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Designing for Sustainability and Climate Change: Two Challenges Facing Civil Engineers

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A flood with vast infrastructure damage: one of the problems civil engineers must face.

Civil engineers, often known as the people’s engineers, leave their mark everywhere. The sidewalks we run on, the roads we drive on, the buildings we work in, the clean water we swim in. These structures and assets have all been made possible by various types of civil engineers. In general, civil engineers focus on the design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure systems, such as roads, bridges, dams, water supply systems, and buildings

In short, civil engineering is a broad discipline encompassing various sub-fields. These include structural engineering, transportation engineering, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, water resources engineering, and more. Because of these connected sub-fields, civil engineers often take a holistic approach to their projects. That is, they must consider factors, such as safety, sustainability, and efficiency when designing, constructing, and maintaining infrastructure systems.

Whatever their specialty, it is clear that civil engineers face both challenges and opportunities in the 21st century. Two of these challenges are designing for sustainability and resilience, especially in the face of climate change.

Designing For Sustainability and Reduced Environmental Impact

Along with contending with aging infrastructure, civil engineers are increasingly required to design and construct projects that minimize environmental impact, reduce carbon footprints, and implement sustainable materials and practices.

What is Sustainability?

The UN World Commission on Environment and Development defines sustainable development as “that which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” For the EPA, pursuing sustainability means creating and maintaining the conditions “under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony.” Sustainability is more than just a buzzword. That is, it is a commitment and a set of practices, a better way forward that balances the environment, human health, equity, and the economy.

Sustainable practices are based on the principle that materials and resources are finite. That is, we should use resources mindfully and conservatively to preserve them for future generations.

Civil Engineers Help to Construct a Pillar of Sustainable Design

Implementing sustainable practices is especially relevant for large (and often intrusive) commercial buildings that expend both a lot of space and energy.

One stellar example of sustainable design and construction is the Bullitt Center in Seattle, WA, which opened on April 22, 2013. Designing and constructing “the greenest commercial building in the world” required a vast, multidisciplinary team of architects and plumbers, as well as mechanical, electrical, and civil engineers.

Side view of the Net-zero Bullitt Center in Seattle, Washington
The Bullitt Center in Seattle, Washington Photo by Joe Mabel under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

The Bullitt Center is a Net-Zero-Energy certified. Annually, it generates as much energy as it consumes.

How is this rating possible?

Through design (high-performance windows, super-insulated walls, and advanced HVAC systems) and a huge roof-top photovoltaic array, it achieves its energy efficiency.

Engineers also constructed include 26 geothermal wells extending 400 feet (120 m) into the ground. At this depth, the temperature is a constant 55 °F (13 °C). These wells help in temperature regulation: keeping the building warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

The building is also Net-Zero-Water. Composting toilets and low-flow fixtures drastically reduce water consumption. The collection and treatment of rain (a 52,000-gallon tank, to be exact) provides drinking water. And gray water recycling is used for irritation and non-potable uses.

And its indoor environment is just as sustainable and healthy as its impact on the planet. The building is constructed from local non-toxic, low-environmental impact materials, such as timber sourced from sustainably managed forests. Natural ventilation and ample daylighting also add to the healthy workspace. There is even a green roof for managing storm water and reducing heat island effect.

Sustainability at Michigan Tech

In short, the Bullitt Center, made possible by civil engineers and other experts, is a model of sustainable design and construction. It demonstrates the possibility of creating buildings that are environmentally responsible, economically viable, and aesthetically pleasing.

Michigan Tech, too, has made strides in sustainability.

MTU has a long history of engaging in research on sustainability. For instance, most recently, David Shonnard (Chemical Engineering) and Dr. Steve Techtmann (Biological Sciences) have led multidisciplinary teams to attack the problem of plastic waste. One of their solutions is converting plastics to protein powder.

Michigan Tech’s Sustainability Demonstration House allows students to become involved in a sustainable living experiment.The Michigan Tech Alternative Energy Enterprise team transformed the former house into a net-zero home. And the new H-STEM complex was also designed in accordance with LE-ED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) principles.

The university has also recognized the need to transition to more environmentally-friendly construction through using renewable and recyclable materials, such as mass timber. Dr. Mark Rudnicki, for instance, leads a CLT (cross-laminated-timber) project that makes use of local and abundant hardwood species.

Creating Resilient Infrastructure That Withstands Hazardous Events and Climate Change

Civil engineers must design for not only sustainability, but also resilience. That is, they must create infrastructure that can withstand the myriad effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels, increased flooding, extreme weather events, and changing temperature patterns.

