Members reported that they are quickly adopting digital tools, but often lack the structured guidance they need to use these tools consistently and confidently. These insights formed the basis of the Digital engineering strategy, which now directs the material developed and published on the site.
At the centre of the page is the Digital tools database. This is a practical catalogue of software used in structural engineering. It helps members understand what each tool does, where it fits within a workflow, and how it compares to other options.
Next to this, there is a summary of the survey’s main insights, highlighting clear trends in digital skills, expectations, and areas where engineers are seeking more support. Together, these elements explain why the strategy focuses on reliability, quality, and accessible digital practices.
The page also introduces an expanding library of technical guidance. Our review of over 900 CROSS (Confidential Reporting on Structural Safety) reports found that the use of digital technology contributed to a significant number of issues in structural engineering.
Summary of analysis of CROSS reports
In total, 43% of reports involved a digital processes, highlighting the profession’s increasing reliance on digital tools and the risks that come with using them without clear standards, verification, or oversight. Calculation errors accounted for 22% of all reports.
These errors were often linked to inconsistent calculations, and assumptions. Another 13% related to BIM and modeling errors, and an additional 8% concerned the incorrect use of monitoring methods.
These findings stress the urgent need for guidance that improves the accuracy and reliability of digital work and the use of technology.
In response, our new guidance sets a consistent approach for structuring, reviewing, and documenting calculations, no matter the platform being used. Supplementary notes explain what strong scripting workflows look like, how spreadsheets should be organized to reduce risk, and how to use large language models responsibly and effectively included on the website to be updatable and relevant to changes in technology.
Further resources on AI have been developed which focus on the ethics, engineering use cases, and summaries from recent roundtable discussions, all aimed at providing members with a solid foundation for digital practice.
In the coming months, the page will expand with new guidance on finite element modeling.
This will address the areas where our survey and member feedback indicate the greatest need. Together, these resources will help engineers adopt digital tools with clarity, confidence, and technical precision.