled “PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING ETHICS 101”
This course is available to NJSPE members for $35 dollars and to nonmembers for $50.
You can register and complete the course HERE.
Objective of Course
The learning objective is to expose the seminar participants to various engineering related professional and statutory codes of ethics to indoctrinate ethics awareness and an understanding of ethical standards common to all jurisdictions, including those of the participants, so that the participants understand the boundaries of ethical engineering behavior. The program is broken into several parts. Introduction to common statutory and regulatory ethics rules; review of the National Society of Professional Engineers Code of Ethics with examples of common ethics rules, illustrative case studies to consider, with emphasis on the similarities and difference between governmental and professional society sanctions; practical reasons for ethical practice, how unethical practice can present professional liability, legal, licensure, moral and public health, safety and welfare issues.
Professional engineers make a commitment to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public. In your career you may encounter moments that test your resolve and promise to the public and to yourselves. Sometimes, the easy decision might be the hard path to take, but you must ensure to always follow the NJSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers.
Below are some notable real world examples of why engineers need ethics and when whistleblowing is the ethical thing to do:
The Challenger Disaster – engineers noticed the booster rockets on the shuttle would not seal properly in cold temperatures. Despite warning their managers, they watched as the shuttle launched, and 73 seconds later, it exploded killing the seven astronauts onboard.
Should they have become whistleblowers to prevent the launch? Vivian Weil of Illinois Institute of Technology reviews in this NSPE article.
MedTech’s Infant Respirators – Sam Wilson, an engineer at MedTech, found the valves on the company’s infant respirators were not able to protect from overpressure. After twice bringing this to the attention of his managers, he was fired after saying he would report the problem.
By following the code of ethics that binds professional engineers, Sam won his wrongful discharge suit.
Sometimes, when working for a company for a long time or developing friendships with managers or our co-workers, you may find it difficult to address a problem, even if it seems minor. For new engineers, the difficulty may be the worry about job security. No matter the scenario, it is gravely important that engineers follow the code of ethics.
When navigating difficult scenarios, remember that following the NJSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers, you will result in having society and the law on your side.
Maybe you need more room to grow, were recently let go, or just need a change of pace. Regardless of the reason or level of experience you have, it’s perfectly normal to start looking for a new job.
Searching for jobs can be a huge time sink – with thousands of jobs that kind of fit what you are looking for but aren’t quite right. To hopefully make your search a little easier, we pulled together some current openings for New Jersey engineering jobs in a variety of locations:
To stay up-to-date on open New Jersey engineering jobs, check out our job board! New engineering positions are constantly being added.
Becoming a member of the NSPE Fellow Program is one of the most coveted titles in engineering. This exclusive group has proven themselves to be active members of NSPE for a considerable time at the chapter, state, and national levels. These driven engineers are not only advocates at the national level but also great leaders in their local communities.
Being recognized at such a high level lends an incredible opportunity to those with the title. New members are recognized yearly and added to the complete list on NSPE’s website. This national recognition can yield new career opportunities, boosted awareness in your community, as well as further credentials to shape the young engineering minds of the future.
Given that this title represents a remarkable career, it should be no surprise that the nomination and application process to be recognized is a rigorous feat. Qualified individuals are considered by actively serving for at least 10 years at all three levels (chapter, state, and national). Nominees are also required to provide at least three and no more than four letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a current Fellow. If being nominated through the state society, one letter must also come from the president or appropriate officer of that chapter.
The board has identified three areas where the nominee must show prominent accomplishments: the engineering profession, the Society, and the community. It is important that the application provides great details of these achievements because the reviewing committee will not be familiar with every applicant. These accomplishments are often through NSPE. However, activity in other engineering societies should also be included.
Applications are reviewed yearly with a hard deadline of February 1 each year. The Fellow membership status is a great honor and even compiling the necessary steps for the application should be applauded. If not selected for this exclusive list, members may re-apply the next year. There will always be room for the dedicated engineering professionals who are leading our society forward.
To learn more about the nomination and application process, visit the fellow membership guide here.