Heat-Resistant and Energy-Efficient Buildings

Some of the innovations of the Bullit Center also work for smaller, non-commercial buildings. Civil engineers can help by designing buildings–big or small–to be energy-efficient by installing cool roofs and using advanced insulation, natural ventilation, and renewable energy sources. These changes can help structures withstand the high temperatures that often come with climate change.

Improved Stormwater Management Systems

Contending with stormwater, so that it doesn’t damage other structures, has become increasingly challenging due to climate change. Civil engineers can help, though, by designing and creating green infrastructure. For instance, green roofs (such as in the Bullitt Center), permeable pavement such as porous asphalt, and rain gardens can all reduce runoff and therefore improve storm water management. Green roofs and bioswales, in fact, are a central component of New York City’s Green Infrastructure Plan.

Flood-Resistant Infrastructure

Flood-resistant infrastructure, though mentioned last here, is probably at the top of the list. To contend with floods, civil engineers must rethink how they design roads, bridges, and transit systems. One solution is building all of these at higher elevations. This height can prevent flooding when there are rising sea levels, storm surges, or intense flood events like that of June 17, 2018.

For those who missed the 2018 Father’s Day Flood, it was terrifying. In under nine hours, at least seven inches of rain fell. A landslide tore through the Ripley neighborhood, throwing down boulders that wiped out peoples’ houses. The rain flooded multiple homes, decimated yards, created 60 sinkholes, and washed out over 150 roads. And all this damage happened in an area that was not categorized as a flood plain.

The torrential rain also destroyed the Swedetown Gorge, the highlight of the Maasto-Hiihto trail system in Hancock, MI. The pounding water transformed its gentle stream into a raging river that uprooted trees and tossed boulders. Bridges collapsed, their wooden structures and concrete slabs jutting unnaturally and precariously out of the river. The trail on which people hike, ski, and bike suddenly became unnavigable, its infrastructure decimated.

“We could not help but be humbled by seeing a two-year-old new bridge with concrete abutments, a bridge that was 16 feet long and 12 feet wide and fabricated from heavy steel girders, being washed down stream 200 feet.”

John Diebel

Swedetown Gorge: A Case Study

When the FEMA money finally came through and engineers got to work planning and rebuilding those bridges, there were certainly challenges. Problems to solve that involved negotiating with nature and recognizing that climate change could bring another extreme flood event.

Adapting Bridge Structure

To prepare for another flood, civil engineers repositioned the bridges and designed them a little differently this time. They were higher and stronger to agree with the science. That is, bridges had to meet the current design criteria enforced by Michigan’s Environment, Great Lakes, Energy team. These criteria are based on stream and watershed flow calculations maintained by the agency.

For instance, along with elevating the bridges, engineers included wing walls in the design of the new concrete bridge abutments. These walls improve the bridges’ ability to survive intense flooding. Side railings, included as a safety feature, also created aesthetic appeal.

And engineers kept sustainability in mind by saving both resources and money. They reused the original 2016 middle bridge, which got its second life further downstream.

The beginning of the first bridge.

The beginning of constructing the middle bridge in the MH trail system.

Middle bridge construction in the Swedetown Gorge

Concrete foundation of the boardwalk.

Stress-testing the boardwalk.

Replacing Bridges With a More Resilient Boardwalk

Unfortunately, two of the gorge’s original bridges were built on silty soil, rare for that area. When an old earthen dam (originally used for potato field irrigation) collapsed and pushed a large sediment load towards Portage Lake, it left significant silt deposits at the mouth of Swedetown Creek. The force of the water in the Father’s Day Flood pushed even more silt into the creek while changing and widening the channel.

According to John Diebel, “We were reluctant to follow the original trail route and rebuild the bridge structures similar to the original structures. . . . Given the more erodible nature of the soil in that silty area, we had doubts about that erodible bump surviving another ten to twenty years.” There was also the problem of steep upper terrain to deal with. And the issue of building on a wetland.

The solution was a somewhat risky one requiring a significant trail reroute that avoided the silty soil. In the end, “we decided to take our chances with the wetland” (Diebel) and construct a 550-feet long, 12-foot wide walkway: a structure that is not only beautiful, but also sustainable. Boardwalks, which are used extensively on the North County Trail in the Ottawa National Forest, have little impact on the natural drainage of wetlands. Galvanized steel (swamp) pans with brackets accommodating 4×4 posts helped support the structure.

After the construction came the testing. Using ATVs loaded with fill material, MJO (the project contractor) pre-stressed the boardwalk. Then, after they noted the reaction of the structure to the stress, they deployed a few more swamp pans to reinforce the side beams. In the end, the boardwalk passed the test, maybe with flying colors. That is, it turned out that the sandy soil provided far more support than expected.

