Engineering the Future: Advanced Materials Driving Sustainable, Resilient Infrastructure

Course Description

Engineering practice is rapidly evolving. Climate extremes, electrification, and aging infrastructure are exposing the limits of traditional materials, while sustainability mandates accelerate the adoption of alternatives. Engineers now face design choices that carry not only technical implications but also ethical responsibilities and regulatory complexities. This video-based course with interactive engagement activities introduces engineers to advanced materials—including ultra-high-performance concretes, composites, shape-memory alloys, superalloys, additive manufacturing, and sensor-embedded systems. Participants will learn to evaluate material trade-offs, integrate smart monitoring, and apply structured risk tools to ensure reliability and compliance. Through real-world cases and a multi-disciplinary retrofit scenario, the course equips engineers to responsibly apply advanced materials that balance performance, resilience, and public trust.

Learning Objectives

1. Evaluate advanced materials for infrastructure performance, regulatory compliance, and sustainability.

2. Apply risk-based frameworks for selecting and designing with advanced materials.

3. Integrate sensor technologies and monitoring systems for operational and long-term resilience.

4. Recommend material solutions that fit project and societal needs.