“What is the future of structural design, and what will be the role of the structural engineer in this future?” asks James Norman, Professor of Sustainable Design at the University of Bristol, in his introduction to
The future of structural design, a new thought leadership book launched by IStructE.
The book explores how designers manage uncertainty now and in the future, as they look to develop new materials and work with existing buildings. The aim is for engineers to address both safety and sustainability in a fast-moving and complex world.
James Norman explains: “Writing this book has more than ever convinced me that we have an ethical responsibility to make reuse, deconstruction and reconstruction the norm where we already have material wealth. This change is happening – we have new codes and IStructE’s publication on circular design,
Circular economy and reuse.”
A central theme of
The future of structural design is that safety must consider a wide variety of stakeholders, including those affected by climate change due to high-carbon materials usage.
Readers are therefore asked to consider the local and global risks of climate change and make buildings as low-carbon as possible. For established materials, this means making them as efficient as possible, such as using low-carbon and carbon-storing materials.
The future of structural design advocates for the structural engineering profession – and others in the built environment – to embrace a future where sustainable, circular, and regenerative approaches are considered as important as safety.
To do this, it also brings advanced statistical analysis methods into the realm of the practising engineer, using several future case studies to highlight how these tools could be used on future projects. A combination of case studies, theory and practice helps create a picture of a possible future for the profession, one which adopts specialist methods that are currently used in fields such as earthquake engineering and off-shore engineering.
It links the big-picture thinking that James Norman, with his co-author Oliver Broadbent, shared in IStructE’s thought leadership title
The regenerative structural engineer to identify problems with innovative solutions.
James Norman adds: “As explained in this new book, it’s down to all of us to change our behaviour, especially in areas where we have the capacity and influence to make a radical difference. It is crucial to re-use what we have, and critical to find new materials and solutions that don’t just reduce harm, but actually do good.”
Dr Alix Dietzel, Senior Lecturer in Climate Justice at the University of Bristol co-authored with James a chapter about navigating ethical design decisions, including adapting to climate change, local and global impacts, acceptable risk of failure, and the ethics of reusing existing buildings.
Dr Dietzel adds: “Our chapter encourages structural engineers to be agents of change with the potential for realising climate justice. The aim is to help the profession be empowered to consider decisions around risk and climate change with more nuance, even if it is harder.”
Artist and science communicator James McKay, based at the University of Leeds, illustrates the book with images that aim to stimulate readers’ minds about future infrastructure and the built environment.
James Norman concludes: “As engineers, we consider uncertainty at every step of the design process, with a need to design for the future. There is an incredible opportunity in front of us, to show ethical leadership in the built environment, raise the value of our occupation, and engage in really great fun engineering, playing both with numbers and materials.”
The Future of Structural Design authors are leaders in their respective fields:
- Dan Bergsagel, Structural Engineer, Schlaich Bergmann and Partners.
- Scott Boote, Founder, Agnos Studio.
- Flavia De Luca, Professor of Structural and Earthquake Engineering, University of Bristol.
- Raffaele De Risi, Associate Professor in Civil Engineering, University of Bristol.
- Alix Dietzel, Senior Lecturer in Climate Justice, University of Bristol, and the Associate Director for Impact and Innovation at the Cabot Institute for the Environment.
- Philip Isaac, Director and co-founder Simple Works.
- Gavin Knowles, Lecturer, Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering, University of Bath.
- Dan Maskell, Senior Lecturer, Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering, University of Bath.
- James Norman, Professor of Sustainable Design, University of Bristol and Fellow of IStructE (through the Eminent Person’s route).
Part 1: Introduction
Chapter 1:
Introduction by James Norman
Chapter 2 –
Introduction to risk and reliability by James Norman and Raffaele De Risi
Chapter 3 –
Tools for engaging with ethical questions in design by Alix Dietzel and James Norman
Chapter 4 –
Brief history of reliability- and risk-based design by James Norman and Raffaele De Risi
Part 2: “….and no more.”
Chapter 5 –
The purpose of design by James Norman
Chapter 6 –
Uncertainty in design by Raffaele De Risi and James Norman
Chapter 7 –
Design codes by James Norman
Chapter 8 –
Analysis by Philip Isaac and Dan Bergsagel
Chapter 9 –
Future case study – Part 1 by Raffaele De Risi
Part 3: Classifying and testing materials
Chapter 10 –
Classifying material properties by Dan Maskell and Raffaele De Risi
Chapter 11 –
Physical testing by James Norman and Scott Boote
Chapter 12 –
Future case study Part 2 by Raffaele De Risi and James Norman
Part 4: Reuse
Chapter 13 –
Assessment and reuse of existing buildings by Flavia De Luca and Gavin Knowles
Chapter 14 –
Gathering data by Gavin Knowles
Chapter 15 –
Bayesian updating by Raffaele De Risi and Flavia De Luca
Chapter 16 –
Quantitative assessment by Flavia De Luca
Chapter 17 –
Case study: Quantitative assessment by Flavia De Luca
Part 5: The future of structural design
Chapter 18 –
Risk-based design and risk acceptability by Raffaele De Risi
Chapter 19 –
Future case study Part 3 by Raffaele De Risi
Chapter 20 –
Epilogue by James Norman
- Ends -
For further information please contact:
The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) Newsroom on +44 (0)7930 34 55 43.
Notes to Editors
About the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE): https://www.istructe.org/
The Institution of Structural Engineers dates to 1908 and is now the world’s largest membership organisation dedicated to the art and science of structural engineering.
It has over 30,000 members working in 139 countries around the world. Professional membership is one of the leading global benchmarks of competence and technical excellence. Members undergo rigorous technical assessment and commit to continual learning and development.
The Institution drives higher standards and shares knowledge because its members’ work is vital to public safety and meeting the challenges of the future. The Institution provides a voice for its members, promoting their contribution to society as innovative, creative problem solvers and the guardians of public safety.