The word “infrastructure” is interesting in several ways. Engineers and a few public officials can tell you what it means because it is our bread and butter. The general public shrugs and moves on to the next topic because the word does not resonate with them. As said in the movie “Apollo 13,” “Houston, we have a problem.”

How can we convince the general public of the need for improved infrastructure when we use words that they cannot define? We must find a better way to express the value of what we do. Congress will act to increase funding when they are convinced that their constituents want them to. Having a logical position does not necessarily equate to success in the appropriations battle.

I have always thought that civil engineers deliver a better quality of life. How would you describe the value of civil engineering to the general public? Let’s see what kind of creative ideas we can generate in improving our communication.

This week saw the release of the NTSB report on the cause of the failure of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis. At a time when we are advocating for additional investments in infrastructure, we are getting national coverage of a major failure. The timing of the NTSB release is an example of interesting coincidences in life.

I find it interesting that we have not participated in an in-depth discussion of what happened after the tragedy in Minneapolis. How much time was lost by people driving long distances to get across the river? Did the additional travel expense, much of it at $4 a gallon, affect the local economy? How many businesses suffered because traffic patterns changed? Did the people of Minneapolis find their quality of life enhanced by the absence of a major bridge?

I believe that ASCE and civil engineers owe the public this type of discussion. People do not identify with the struggle to fast-track a new bridge. They do identify with adding an extra hour to their commute. Their children identify with looking into the audience and missing a parent who is searching for a new way home. Let me know what you think about telling our friends and neighbors about the real cost of inadequate infrastructure.

As we say in my home state of Texas, howdy! I am glad you decided to stop by my blog. During the next 12 months of my term as your president, we will explore together a number of interesting initiatives and trends in ASCE and the profession of civil engineering. I welcome the opportunity to serve as your new president during some interesting economic times when there will be a continuing need for what we do. I am looking forward to seeing how this year will unfold.

For now, please visit my President’s Monthly Message for November, in which I lay out my initiatives for this ASCE year with a simple three-pronged approach known as “ABC,” and read the text of my inaugural address, in which I declare 2009 “The Year of the Civilization Engineer.”