by Charles Hemming-Clark – Civil Engineer
This year’s TechFest 2024 brought together professionals across the industry to discuss the potential of emerging technologies, sustainability initiatives, and the challenges shaping our sector. I was excited to contribute as a panellist for “Engineering a Better Future: The Early Career Engineer View”.
AI was a prominent theme throughout the event. From managing traffic and footfall to identifying low-carbon materials, its applications are expanding. In asset management, AI is enabling a shift from reactive to proactive approaches, forecasting small changes before they escalate and reducing reliance on manual inspections through passive data collection. These innovations are important as we face aging infrastructure, with half expected to be over 50 years old by 2030. As someone whose designs often refurbish and extend the life of existing assets—typically following physical inspections—it will be interesting to see how AI might change this process.
During my session, I highlighted that while AI offers incredible tools and can support faster project delivery, it shouldn’t replace foundational learning. For early-career professionals, bridging the gap between university and work involves more than just mastering technology—it’s about building on academic knowledge and applying it effectively to these tools in the industry.
Sustainability was another focus of the event. The adoption of new materials sparked discussions. While innovation is important, the goal should always be to design smarter and minimise material use, rather than simply substituting one material for another.
The conversations at TechFest underscored not just the challenges we face but also the opportunities to approach them with creativity and foresight. Paraphrasing inventor Dan Gabor, “We can’t predict the future, but we can engineer it.” This sentiment perfectly captures the spirit of the event, and the role early-career professionals play in shaping a more sustainable future.
