Approved by the Infrastructure and Research Policy Committee on June 7, 2022
Approved by the Public Policy and Practice Committee on August 31, 2022
Adopted by the Board of Direction on October 22, 2022

Policy

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) supports infrastructure research and innovation to enhance economic vitality while assuring public health, safety, welfare, quality of life, sustainability, and resilience.

Appropriate methods to enable infrastructure research, and innovation should include:

  • Legislation, regulations, and policies that encourage development and deployment of innovative technologies and processes.
  • Adequate funding for infrastructure research at the federal level in conjunction with state/local agencies, universities, the private sector, and non-profit organizations.
  • Coordinated approaches to identify and disseminate information about infrastructure research, development and deployment by federal, state, and local governments, academia, the private sector, and non-profit organizations.
  • Enhanced opportunities for researchers and practitioners to collaborate on basic and applied research, development, and deployment activities.

Issue

The ASCE 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, estimates that $5.9 trillion is needed by 2029 to meet national infrastructure needs. Fragmented efforts across infrastructure system life cycles and the lack of a clear and coordinated policy limit the support for long-term research, technological gains, and innovation. Technical innovation and collaboration between researchers and practitioners can result in improved resilience, reduced life-cycle costs, and enhanced sustainability.

Rationale

The public has the right to expect the planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and financing of the nation’s infrastructure to enhance public safety, economic vitality, quality of life, sustainability, resilience, and reduced adverse environmental impacts. These expectations call for innovative solutions which require coordinated and sustained research, development, and deployment efforts. 

ASCE Policy Statement 313
First Approved in 1986