SYMPOSIUM 2018 | Symposium ConcepT

On the 14th of February 2018, the Civil Engineering symposium ‘Bridging the Gaps – Connect, Collaborate & Construct’ was held.

Theme

Bridging the Gaps – Connect, Collaborate & Construct

Globalization gives rise to a society on a universal level, in which unity plays an increasingly bigger role. These developments are also evident in the field of Civil Engineering. Problems are no longer confined to a certain area or country, but are borderless and have impact on all of us. During projects, civil engineers will have to deal with a wide range of stakeholder interests and requirements. Besides, future problems are often more complex and very knowledge-intensive. These developments ask for extensive collaboration between engineers, companies, citizens, the government, and other parties. A cooperation in which the exchange of knowledge, mutual agreements and connecting different perspectives take center stage. The goal is to efficiently reach better and more sustainable results that are satisfying for all parties involved.

As mentioned above, civil engineers must overcome the gaps between people. ‘Bridging the Gaps’ is the central theme of the Symposium 2018. The focus will be laid on three aspects of bridging the gaps, namely: Connect, Collaborate and Construct.

Connect

Cooperating is all about people. Therefore, the first important step towards bridging the gaps is bringing people together. Civil engineers will have to recognize different needs for collaboration and connect with the right people.

Collaborate

After connecting, collaboration can take place. A good cooperation is not self-evident but involves good organization, mutual agreements and leadership. Engineers will have to decide upon what methods and tools to use, how to share their expertise, how to deal with a large range of different needs, and much more.

Construct

Often, the goal of collaboration is to increase the quality and efficiency of a project and to end up with a result that goes hand in hand with all the different needs of the parties involved. Moreover, collaboration is becoming much more a necessity. For example: to solve the problems of the future or to control resource depletion.