Leadership and Communications in Civil Engineering: Past, Present, and Future

The challenges posed to the engineering profession by population growth and information technology will, it is argued, call for leadership and an ability to communicate effectively. Drawing on his experiences as a member of a team that sought to assess the condition of infrastructure in lower Manhattan in the days after the September 11 terrorist attacks, the author recounts the difficulties encountered in gaining access to certain information. It is vitally important for political leaders to ensure that the public knows whether or not the engineering community is providing the technical assistance and expertise required during an emergency. This may, iti is argued, call for better coordination of the efforts undertaken by political leaders and leaders of the engineering community. As part of their professional ethics and concern for the welfare of society, engineers should effectively communicate to the public that they are there to help ensure safety.