Preparing Engineers at Michigan Tech

This blog just touched on a few examples of  the upcoming challenges of designing for sustainability, climate change, extreme weather events, and more. Michigan Tech can help engineers prepare for these and other challenges.

The university has long had a commitment to sustainability in both research and practice. MTU also has several programs that address sustainability topics, such as the online certificate in engineering sustainability and resilience (CEGE). In addition, the CFRES offers both a bachelor’s degree in sustainable bioproducts and one in environmental science and sustainability.

For structural engineering, the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering offers a certificate in bridge design as well as others for specific areas. There is also a customizable Online MS in Civil Engineering in which you can focus on either structural engineering or water resources engineering.

Whatever your interest, these programs can help you think, design, and create to solve the problems of both today and tomorrow.

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Asset Management Certification Comes to MTU

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A bridge over clear water.

Great news! Michigan Technological University (MTU) has recently become a corporate member with the IAM: The Institute of Asset Management.

The IAM is a not-for-profit international professional body dedicated to the whole-life management of physical assets. Established in 1994, its aim is to develop asset management knowledge and best practices while generating awareness of the benefits of the asset management discipline for individuals, organizations, and wider society.

Currently, this body consists of 2000 individual and 300 corporate members, as well as a global network of 46,000 people.

What is Asset Management?

Assets are anything with potential or actual value to an organization, customers, users, or stakeholders. For instance, investment firms, which contain financial assets and infrastructure portfolios, perform asset management. Insurance companies also use asset management to reduce risk, which helps stabilize or decrease premiums to their customers.

In civil engineering, though, asset management is the science and coordinated activity for the long-term care and maintenance of infrastructure systems, facilities, and other civil assets. The objective is ensuring that users, customers, and stakeholders receive the highest value. In other words, this discipline goes far beyond the design and the building of structures.

This discipline is a crucial one because public assets are everywhere. Transportation systems, long-span bridges, potable water distribution systems, stormwater conveyance systems, watersheds, dams, and trail networks are just a few examples.

This cross-functional field involves several disciplines, such as business, finance, risk management, and sustainable design. According to Mark Declercq, (professional engineer (PE), and MTU Alum (Bachelor’s and Master’s of Structural Engineering, ’88, ’90), AM “is more a business management tool than an engineering concept.”

MTU and IAM: An Advantageous Partnership

Michigan Tech will acquire several benefits through its IAM membership.

  • Networking opportunities with chapters and branches
  • In-person and online global events for asset management professionals
  • Discounts on membership fees and reduced rates for events
  • Access to several tools and resources to stay up to date on asset management topics, practices, and decision making. These include forums, a knowledge library, and a Digital version of Assets magazine

Even better: MTU’s membership also enables students to attain an individual membership for as little as $16 USD annually. 

But perhaps one of the biggest benefits is this one: students may receive certification from the IAM after taking Mark Declercq’s intense, practical, 14-week online course CEE5390: Civil Asset Management.

The certification successful CEE5390 graduates will receive.
Mark Declercq, professional engineer and CEE5390 instructor.
Declercq’s certification as an AMP.

Certification in Asset Management

That is, MTU is the first US university to have its students eligible for a formal certification from the IAM. Starting in Fall 2024, students will receive a Certificate in Asset Management upon receiving a letter grade “B” or better in CEE5390.

Those who gain expertise in technical topics in asset management earn this certificate. It represents one of the three opportunities to advance one’s asset management qualifications. The next two, in progression, are the Asset Management Diploma (advanced AM topics with a business focus); and Asset Manager Professional (received upon completion of an application, experience, and oral interview on seven core subjects in AM.)

Declercq, not only has 33 years of experience in the public and private sectors, but also impressively holds the certificate and is an Asset Manager Professional. He is also a professional engineer in the state of Michigan.

In addition, DeClercq is versed in LEAN Management and has a certificate from the Federal Emergency Management Agency program in Emergency Management. Memberships in the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers round out his expertise.

His course, CEE5390, both demonstrates and analyzes asset management concepts as they are applied to traditional civil infrastructure systems. These include transportation, roads and bridges, water distribution, sanitary sewer collection, building facilities, airports, flood control, and parking structures. DeClercq knows that maintaining these systems is important now, more than ever before.

We’ve disinvested in our country’s infrastructure, “kicked the can down the road,” and lost the art of delivering on an asset’s life cycle for design, construction, operations, maintenance, and replacement. 

As global populations continue to grow, resources become more constrained, and the climate becomes an influential factor, being strategic about investment and care for infrastructure is critical.

