Editorial: Democratizing the Future: Why Technology Adoption Is Everyone’s Job

My father-in-law is scared of two things: needles and spiders. So, on his 40th birthday, he got a tattoo of a spider, confronting both fears in a single, permanent act of defiance. It’s the only tattoo he has, and the story has stuck with me for years.

I have always found his directness in dealing with fear and uncertainty refreshing. Identifying the thing that makes you uncomfortable and addressing it head-on is powerful. As I step into the role of NCSEA President, I believe our profession needs to adopt the same approach with technology. The uncertainty surrounding artificial intelligence—its potential, its limitations, and its implications for structural engineering—has created a collective unease across our industry. We can either let that discomfort paralyze us, or we can confront it directly.

When we talk about AI in structural engineering, the conversation inevitably drifts towards concerns with licensing, life safety, and engineering judgement. We read about massive technology companies or large engineering firms developing custom generative design tools. This creates unease and a pervasive narrative that innovation is the exclusive domain of the Goliaths of our industry—those who possess the capital, personnel, and data infrastructure to push the boundaries of what is possible.

But I believe we are looking at the technology equation backward. The structural engineering profession is predominantly made up of small to medium-sized firms. The highest return on investment for our industry will not come from a handful of large firms building bespoke tools that only they can use. Instead, the true transformation will occur when we democratize technology—when we create the forums, processes, and workflows that allow every structural engineer, regardless of firm size or resources, to consume and integrate these advancements into their daily practice.

The challenge we face is not a lack of technology; it is a lack of adoption. The tools exist, but the vision and road map for how to implement them broadly across the profession do not. For small to mid-sized firms, the barrier to entry often feels insurmountable. How does a 20-person firm find the time to evaluate AI tools while meeting project deadlines? How do we shift our firm cultures to embrace new workflows without losing the core engineering judgment that defines our value?

This is the innovation gap—the space between the creation of a new technology and its widespread, practical application. Bridging this gap is a collective responsibility of our professional organizations.

To meet this critical need, the NCSEA Innovation Council was launched earlier this year to ensure all firms have the resources to navigate this transition. The Innovation Council is built on the belief that technology adoption must be a collaborative, community-driven effort. It is organized around five core themes:

Our initial focus is centered on AI and coding, with project teams already working on initiatives like “Coding for Structural Engineers” and our first ever hackathon. The Big Build: SE Hackathon is being organized on October 27 in collaboration with AEC Tech, one day prior to this year’s NCSEA Summit in San Francisco. The Big Build will focus on vibe-coding and is designed for structural engineers of all experience levels. Whether you’ve never written a line of code or you’re a seasoned developer, you’ll find your place here.

At a recent NCSEA Leadership Week—where we bring together 100+ structural engineering leaders for 72 hours of dialogue—someone approached me after a presentation and said “It’s clear you are an AI believer, and I am not an AI believer.” I have thought a lot about this framing, and I think it misses the point. I don’t know the future of AI, or how it will impact me personally or the profession more broadly. However, I am a believer in progress and the continual reinvention of myself and the people around me.

I don’t know how to code. I don’t understand the full potential of digital twins or robotics. I am overwhelmed by the narrative around AI. But I decided that I can either stay passive and react, or be proactive and take control of the narrative as much as possible. For these reasons, NCSEA is creating forums where interested individuals can collaborate on all things innovation, so that as a profession we can organize around what we want the future to look like.

This is where I challenge each of you: get outside your comfort zone. Set aside dedicated time to tinker with AI tools. Typically, leadership delegates tasks to their team to execute, but in this moment of technological shift, everyone—from the newest graduate to the senior principal—should be learning and experimenting. Encourage reverse mentorship, where the younger generation mentors the older generation on what is possible. This is a powerful way to foster inclusion, finding places for individuals interested in coding and automation to drive strategic value for firms that have historically only valued traditional structural engineering skill sets.
Whether you are AI-curious or leading innovation efforts at your firm, the Innovation Council needs your voice. Join the 300+ individuals already on the Forj Community Platform today and help us democratize the tools that will shape the future of structural engineering. Our communities—and our profession—will be better for it. ■