How Smart Cities Are Shaping the Future of Civil Engineering

Smart cities use sensors, data analytics, and communication technology to promote more efficient infrastructure management. These systems collect real-time data on everything from traffic flow and energy usage to water systems and public safety. That data is then analyzed using advanced software and artificial intelligence, allowing city leaders and engineers to make informed decisions that enhance the quality of life for inhabitants and increase the sustainability of city operations.¹

The move toward smart cities received a major boost with the passing of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), a $1 trillion bipartisan bill passed in 2022. This bill includes grant funding to encourage the development of smart cities. As a significant source of funding, the IIJA is laying the foundation for expanded connections between city systems and the civil engineering industry driving the technology.²

This article will explore how smart cities could impact the future of civil engineering, including opportunities and infrastructure trends.

Smart City Opportunities for Civil Engineers

The IIJA allocates over $500 million in funding to smart city projects through Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) grants. These grants can be used to fund autonomous vehicles and other efficient forms of alternative transportation to reduce carbon emissions, connected traffic sensors, and a smart electrical grid.²

The bill also includes funding opportunities to expand WiFi connectivity in underserved areas. Efficient communication is an essential component in smart technology, particularly in the form of Internet-of-Things (IoT) sensors. Rural areas often lack the connectivity infrastructure that’s available in urban areas, which makes it impossible to include them in smart infrastructure.²

Civil engineers play a primary role in developing smart cities through planning, designing, implementing, and maintaining the infrastructure that supports them. One of their primary functions is designing new or retrofitting existing infrastructure elements, such as water supply and sewage systems, roads, public transportation systems, and bridges with sensors. These sensors transmit data that can be used to make strategic decisions about how to allocate resources most efficiently.³

Smart cities focus on sustainability, so civil engineers are developing infrastructure solutions that reduce carbon emissions and negative impact on the environment. They can do this both by using renewable energy sources and reducing waste in traditional systems.³

One example of how civil engineers are designing innovative solutions for smart cities is through connected transportation systems. Inefficient transportation systems lead to wasted time, resources, and energy, in addition to being a frustration for travelers. Smart transportation systems can address these issues through measures such as changing traffic signals based on traffic flows, using vehicle-to-infrastructure communication systems, providing real-time information on public transportation, and supporting electric vehicle adoption.⁴

Resilient Infrastructure Trends

Unpredictable weather patterns are creating climate-related risks in many areas that haven’t experienced them before, including wildfires, floods, extreme heat, and hurricanes. Designing for climate resilience and future-ready cities adds another level of challenge to civil engineering. Climate-adaptive civil engineering is a new territory, since engineers can’t rely on historical weather data to predict future conditions. They need to develop new materials and systems that will stand up to the changing environment.⁵

Some climate-resilient systems civil engineers are using include flood control, green infrastructure, and adaptable roads. Flood control infrastructure design incorporates modular retention systems, permeable surfaces, and reinforced natural barriers. The Netherlands has implemented many of these solutions in its Room for the River program. This program relocated dykes to create river overflow areas, restoring floodplains with native vegetation, and using biodegradable materials to rehabilitate wetlands.⁶

Green infrastructure programs use natural ecosystems to help regulate temperatures, purify the air, and manage stormwater. Green roofs are covered in vegetation that can provide food, insulate buildings, and improve air quality. Rain gardens can be engineered to reroute runoff water, which will reduce soil erosion, flood damage, and water pollution. Outdoor parking lots that use grass rather than cement allow stormwater to soak into the ground and reflect less heat. Bioremediation involves using microorganisms to clean up sites with contaminated soil and water. All of these examples of green infrastructure promote natural solutions that can improve a city’s resilience to climate change.⁷

Skills Engineers Need to Excel

Civil engineers have traditionally been risk-averse: a necessary trait when designing systems that the public depends on both in everyday life and during emergencies. While they’ll have to maintain this dedication to protecting the public interest, engineers also need to adapt to rapidly evolving methods and technologies. Civil engineers need a strong foundation in engineering fundamentals and technical proficiencies. They need to be able to use tools such as computer-aided design (CAD) and building information modeling (BIM) programs and understand how to apply math and physics to create safe public structures.⁸

Engineers also need a range of digital and sustainability-focused competencies, including familiarity with IoT, data systems, and environmental engineering that drive smart city development. These skills include an understanding of green building techniques, including the environmental impact of construction, and how to integrate renewable energy solutions into projects. They need to understand geotechnical knowledge such as soil mechanics, rock design, and foundation planning to mitigate risks associated with ground conditions.⁸

Smart cities and other civil engineering projects are collaborative efforts that depend on input from professionals in many industries. Civil engineers need teamwork and communication skills to both clearly express their ideas to others and to understand others’ ideas. As they advance in their career, they’ll need advanced project management skills. They need to be able to use project management tools and work within strict budgets and timelines to complete projects. Civil engineers need to coordinate teams and resources to complete challenging projects successfully.⁸

Use Your Skills to Shape Innovative Cities

An Online BS in Civil Engineering from Bradley University will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to design and deliver sustainable, resilient solutions for modern cities. The flexibility of online learning allows you to learn at your own pace from anywhere. Our challenging curriculum is taught by respected experts in their fields. By combining theoretical coursework and practical applications, you’ll learn the problem-solving capabilities you need to build, design, and maintain structures in the modern world. Contact an Admission Advisor today to learn more about the program as well as tuition and financial aid.