Mark Declercq

Going Beyond Civil Engineering

CEE5390 has been carefully designed so that its fourteen modules align with the rigorous content of IAM’s official certification. After an introduction to the discipline, students dive into several topics that are necessary to building an asset management plan, such as organizational value, asset data, operational demand analysis, life cycle analysis, levels of service, asset risk assessment, contingency planning, and more.

Overall, the curriculum leverages students’ previous experience, courses, and degrees. That is, it addresses topics central to environmental engineering, mechanical engineering, environmental sustainability, business management, construction management, GIS, and more.

In other words, students from several disciplines can benefit from taking this course. “CEE5390 is also different from the past four years of schooling where analysis and design is emphasized. Asset management may seem a bit abstract since it envelops technical, business, risk, digital, human, and critical thinking skillsets into one practice” (Declercq). And then they apply these diverse problem-solving skills to a variety of industry asset types. 

And these skills are in-demand, too. That is, many government departments, such as the Department of Defense, Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Interior for the National Parks System, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are embracing civil asset management principles. What this change means is that teams submitting proposals for government contracts must contain at least one AM professional. And on international projects, requesting this team member is fairly standard.

In the course, each of Declercq’s students will be choosing a real-world example that allows them to work through and apply the 10 basic steps for developing an asset management plan. In fact, one of the current students is Dr. Audra Morse (PE, BCEE, F.ASCE), chair of the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering.

Stay Tuned to Learn More About CEE5390.

We’ll be hearing more from Dr. Morse and other graduates in a follow-up blog on this innovative course. We wish them the best of luck in developing and applying their asset management skills!

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Civil Asset Management Course Comes to Michigan Tech

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Aerial view of the Grand Rapids river as it crested during the flood event.

Five years before the 2018 Houghton Father’s Day Flood presented civil engineers with infrastructure challenges, there was the Grand Rapids Flood Event. This flood, which lasted from April 12 to April 25 2013, affected multiple areas in the city. At that time, the Midwest had been receiving a deluge of rain, with Grand Rapids getting 3.5 inches (89mm) of the wet stuff between April 8 and 15. And upriver, the Comstock Park community received 5.04 inches (128mm). With the latter rainfall, the Comstock Park floodwaters moved from minor to moderate, resulting in the river rising to 13.3 feet (4.1m) by April 13.

Rain continued to fall throughout the city, but on April 19, the tipping point was the 9.1 inches that fell in Grand Rapids, breaking the 109-year record from the flood of 1904-1905. Then, things rapidly grew from bad to worse. On April 21, the Grand River crested at 17.8 feet (5.8 feet above flood level) in Comstock whereas it rose to 21.85 feet (3.85 feet above flood level) in Grand Rapids.

1700 residents were evacuated (1000 from the Plaza Towers alone). Roads were closed. Railroads were impassable. The water in the city core was so high, in fact, that people reported fish swimming by their office floor windows. 429 million gallons of wastewater ended up seeping into the Grand River.

After the flood, the investigations began, not only to determine what went wrong, but also to prepare for future disastrous events.

Experts analyzed the events and identified the city’s risk of flood-prone areas using Geographical Information System modeling. They collected the physical data about the flood protection system assets for contingency planning and resiliency analysis against intense storm events.

Flood waters as seen through an office building window.
Floodwaters as seen through a window in the downtown core of Grand Rapids.

Introducing Mark Declercq

Civil Asset Management expert Declercq.
Civil Asset Management expert, Mark Declercq

One of the leading engineers on the front lines was Grand Rapids City Engineer and Civil Asset Management expert, Mark Declercq, PE and MTU Alum (Bachelor’s and Master’s of Structural Engineering, ’88, ’90).

As City Engineer for Grand Rapids, Declercq was responsible for the enterprise asset management program, capital project delivery, and capital maintenance program for the care of public assets.

These assets included the public transportation systems; water distribution and sanitary collection systems; storm water conveyance systems, pumping stations, retention structures and clean water plants; energy audits on public buildings; and solar array systems design and installation. In other words, he played a major role in Grand Rapids infrastructure.

After the flood, Declercq stepped in to co-lead the Grand River Corridor Strategic and Conceptual Planning for the potential river restoration project and riverbank development. The project, indeed, was a success: the Grand River watershed, low-head dam restoration, and flood protection system were all re-certified by FEMA. This recertification was a crucial part of the update and digitalization of nationwide flood insurance maps.

And this restoration project smartly kept the heart of the city in mind, too. For instance, the impressive amphitheater project in downtown Grand Rapids is a result of that strategic plan. In the 2013 Grand Rapids Flood Event, then, Asset Management was crucial for building resiliency, sustainability, and business continuity. (Fun fact, former MTU professor Dr. Henry Sanford acted watershed hydrology expert for the City of Grand Rapids.)

