Civil engineering is undergoing a transformation, with sustainability and clean energy leading the way. BC Hydro’s recent call for power – its first in 15 years – highlights the urgency of integrating renewable energy into our infrastructure. The initiative aims to secure 3,000 gigawatt hours of clean electricity annually to support B.C.’s growing population, industrial expansion, and the shift from fossil fuels to cleaner alternatives.
This effort, which heavily involves collaboration with First Nations and independent power producers, is crucial for diversifying the province’s energy sources and ensuring a reliable power supply for the future.
Sonia, President of Berto, shares her insights on how these trends are shaping the civil engineering industry and the opportunities they present.
Here are the top 10 trends in civil engineering leading the charge:
1. Building Information Modeling (BIM)
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is transforming project management by enhancing design accuracy and enabling real-time collaboration among stakeholders. BIM is a digital process that integrates all aspects of a building’s design, construction, and maintenance into a comprehensive 3D model. It serves as a shared resource, allowing architects, engineers, contractors, and other stakeholders to collaborate more effectively. BIM not only visualizes the physical structure but also includes detailed information about materials, systems, and even the timeline of construction. This approach enhances efficiency, reduces errors, and supports sustainable building practices by allowing teams to foresee and address potential issues before they arise, ultimately leading to smarter, more resilient infrastructure.
Platforms like D.TO and SeveUp streamline workflows and ensure construction precision through BIM-integrated tools, reducing costs and minimizing rework. Sonia, who recently launched an internal Design & Engineering vertical, highlights the importance of early involvement: “We’re hoping to be able to get involved in the conversation much earlier on in the process so that we can contribute to building better execution plans.” This integration supports BC Hydro’s goal of optimizing construction processes for improved efficiency and reduced environmental impact.
2. Green Building Materials
Innovations in green building materials are revolutionizing the construction industry by offering more sustainable and durable alternatives to traditional materials. These materials are designed to minimize environmental impact, enhance energy efficiency, and promote healthier living environments. For example, self-healing concrete automatically repairs cracks, reducing the need for frequent maintenance and extending the lifespan of structures. Bio-based insulation materials, made from renewable resources, provide superior thermal performance while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
A few startups are beginning to developing bioreceptive concrete that supports plant growth and sustainable alternatives to conventional construction materials. Sonia emphasizes the significance of advancements in sustainable alternatives: “I’m personally following trends and emerging technologies that are having a direct impact on safety protocols, new material development & sourcing.” These innovations align with BC Hydro’s commitment to sustainable construction practices and lowering carbon footprints.
3. Renewable Energy Integration
Integrating renewable energy sources into infrastructure is essential for building a sustainable future, especially given the challenges of over-reliance on non-renewable energy and the vulnerability of structures to power outages. Renewable energy integration involves the incorporation of technologies like solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage systems into the grid, which helps reduce dependency on fossil fuels, lower carbon emissions, and provide a more resilient and reliable energy supply. Engineers are now embedding piezoelectric devices in roadways to harness energy from vehicular movement, and smart grids powered by solar and wind energy are replacing conventional grids to ensure a consistent and sustainable power supply.
Sonia highlights the vast potential in this area: “The Energy sector is a big opportunity. There is so much innovation happening in energy – particularly with renewal energy integration through solar and wind energy.” BC Hydro’s initiative to acquire 3,000 gigawatt hours per year of electricity from clean sources shows the critical importance of this trend, with the capacity to power up to one million electric vehicles and 270,000 homes annually.
4. Advanced Robotics
Automation is revolutionizing efficiency and safety in the construction industry, addressing significant challenges such as labor shortages, construction site safety, and the time-intensive nature of manual tasks. As civil engineering projects increase, advanced robotics play a crucial role in overcoming these obstacles. Robotic systems from companies like KEWAZO and PaceRobotics are taking over labor-intensive tasks, from material hoisting to wall finishing, improving productivity and reducing physical strain on workers.
Innovations such as drone-operated autonomous inspections are revolutionizing how site assessments are conducted, providing quick, comprehensive evaluations while keeping workers out of harm’s way. Robotic arms with sophisticated sensors are taking over intricate tasks like bricklaying and concrete pouring, which not only increases precision but also speeds up project completion. Additionally, wearable robotic exoskeletons are being used on construction sites to amplify workers’ physical capabilities, reducing fatigue and significantly enhancing productivity. This move towards innovative construction practices not only addresses current industry challenges but also ensures high safety standards.
5. Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
GIS technology transforms site analysis and land-use planning by addressing challenges like inaccurate site evaluations and complex infrastructure placement. Companies now leverage GIS for high-resolution terrain mapping, which enhances precision in site assessments and helps mitigate risks related to unforeseen ground conditions. Startups like Bunting Labs and ai mapit are pushing the boundaries by incorporating AI with GIS to create digital twins and automate map digitization, streamlining the planning process.
