American Society of Civil Engineers

ABOUT ASCE
The American Society of Civil Engineers represents more than 150,000 members of the civil engineering profession in 177 countries. Founded in 1852, ASCE is the nation’s oldest engineering society.

ASCE stands at the forefront of a profession that plans, designs, constructs, and operates society’s economic and social engine – the built environment – while protecting and restoring the natural environment.

Through the expertise of its active membership, ASCE is a leading provider of technical and professional conferences and continuing education, the world’s largest publisher of civil engineering content, and an authoritative source for codes and standards that protect the public.

The Society advances civil engineering technical specialties through nine dynamic Institutes and leads with its many professional- and public-focused programs.

Member strength: all career stages & students; all sectors & disciplines
Local strength: 76 Sections, 160 Branches, 302 Student Chapters, and 130 Younger Member Groups
Technical strength: 9 specialty Institutes

OUR PURPOSE
Help you matter more and enable you to make a bigger difference.

OUR VISION
Civil engineers are global leaders, building a better quality of life.

OUR MISSION
Deliver value to our members, advance civil engineering, and protect the public health, safety, and welfare.

OUR GOALS
An ever-growing number of people in the civil engineering realm are members of, and engage in, ASCE.
Civil engineers develop and apply innovative, state-of-the-art practices and technologies.
All infrastructure is safe, resilient, and sustainable.
ASCE advances the educational and professional standards for civil engineers.
The public values civil engineers’ essential role in society.
ASCE excels in strategic and operational effectiveness.
The ASCE Strategic Plan details each goal and includes strategies. Download a copy (PDF).

HISTORY
On Nov. 5, 1852, a dozen eminent civil engineers gathered at the Croton Aqueduct in New York City in the office of Chief Engineer Alfred W. Craven to establish the American Society of Civil Engineers and Architects. In 1868, a few years after architects had formed a professional society of their own, ASCE adopted its current name. For the first 144 years of its existence, ASCE maintained its headquarters in New York City, relocating six times to progressively larger facilities. In 1996, ASCE moved to its current global headquarters in Reston, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C.

ABOUT CIVIL ENGINEERING
Civil engineers design, build, and maintain the foundation for our modern society – our roads and bridges, drinking water and energy systems, sea ports and airports, and the infrastructure for a cleaner environment, to name just a few.

Civil engineering touches us throughout our day. Think of a civil engineer when you:

Turn on your tap to take a shower or drink clean water
Flick on your lights and open your refrigerator
Drive to work on roads and bridges through synchronized traffic lights
Take mass transit or take a flight for a vacation
Toss your empty coffee cup in the recycling bin
SPANNING A HOST OF SPECIALTIES
Civil engineers often specialize in one of a number of technical areas. A few examples:

Transportation
Coastal Engineering
Structural
Environmental
Geotechnical
Construction
Architectural
Engineering Mechanics
And more
TIME-HONORED CIVIL ENGINEERING PROJECTS
The Golden Gate Bridge. The Eiffel Tower. The Hoover Dam. The creativity and innovative spirit of civil engineers are showcased in the projects they have created throughout the world. ASCE’s Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks program honors the best of those at least 50 years old.

CIVIL ENGINEERS WHO MADE THEIR MARK
Civil engineering achievement starts with people. Get to know the civil engineers who have left a legacy and those who are just starting to build their own.

LEARNING FROM TRAGEDY
Since the Johnstown Flood in 1889, ASCE has answered the call to study and learn from engineering failures due to natural disasters and man-made causes. These studies provide needed answers and new knowledge and become the basis for changes to building codes and engineering and construction practices to make the public safer.

ENCOURAGING YOUTH INTEREST
Civil engineers volunteer their time to raise the public’s understanding of how their profession changes the world and boosts our quality of life. Check out ASCE's resources for reaching students on the appeal of a civil engineering career.

PROMOTING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
The future strength of the civil engineering profession will come from an engineering workforce that mirrors the population it serves.

A VISION FOR THE PROFESSION
An ASCE summit took the lead in exploring the future and defining the civil engineer’s role in that new world. Explore what civil engineers aspire to in The Vision for Civil Engineering in 2025.