Sharing His Civil Asset Management Expertise With MTU

Declercq will bring his experience as a City Engineer, his expertise in Asset Management Planning, and his over 33 years in the private and public sectors to Michigan Technological University. In Fall 2023, he is teaching a 3-credit, online Civil Asset Management professional development course for the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering.

Currently, he serves as president of Applied Asset Management Consultants, an entrepreneurial start-up that was launched in 2018.

And his skills and credentials don’t stop there.

Declercq not only holds certifications in Professional Asset Management, LEAN Management, and Emergency Management, but also has memberships in the Institute of Asset Management, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers. Indeed, his resume is loaded with his accomplishments.

The Grand Rapids flood was one of Michigan’s worst natural disasters. It altered how we worked and lived in the downtown area. It served as a catalyst for a shift in the way we conceived land use and the deployment of resources in order to save our city and construct it in the future.

David Lawrence, Vice President for Global Campus and Continuing Education, who was working in the downtown core during the flood event.
A railroad bridge, an example of a civil asset, inundated with water during the Grand Rapids Flood event.
A railroad bridge, an example of a civil asset, inundated with water during the Grand Rapids Flood event.

Building Connections to Tech

Declercq is no stranger to Michigan Tech either. Previously, he collaborated with Dr. Audra Morse to invite CEGE students and faculty to participate in the IAM Great Lakes Branch quarterly meetings. One goal: exposing students to best practices involved with real-world CEGE challenges. Another goal: introducing students to future employers, such as public municipalities, federal and state regulatory agencies, private sector companies, and engineering consultants.

In addition, at the November 2023 IAM Great Lakes meeting, the CEGE will present the Enbridge Line 5 Risk Assessment under the Straits of Mackinac. This presentation will showcase the work and ingenuity of the CEGE Dept and its students.

So it was only natural that Dr. Morse proposed an Adjunct Professor of Practice opportunity so that Declercq could share his expertise on asset management as it applies to civil infrastructure.

Managing Civil Assets

According to Declercq, all infrastructure has value to its organization, customers, and stakeholders. Thus, in civil engineering, Asset Management is the science and practice (coordinated activity) of managing infrastructure systems and civil assets to realize their value and to achieve the highest levels of services for communities. Asset Management, which is cross-functional, involves several disciplines, such as business management, finance, and risk.

The goal is optimizing the life cycle of the civil assets that shape our lives. Below is just a short list of civil assets.

  • Transportation systems (roads, bridges, tunnels, and all assets within the public right-of-way)
  • Long-span bridge systems (Mackinac Bridge)
  • Potable Water distribution systems (watermain pipelines, groundwater pumping systems, buried and elevated tanks, and water treatment facilities)
  • Wastewater collection systems (underground piping, clean water treatment facilities)
  • Storm water conveyance systems
  • River watersheds and dam structures
  • Flood protection systems
  • Landfill operations
  • Natural assets like trail network system, national and state parks, museums
  • Electrical/Natural Gas generation, transmission, and distribution systems
  • Public-use facilities
Historic Fayette State Park on the Garden Peninsula, an example of a civil asset.
Fayette Historic State Park on the Garden Peninsula, Michigan: An example of a civil asset

Interviewing Mark Declercq

To let him speak, I asked Declercq a few questions about his course and the future of civil engineering.

Q. When is the course running? How is it delivered? What content does it cover?

A. The 14-week, for-credit course “Civil Asset Management” (CEE 5390) will first be available in Fall, 2023. It is delivered in a synchronous online format. That is, classes will run Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00-5:20 pm. Each class will consist of brief instructor-led lectures, followed by student engagement activities. There is also a weekly online laboratory session for applying concepts and working with real-life scenarios.

This course is suitable for all civil engineering students who want to broaden their skills. Civil Asset Management spans a diversity of disciplines including business, finance, risk, supply chain managers, construction managers, facility managers, resource managers, and operational and maintenance managers. CAM, in short, is necessary for the long-term design, maintenance, and sustainability of civil engineering infrastructure and facility asset types in the United States.

The course covers several topics fundamental to Civil Asset Management. Topics include asset data and risk assessment; environmental, social, and governance principles; six working capitals; overview of computerized maintenance systems; sustainability strategies; and funding mechanisms. Central to this course is a rich case study on the 2013 Grand Rapids flood event.

Students will acquire many valuable skills, such as evaluating asset value against cost, risk, and performance in managing the long-term care of civil engineering infrastructure. They will also apply the 10-steps to building an Asset Management Plan. Finally, they will use the A3 Lean Management tool for scenario and business case evaluation.

