Computational thinking for everyday structural engineering

Computational tools can make structural engineering faster, clearer and more consistent, but the most sophisticated workflow is not always the most useful. This interactive lecture brings together four members of the Institution’s Digital Workflows & Computational Design Panel to explore how engineers can adopt computation in ways that are practical, proportionate and responsible.

Through project-based examples, the speakers will examine when to use a spreadsheet, a script, generative AI or a more advanced computational workflow, and when not to automate at all. They will show how AI can reduce friction in document-heavy engineering tasks, how a simple real-world automation can make emerging tools feel achievable, and how computational methods might support regenerative design.

Reasons to attend

• Learn how to choose the right level of computation for you

• Make computational practise approachable, shareable and proportionate

• Apply AI safely and practically to everyday engineering work

Intended for

• Engineers who are curious, cautious or skeptical

• Industry professionals new to AI and computation