The NCSEA Foundation is committed to preparing the structural engineering profession for the future. One of the most significant areas of opportunity — and responsibility — is artificial intelligence. To date, the Foundation has invested more than $100,000 to help structural engineers understand, shape, and responsibly adopt AI technologies that support safer, more efficient, and more resilient design.
AI is rapidly transforming the broader AEC industry. For structural engineers, the question is not whether AI will influence the profession, but how to responsibly shape its role in practice. The Foundation’s support ensures that structural engineers are equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to engage with AI thoughtfully, ethically, and with the profession’s long-term success in mind.
Building Knowledge, Advancing Innovation
Through its AI initiatives, the Foundation helps structural engineers navigate emerging technologies and put them to work in practice-ready ways:
- Providing education on the latest developments in AI as they relate to structural engineering, along with guidance on future areas of research and application.
- Fostering innovation by encouraging engineers to explore and develop AI-driven solutions that improve efficiency, accuracy, and long-term performance in design and analysis.
- Promoting collaboration between structural engineers, AI experts, and other stakeholders to accelerate responsible progress in the field.
- Addressing industry challenges — technical, legal, and practical — through resources that help engineers adopt AI tools in ways that strengthen and reinforce their professional expertise.
Supporting Real Projects With Real Impact
The Foundation’s investment directly fuels several high-impact programs, including:
- Financial support for the NCSEA AI Grant Team, which is leading national efforts to study AI applications in structural engineering and develop practical guidance for the profession.
- Sending AI experts to present to regional SEAs and other organizations on how to integrate AI into practice responsibly and effectively.
- Creating guides, toolkits, and curated resource lists to help structural engineers understand AI concepts and apply AI-powered tools to real on-the-job challenges.
- Presenting a keynote session at the 2025 Structural Engineering Summit, “Small Teams with Big Impacts: Taking the Next Steps with AI Adoption,” focused on how smaller firms can begin incorporating AI tools into their workflows.
- Leading the 2025 Summit preconference program, “AI Applications for Structural Engineers: A Hands-On Workshop,” offering practical training on AI tools for both beginner and advanced users.
- Delivering webinars that break down the latest AI advancements and provide updates on NCSEA’s AI programs, helping practitioners stay informed in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Preparing the Profession for What Comes Next
Through these efforts, the NCSEA Foundation ensures that structural engineers are active participants shaping how AI will support the profession’s future. By investing in education, innovation, and collaboration, the Foundation reinforces its core mission: empowering structural engineers with the knowledge and resources needed to protect the built environment and the communities it serves.