Q. Why is Civil Asset Management important to civil engineers? What organizations use it?

A. Civil Asset Management is an important and necessary technical and business skill set for today’s civil engineers. That is, civil engineers must learn to be strategic about developing recommendations and formulating decisions. They must be able to optimize the value of asset infrastructure.

This skill set has several societal benefits, too, such as enabling the affordability of and accessibility to basic infrastructure, such as water, wastewater, and multi-modal transportation options. It also equips engineers with the skills to develop strategic plans that incorporate resiliency and sustainability against climate change. And in these plans, engineers learn how to account for disruptors to business continuity.

Most importantly, Asset Management values Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles embraced by many international governments, as well as the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals. Also, traditional US civil engineering firms need those with Civil Asset Management expertise to develop plans and frameworks for organizations.

Although early in its journey in the United States, Civil Asset Management has been adopted by several Michigan organizations. These include the Michigan Department of Transportation; the Michigan office of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (E.G.L.E.); and the Michigan Chapters of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and Water Environmental Association (MWEA). Asset Management has also been incorporated at the federal level. It is employed by the Department of Defense, the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Interior for US Parks, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Q. How does Civil Asset Management help civil engineers prepare for some of the challenges in their fields?

A. Critical thinking is a significant challenge in our civil engineering industry. Or to put it another way, strategy, planning, and the art of “big picture” thinking comprise an undervalued skill set in our industry. This skill set, though, is crucial to both Asset Management and Project Management.

Another challenge for civil engineers is understanding the concept of “value” from the viewpoint of the customer or end user. For example, consider water main breaks caused by freezing winter temperatures and an unreliable, aged distribution system. The risks are high if the geographical impacts are widespread and felt for a prolonged period of time. Hence, the “value” of the water system in this state is considered less than desirable, especially from users facing affordability challenges with their monthly water rates. Electric outages from recent storm damages throughout Michigan are another example.

Asset Management Planning, then, enables both the strategic thinking and long-term planning to develop scenarios based on data, science, and known risks that improve customer/user outcomes, such as affordable water rates and electrical reliability. Implementing Asset Management’s best practices and tools helps civil engineers do better for their communities and beyond.

Q. Where are those with Civil Asset Management expertise employed?

A. Those with Civil Asset Management experience often begin their careers in a variety of roles: young project engineers, data analysts, engineering technicians, product designers, and project managers. This expertise also opens up opportunities for moving up to positions, such as a CEO, COO, Vice President, or Director of assets and capital project delivery programs.

Additionally, those who have knowledge in managing civil assets might take on the roles of City Managers, City Engineers, Finance Officers, Risk Managers, County Administrative Managers, Water/Sewer/Storm Asset Managers, Public Works/Services Directors, Facility Managers, and other top management and C-, VP-level leadership positions. Furthermore, Civil Asset Management expertise signals an understanding of key business outcomes, a valuable attribute that private and public sectors seek in recruiting leadership talent.

Q. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

A. My life, both on and off the job has provided me with considerable real-life stories and examples that serve as valuable teaching and mentoring for students. For instance, I love the environment and protecting its value.

I have hiked all the Isle Royale trails, made over a dozen visits to the island. And I have thru-hiked the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail in 2018 over a six-month period, thru-hiked the John Muir Trail in the California High Sierra Mountains in 2022, and hiked the Patagonia W-trek in spring 2023. Next, I plan to thru-hike the 2,600-mile Pacific Crest Trail in 2024.

Civil Asset Management expert Declercq at Baxter Peak.
Declercq finishing another challenging hike on a high note:
at Baxter Peak.
Civil Asset Management expert Declercq at the top of Mount Whitney.
A victorious Declercq at the top of Mount Whitney.

These hiking experiences tell me that we must do more to advocate for and protect our environment, perhaps our most valuable civil asset.

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Mass Timber Buildings: The Next Structural Engineering Challenge

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Interior of an open-office setting in a mass timber building.
Interior of the T3 building in Minneapolis: https://structurecraft.com/projects/t3-minneapolis

Structural engineers play a major role in the visual quality of our built environment, yet they seldom get public recognition for it. . . . Engineers create framing systems that give such buildings their shape and permit the manipulation of spaces and functions. Architects sometimes do nothing more creative than gussy up the exterior with a particular kind of curtain wall.

Paul Gapp, architect, 1980

These words above were spoken by Paul Gapp, an architect himself, in fact. He was critiquing how several articles on skyscrapers, from the early 20th century onwards, often celebrated the ingenuity of architects. In doing so, their authors forgot about those structural engineers behind the scenes, those whose designs made those monumental structures both possible and safe. In other words, he wanted to remind readers that skyscrapers began FIRST as structural engineering challenges and then, finally, achievements.

