The future for structural engineers: Challenges and opportunities

This paper will attempt to offer insight into future challenges and changes for structural engineers in their ever-broadening field. While the past century and a half has witnessed manifold developments and achievements in all areas related to structural engineering, the presently increasing rate of material discovery and widespread optimisation will inevitably lead to unforeseen design possibilities. Inevitably, structural realisations will be attained which would be considered improbable today. This exploration will consider facets of praxis, building systems, materials science, and construction methods which will affect structural engineering and related fields, as well as their relationships to each other.