Library Guides: Civil and Environmental Engineering: Professional Organizations

The Importance of Professional Organizations

Networking with one's fellow scientists and engineers is extremely important for personal and professional development. Professional organizations sponsor conferences, publish journals, and serve as reviewers or editors. They set professional and educational standards and provide job and career services for their members.

Career Guides

Students’ Career Guide to Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering career guide created by the student members of the Lyndhurst STEM Club.

General Civil Engineering Professional Organizations

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Represents more than 140,000 members of the civil engineering profession worldwide and is America's oldest national engineering society.

Construction Organizations

Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)
Is a national association of specifiers, architects, engineers, contractors, manufacturers, and others who are experts in building construction and the materials used therein.
Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA)
Organization that defines, teaches, and promotes best practices in design-build.
Lean Construction Institute (LCI)
Its purpose is to reform the management of production in design, engineering, and construction. Apply tools to facilitate planning and control, maximize values and minimize waste throughout the construction process.

Concrete/Cement and Steel Organizations

American Concrete Institute (ACI)
Its mission is to advance concrete knowledge by conducting seminars, managing certification programs, publishing technical documents, and offering scholarships to students in the field.
Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI)
A national trade association that stands as the authoritative resource for information related to steel reinforced concrete construction.
Portland Cement Association (PCA)
Is an advocate for sustainability, jobs creation, economic growth, infrastructure investment, and overall innovation and excellence in construction throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI)
Develops standards and methods for designing, fabricating, and constructing precast concrete structures. They also operate the world’s leading certification program for the precast concrete structure industry.
American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)
Its mission is to make structural steel the material of choice by being the leader in structural-steel-related activities, including: specification and code development, education, technical assistance, quality certification, standardization, and market development.
American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI)
Serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice.

Buildings & Structures Organizations

International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE)
Information on all aspects of planning, design, construction, maintenance and repair of civil engineering structures.
International Council For Research and Innovation in Building and Construction
A worldwide network of members with research, university, industry, or government backgrounds, who are active in all aspects of research and innovation for building and construction.
Council on Tall Buildings & Urban Habitat (CTBUH)
A global organization that is the creator of the criteria upon which tall building height is measured. Provides multi-disciplinary information on tall buildings and sustainable urban environments.

Environmental Organizations

American Academy of Environmental Engineers & Scientists (AAEES)
Its purpose is to improve the standards of environmental engineering, to certify those with special knowledge of environmental engineering, and to furnish lists of individuals certified to the public.
Includes Career information in the Education and Student Center section.
National Association of Environmental Professionals (NEAP)
Multi-disciplinary association for professionals dedicated to the advancement of the environmental professions. Includes a forum for information on environmental planning, research, and management and provides structured career development for student members.”
International Association for Earthquake Engineering (IAEE)
Its goal is to help improve the world’s seismic safety. Compiles and updates the Regulations for Seismic Design and the journal Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics.

Transportation Organizations

American Society of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
Its primary goal is to foster the development, operation, and maintenance of an integrated national transportation system.
Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)
International educational and scientific association of transportation professionals who are responsible for meeting mobility and safety needs.
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
A global association of more than 138,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries
American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
Works to ensure that public transportation is available and accessible for all Americans in communities across the country.
Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)
Provides a neutral forum to exchange ideas and information on technical guidelines and best practices related to the Canadian transportation and roadways sectors.

Penn State University Libraries

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Tutorials and How-to Guides