Are We Producing Civil Engineers or Human Robots?

Abstract

Engineering judgment is an essential quality of a complete engineer. The effect of advancements in computer use on the civil engineering profession, specifically on the younger generation, is discussed. The need for a well‐rounded educational curriculum which emphasizes civil engineering fundamentals is identified. Better understanding of the analytical and practical aspects of the civil engineering tasks is a prerequisite to the effective use of computers. Computers should be used to assist in performing laborious engineering computations after the logical decisions that cannot be left to computers are made by the engineer.