These advanced GIS tools also play a crucial role in optimizing land-use planning through the analysis of spatial data, enabling more informed decisions on infrastructure development. Additionally, by integrating real-time traffic data, GIS supports strategic placement of transportation networks, helping to reduce congestion and improve urban mobility. Such innovations are vital for large-scale projects, aligning with BC Hydro’s detailed planning efforts to ensure sustainable infrastructure development with minimal environmental impact.
6. Modular Construction & Prefabrication
Construction projects often grapple with extended timelines, variable on-site quality control, and significant environmental impacts due to traditional building methods. Modular construction offers a solution by allowing engineers to design and assemble building components in controlled factory environments. This approach ensures consistent quality, reduces material wastage, and minimizes on-site construction time. Prefabricated modules, once transported to the site, facilitate faster assembly and help to limit environmental disturbances. By optimizing the design and assembly process, modular construction not only enhances efficiency but also contributes to creating resilient and aesthetically pleasing structures.
Companies like Wild Modular and Zen Modular produce prefabricated modules that reduce on-site construction time and material wastage, aligning with sustainability goals. This method is particularly beneficial for large-scale projects, ensuring efficient construction and minimal environmental disturbances, which is a core consideration for BC Hydro.
7. Structural Monitoring and Assessment
Advanced sensor technologies and machine learning are transforming the way civil engineers manage and maintain aging infrastructure. Challenges like undetected structural flaws and corrosion are being addressed through innovations in real-time structural health monitoring. For instance, fiber-optic sensors can be embedded within structures to continuously collect data on stress, strain, and potential deformations, enabling engineers to intervene before minor issues escalate.
The integration of machine learning algorithms further enhances this process by analyzing both historical and real-time data to predict potential structural failures, allowing for proactive maintenance. Additionally, drones equipped with high-resolution cameras and infrared imaging are now used for aerial inspections, identifying problems that might be missed during manual checks. Startups like SURVIOT and StructuRight are at the forefront of these advancements, offering platforms that track structural integrity and predict issues before they become critical. Sonia highlights the impact of these technologies: ” There’s a lot of new tech emerging that can monitor for emerging problems and then collect and compile real-time data that can be passed on to designers and engineers to ensure we stay ahead of big problems.” This approach is essential for maintaining and strengthening the electricity grid, aligning with BC Hydro’s infrastructure management strategies to enhance the reliability of critical infrastructure.
8. 3D Printing
3D printing significantly cuts down on material waste and speeds up production times. Traditional construction methods often involve ordering excess materials, leading to substantial waste by the end of a project. Additionally, the process of creating custom components can be costly and time-consuming, particularly when it involves mold creation for unique designs, with limitations in material versatility posing further challenges.
With 3D printing, complex structural elements can be produced directly from digital models, bypassing the need for traditional molds and reducing production times. This technology also offers versatility in material choice, allowing engineers to select from a range of options—such as concrete and polymers—that are best suited to specific project needs. The layer-by-layer construction approach facilitates the integration of utilities and reinforcements within the printed components, streamlining assembly. Companies like minimass and Layer Construction are leading the way in this field, utilizing AI-powered 3D printing to ensure precision in material use and to lower carbon footprints.
9. Advanced Materials
New materials enhance durability and reduce environmental impact. Traditional materials often face challenges like environmental degradation and weight constraints, which can limit the lifespan and design possibilities of structures.
As Sonia highlights, “Civil engineers are often challenged by aging infrastructure and unseen structural flaws.” To address these issues, startups are developing innovative materials such as self-healing concretes, which autonomously repair cracks and significantly extend the life of buildings and infrastructure. Mimicrete’s self-healing concrete and Ultra High Materials’ geopolymer concrete are prime examples of advanced materials that improve structural longevity and performance while also being eco-friendly.
10. Disaster Management
Innovations in disaster management are critical for infrastructure resilience Civil engineers increasingly rely on advanced solutions such as earthquake-resistant designs and retrofitting techniques to strengthen structures against seismic activities. Startups like dataArrows and Aren are developing AI-powered digital twins and asset intelligence platforms that optimize building operations and enhance disaster preparedness. These platforms utilize real-time data from satellite and sensor networks to predict disaster patterns and potential impact zones, enabling more accurate forecasting and timely evacuations.
Additionally, post-disaster technologies like drones equipped with thermal imaging expedite damage assessment and rescue operations. Such innovations are crucial for managing and mitigating the impacts of natural disasters on critical infrastructure, aligning with BC Hydro’s comprehensive disaster readiness strategies.
BC Hydro’s call for power and its commitment to clean energy show the industry’s shift towards sustainability. The integration of renewable energy, advanced materials, and innovative construction practices addresses climate change, drives economic growth, and creates jobs. By embracing these trends, the civil engineering and design and engineering industries are paving the way for a sustainable and resilient future, ensuring B.C. remains at the forefront of clean energy development.
