In this Expert’s Corner, Blaine Leonard, 2010 president of the American Society of Civil Engineers and this year’s co-chair of National Engineers Week, discusses the challenges and opportunities faced by 21st-century engineers.

In recognition of National Engineers Week 2010, which ends this Saturday, IMT recently picked the brain of Blaine Leonard, the 2010 president of the American Society of Civil Engineers and co-chair of this year’s National Engineers Week initiative.

IMT: Engineering recorded some of its greatest accomplishments in the last century. Yet for all those advances, the 21st century poses challenges as formidable as any from the past. What do you see as the top engineering challenges of the future?

BL: We have, indeed, made great strides in the past century, and have sometimes done what seemed impossible. Our nation is great, in part, because of our pervasive, high quality infrastructure systems. And the challenges we face are every bit as great.

I believe we have three major engineering challenges for this century. First, we need to transform ourselves as engineers. We can’t keep doing what we have been doing and expect to get better results. This includes raising the standard of our own education and training, and it includes improving our skills in communication and leadership. Second, we need to think out of the box and embrace more innovation — making use of new technology, new materials and new techniques. Third, we need to expand our voice politically, playing an active role in the policy-making process.

IMT: In its 2009 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) assigned a cumulative grade of “D” to the nation’s infrastructure. What do you believe is the most pressing infrastructure priority today? What are some key points that a long-term infrastructure development and revitalization plan would include?

BL: It is difficult to define a single pressing priority when our Report Card assigns grades ranging from D- to C- in categories that range from roads, bridges and water supply to schools, solid waste and air transportation. They are all vital to our economy and quality of life. However, transportation always comes to mind because our economy depends on moving goods and services. But, without reliable water and power service, our businesses become less efficient and our quality of life deteriorates. And, since we are still educating our children in facilities built during the administration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, how can we provide the quality education they need?

Our Report Card outlines five key solutions to the problem, and these form the framework of a long-term infrastructure development plan. We must have regional and national infrastructure plans to avoid the piecemeal development we have had in the past. We need to incorporate resilience and sustainability into our systems. We need strong national leadership to steer us all in the same direction. We need to be innovative in our approaches, technology and materials while addressing life-cycle costs and ongoing maintenance to meet the users’ current and future needs. And we simply need increased investment, at all levels.

IMT: Research from the National Association of Colleges and Education (NACE) has found that engineering graduates tend to have the highest average starting salaries in the job market. Has the recession affected earnings in engineering fields, or have they remained as lucrative as the NACE studies suggest?

BL: My understanding of these studies suggests that engineering salaries are near the top of the scale when compared to others with bachelor’s degrees. Engineering has always been a profession which has provided stable and comfortable salaries, and recent market demands have pushed that upwards a little. However, when compared with other professions, most of whom require graduate level education, engineering falls farther down the scale. Although many engineers today earn graduate degrees, due to increasing knowledge and technical demands, future engineers will likely be required to do so. So, the comparison isn’t fully accurate.

That being said, I believe the current economic downturn has generally frozen salaries, but I don’t think there has been great erosion. As we move out of the recession, which we will do, demand will increase again, and engineering salaries will continue to increase and be competitive.

IMT: Eco-friendly and sustainable techniques, once considered something of a luxury, have become a value-adding aspect to development across a range of industries and markets. Experts say a boom may be looming in eco-friendly jobs. Between energy, construction, clean-tech and myriad other engineering-centric markets, are opportunities in green work expanding for the engineering field?

BL: Sustainability has become a household word in the past few years. Civil engineers have always played a role in sustainable development, protecting people from natural disasters, preserving flood plains, cleaning the water and air and using recycled materials, like asphalt. But that role will increase, and we need to improve. There will be a surge in “green” jobs, but this will not be isolated to a few industries or approaches. It will be ubiquitous. Every civil engineer will be called upon to consider and incorporate more sustainable elements in our work, such as resiliency, reused materials, life-cycle considerations and cleaner construction. So, it won’t just be eco-friendly jobs, specifically — there will be a more universal impact.

IMT: Are there any emerging tech advances that will play an increasing role in engineering or change the way certain projects have traditionally been handled?

BL: There are some exciting things on the horizon. I believe that the application of sensor technology will transform the design, construction and operation of civil works. Improved sensors which will be able to measure everything, wirelessly, for a miniscule cost, coupled with advances in computational power, will enable us to verify design assumptions, optimize solutions and monitor the health of our facilities. Further, the use of new materials, such as those enhanced with nano-particles, will revolutionize our industry, giving us stronger and longer-lasting components. The world is changing faster than ever before, and we have some exciting developments ahead of us.

IMT: What words of advice do you have for the younger generation of students looking to become engineers?

BL: I have three things to say to the prospective engineers. First, engineering will always be a profession of opportunity and challenge, giving you the chance to change peoples’ lives and build a sustainable world. Second, engineering is a diverse profession, providing vast opportunities in many aspects of life and in many places. And third, for those who are concerned about today’s economy, recessions always end, and there will again be enormous opportunities for those who really want to improve our world.

Blaine Leonard is the 2010 president of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Blaine is currently the Research Program Manager with the Utah Dept. of Transportation (DOT). Prior to joining the Utah DOT, Blaine spent 20 years in the consulting engineering business. He studied Civil Engineering at Brigham Young University and earned BS and MS degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Utah. He is a licensed professional engineer in six western states. Alongside ExxonMobil Chairman and CEO Rex Tillerson, Leonard is co-chair of this year’s National Engineers Week.