A little closer to the ground than skyscrapers is another challenge faced by structural engineers: designing, planning, and building for sustainability.

Facing the Next Challenge: Sustainable Construction

To put it simply, sustainable construction involves using materials, resources, and construction methods that minimize the negative environmental impact of a building throughout its entire life cycle. This practice includes using renewable materials, energy-efficient design, and greener construction methods. It also involves the recycling or reuse of materials at the end of the building’s life.

But sustainable construction is no trendy, flash-in-the-pan idea. According to Deloitte and Touche’s report on the 2023 Engineering and Construction outlook, customers/clients are increasingly becoming more sustainability conscious. Therefore, they are demanding that developers lower their carbon footprints in new construction projects. The 2021 World Green Building Trends report had similar findings. In the survey, 1/3 of the US companies said that they were focused on green building whereas 46% admitted that they would soon make it a priority.

In short, the Deloitte and Touche report summarized these objectives of the construction industry:

  • Encouraging the sustainable use of resources and new materials
  • Promoting sustainable design, development, and construction practices
  • Decreasing energy consumption
  • Reducing waste generation and encouraging responsible disposal of waste
  • Sourcing low-carbon energy

Moving From Concrete and Steel to More Modest Engineered Wood

Why does the construction industry need to step up to the plate when it comes to implementing sustainability practices?

Because nearly 50% of all carbon emissions come from our built environment. And, often, in densely populated areas, these buildings are steel and concrete. These materials, because of their high carbon density, account for 13% of all global greenhouse gas emissions. So transitioning to other more sustainable building materials and methods makes environmental sense.

As awareness of the benefits of sustainable construction grows, more architects and engineers are searching for environmentally-friendly alternatives to traditional construction materials. And one of the alternatives to concrete and steel is mass timber.

Mass timber, otherwise known as engineered wood, is made by creating large sections of wood, of various sizes and functions, from smaller timber panels. These timber panels are glued, nailed, or dowelled together, creating large durable slabs. These slabs can then bear significant weights and loads.

But building with mass timber is hardly new. That is, this type of construction goes back as far as the 19th century with the use of Gluman. Glulam, short for glue-laminated timber, is a structurally engineered wood product. It consists of pieces of wood bonded together in a layer-cake style. You can find highly customizable Glulam in the beams and columns of some commercial and residential buildings.

Choosing the Best Type of Mass Timber Product

Structural engineers, architects, and designers must collaborate to analyze and choose the right engineered wood material for the job. Here are the major choices:

  • Laminated veneer lumber (LVL), similar to Glulam, consists of vertical layers glued together with composites. LVL, generally made from softwoods, is more aesthetically pleasing but also less durable. You can find it in beams, trusses, and rafters.
  • Nail-laminated timber (NLT) consists of individual laminations mechanically fastened with nails or screws. The strength of this product lies in the numerous screws and nails holding the laminations together. You might recognize NLT in the flooring, decking, roofing, and walls of modern buildings. NLT’s exposed aesthetic appeal also makes it suitable for open-concept office and mixed-use buildings.
  • Dowel-laminated timber (DLT), is similar to NLT, except wooden dowels hold the laminations together. This all-wood mass timber product (no nails or metal fasteners) can be be easily constructed and modified on site. This source contains a much richer description of DLT.
  • Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is one the strongest of all mass-timber products. It has been popular in Austria and Germany for over three decades. CLT consists of panels of solid lumber boards (usually spruce, pine, or fir) stacked and glued together at alternating right angles (90°). Machines then cut these to the desired shape and size. You can find strong CLT in tall mass timber buildings.
  • Structural composite timber (SCL) consists of wood strands, veneers, or flakes bonded together with adhesives. While offering great strength and stability, SCL requires specialized installation. This mass timber product appears in rafters, beams, joists, studs, and columns.

Making a Difference, One Wood Module at a Time

Along with their durability, buildings created from mass timber materials are more sustainable and climate-friendly in several ways. They have the following advantages:

  • Reduced climate impact: According to the Journal of Building Engineering, mass-timber construction may reduce the global warming impact of buildings up to 26.5%
  • Less waste due to prefabrication: If building plans are very specific, factories can produce only those slabs required for projects.
  • Reduced transportation costs: Builders can also make some mass timber products on site from available materials, reducing shipping costs.
  • Increased efficiency: Because of the reduced waste, contractors and engineers can erect mass timber buildings up to 25% faster than similar concrete buildings.

In fact, mass timber is often worked into biophilic design. This type of architecture and urban design incorporates elements of nature, such as atriums, green roofs, natural light, into the built environment. The main goal of biophilic design is creating a more sustainable, healthier, and enjoyable living space. Mass timber structures, then, naturally fit this design approach.

