Structural Futures Committee

Tag
Author
Date published
Price

Our Structural Futures Committee studies trends that may impact the structural engineering profession and develops related resources and events.

The Committee considers how structural engineering's approach, skills and knowledge base will need to change in response to an evolving industry. This is achieved by working closely with the Engineering Leadership Group to determine strategic priorities: how, where and when to supply members with related resources, training and events. Topics include:

  • Evolving technologies
  • The climate emergency
  • The role of the structural engineer in the future

The Committee also provides direction and oversight to the Digital Workflows and Computational Design Panel.

 

Committee structure:

The constitution of the Committee aims to reflect the diversity of the Institutions membership and to provide different perspectives.

  • Chair
  • Vice Chair
  • Chair of the reporting Panel
  • Up to 28 other members (including members of various grades and those based in different locations)

Get involved:

We invite expressions of interest in Committee membership each September, contacting all members except Student Members.

Members of the Committee are expected to fully participate in supporting and driving the Committee's activities forward.

There are many ways that you can contribute to the activities of the group, and you will be expected to do some work outside the meetings, for example drafting or reviewing guidance and keeping up to date on the latest developments around the topics the Committee is involved with.

The Committee meet four times a year. A maximum of one meeting will be in person at Institution HQ, whilst all other meetings are held online. Online access to meetings is always available.

Contact the committee if you have questions about their work.
 

Contact the committee

Looking for an event or training?

Explore our range of online training, recorded lectures and up and coming events.

Read more

Featured events and resources

The Structural Engineer
Blockchain technology illustration

Rebuilding trust with blockchain technology

Alastair Low-Macrae argues that blockchain technology may hold the key to some of the issues around trust and transparency that the industry is currently grappling with, particularly in the context of BIM.

Date – 1 February 2022
Author – Alastair Low-Macrae
Price – £10
Blue abstract blocks

The ACORN, the SQUIRREL and the OAK

The poster of the 2021 Coolest Concrete Award winner, Robin Oval, Postdoctoral Research Associate at University of Cambridge.

Date – 7 February 2022
Author – Robin Oval
Price – Free
Report
Blue abstract blocks

Thin-shell textile reinforced concrete floors for low-carbon buildings

The poster of the 2020 Coolest Concrete Award runner up, Will Hawkins.

Date – 7 February 2022
Author – Will Hawkins
Price – Free
Training
Blue abstract blocks

Circular economy panel debate

A technical debate around practical approaches towards implementing the circular economy within structural engineering and the construction industry.

Date – 7 January 2022
Author – Laura Batty, Andrea Charlson, Penny Gowler and Charlie Wedgwood
Price – 0
The Structural Engineer
<h4>Viewpoint: Embracing probability: could big data spell the end of safety factors as we know them?</h4>

Viewpoint: Embracing probability: could big data spell the end of safety factors as we know them?

Arthur Coates calls on structural engineers to push for the adoption of post-monitoring sensors to provide better data on building performance and, ultimately, more accurate loading predictions.

Date – 31 March 2021
Author – Arthur Coates
Price – £10
Blog
View of a complex road junction from above

Should COVID-19 change society's direction of travel?

What we can learn from the COVID-19 pandemic? Kate Leighton gives an opinion from a UK perspective.

Date – 30 March 2020
Author – Kate Leighton FIStructE
Price – 0
Blog
Homes in Goldsmith Street, Norwich

Innovation in house design

Richard Lankshear MIStructE discusses the Stirling Prize winning Goldsmith Street and how evolving home design will require the specialist skills of the structural engineer.

Date – 11 October 2019
Author – Richard Lankshear MIStructE
Price – 0
The Structural Engineer
<h4>Viewpoint: Which way now for codes and standards: Prescription, performance-based or what?</h4>

Viewpoint: Which way now for codes and standards: Prescription, performance-based or what?

Stuart Matthews considers the potential benefits – and difficulties – of developing performance- or outcomes-based codes of practice and standards.

Date – 1 May 2019
Author – Stuart Matthews
Price – £10

Explore our training, events and resources to support you throughout your career and membership journey.

Related resources and events

Course
Amesbury School detail

Eurocode 5: the essentials of timber design

This one-day, online course offers an introduction to timber design to Eurocode 5.

Date – 5 October 2023
Location – Online
Price – £275 - £425 + VAT
Course
Amesbury School detail

Eurocode 5: the essentials of timber design

This one-day, online course offers an introduction to timber design to Eurocode 5.

Date – 15 June 2023
Location – Online
Price – £275 - £425 + VAT
Webinar
The image shows a presenter pointing at a whiteboard whilst looking at an audience around a table. The image is overlapped by a blue layer containing app-like symbols hinting at digital tools.

Managing digital workflows for optimisation

The first webinar of a 2-part series on digital optimisation focuses on the opportunities for business benefits, improved quality and increased performance generated by implementing efficient digital workflows in your practice.

Date – 14 June 2023
Location – Online
Price – £45 - £70 + VAT
Lecture
View of the Arc's arcade from inside

The Arc

The fourth technical lecture of the 2023 series describes the prototyping, testing and design approach that enabled the realisation of the Arc, the gymnasium for the Green School in Bali, whose project team was awarded for advancing the structural application of low-carbon materials at the 2022 Structural Awards.

Date – 24 May 2023
Location – Online
Price – Free
Course
Looking up to glass roof within a building

Understanding structural behaviour

This two-day, online course shows engineers how to arrive at a qualitative solution to both create a structure and check computer results.

Date – 9 May 2023
Location – Online
Price – £485 - £745 + VAT
Lecture
The HYLO high-rise building stands amongst other London buildings on a clear day.

HYLO

The third technical lecture of the 2023 series outlines the design approach and technical challenges in delivering HYLO, a high-rise development at the heart of London, whose project team was awarded for full exploitation of an existing structure to maximise retrofit potential at the 2022 Structural Awards.

Date – 19 April 2023
Location – Online
Price – Free
Conference
<h4>Designing for the future, now – e-conference</h4>

Designing for the future, now – e-conference

Societal, technological, regulatory, and legislative drivers are encouraging unprecedented innovation in the construction industry. Join industry leaders and find out how your business can keep pace and adapt in this rapidly changing world.

Date – 29 March 2023
Location – Online
Price – £35 - £285 + VAT
Blog
Blue abstract blocks

Five things I hope to see in this year’s entries: by Professor John Orr

Professor John Orr, Chair of the judging panel for the Structural Awards 2023, talks about the five things he wants to see in this year's entries.

Date – 10 March 2023
Author – Professor John Orr
Blog
3D image of a building in brand colours

The built environment: sustainability from the outset

The built environment contributes significantly to the climate crisis. Susan Mantle, Technical Director at Heyne Tillett Steel, discusses five ways Structural Engineers can reduce carbon emissions - embodied carbon in particular - right from the very start of their projects.

Date – 2 March 2023
Author – Susan Mantle
Price – Free