By some estimates, the near-term use of CLT and other emerging wood technologies in buildings 7-15 stories could have the same emissions control effect as taking more than 2 million cars off the road for one year.

Ensuring the Safety of Mass Timber Buildings

Just as they did with those skyscrapers, structural engineers must ensure that these mass timber buildings are safe, durable, sustainable, and structurally sound. They must help to design these buildings so they withstand the forces of wind and gravity, as well as any seismic events.

In short, structural engineers work with architects throughout the entire process of creating a mass timber building. That is, they advise contractors, designers, and architects on all aspects of mass timber construction. Structural engineers design the components of a mass timber building, such as the columns, beams, and walls. They also evaluate the various materials used in construction, such as CLT panels, glulam beams, and LVL, to ascertain their suitability for the project’s components. Overall, they ensure that the design is structurally sound and meets all building codes.

And based on the building’s size, weight, use, and load-bearing abilities, they might also advise on whether the construction should be hybrid (made of wood and another component), a free-standing tall wood structure, or an infill or overbuild. (Infills are mass timber buildings that fill in a space whereas overbuilds, as they sound, are created on top of existing structures.)

Getting Past Negative Perceptions of Timber Construction

Despite the arguments for its durability, sustainability, and aesthetics; as well as its reduced climate impact, mass timber still has a way to go to meet wider public acceptance.

Why? Fire. Thanks to some historic fires in this country and others, many perceive wood buildings as less durable and more unsafe than those made from other materials. As a result, building codes and regulations still lag behind. For instance, the International Building Code just approved 18-story timber buildings in 2021.

The good news: Mass timber buildings are highly fire-resistant, due to the fire-retardant properties of the wood used in their construction. Fire-rated gypsum wallboard and other materials enhance mass timber’s fire resistance.

In fact, in one fire-resistance test, a piece of 5-ply laminated timber lasted for 3 hours and 6 minutes at 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. To put this test in perspective, here is a fact. Type 1 Buildings, often considered the “cadillac of construction” must consist of non-combustible materials with 2-3 hours of fire resistance. However, fire-resistant does not mean fire-resistive, so there are obviously still improvements to be made to engineered wood.

Building Beauty with Engineered Wood

The acceptance of mass timber construction is growing, even in a place that has traditionally resisted timber construction: New York. The city that never sleeps welcomed its first engineered wood condo at 670 Union Street.

Other recent examples demonstrate how mass timber construction is becoming more common. For instance, take the T3 office building in Minneapolis, the Framework mixed-use building in Portland, and the John W. Olver Design Building at University Massachusetts Amherst.

T3, is a 7-story, 220,000 square foot office building completed by company Structurecraft in 2016. It took less than 3 months (only 9.5 weeks) to install. The construction team used prefabricated (NLT) solid wood panels, which reduced construction time significantly. The building also boasts an LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating of GOLD (60-79 points or the second-highest rating). Since then, Structurecraft has erected additional T3 buildings.

Outside of the original T3 mass-timber building in Minneapolis.
The original T3 in Minneapolis, constructed of NLT (nail-laminated timber) https://structurecraft.com/projects/t3-minneapolis

Studying Timber Building Design at MTU

Michigan Tech has long had a commitment to sustainability in both research and practice. The university also has several programs that tackle upcoming sustainability challenges, such as the online certificate in engineering sustainability and resilience. Also, the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering offers five graduate structural engineering certificates. One of them is a 9-credit Timber Building Design certificate, which has long been a “historical strength” of the department.

All students earning their structural engineering certificate in timber building design will take the same core courses: Structural Timber Design and Advanced Structural Timber Design. These courses provide a strong foundation as they progress through the program.

They will then choose one of the following courses to tailor their educational journey to their career goals: Finite Element Analysis, Structural Dynamics, and Probabilistic Analysis and Reliability.

Overall, students will learn several valuable skills in this certificate, which will prepare them for a future in mass timber design and construction:

  • Investigating how timber buildings are different from buildings constructed from other common civil structural materials
  • Analyzing dimension lumber and mass timber; and axially and flexurally loaded members, shear, bearing, and combined loading on members
  • Studying connection design, shear walls and diaphragms, arches and tapered beams, modeling, and loading
  • Designing timber structures, with an emphasis on timber buildings
  • Examining the potential of wood as an alternative to steel and concrete for environmental sustainability

It is clear that mass timber buildings are here to stay as they help to set a more sustainable standard for construction. We look forward to seeing the innovative, environmental, and safe buildings that this (and the next) generation of brilliant structural engineers plan, design, and create.

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