Future Trends and Needs in Hydraulics

Engineers and scientists must be prepared to meet challenges by developing techniques necessary to address the demands of society. In addition to the application of engineering principles, the ability to consider numerous complexities involving geomorphology, biology, environmental issues, economics, and the possibility of hearings and litigation both pre‐ and postproject, are increasingly important. Crucial targets include the safety, life, and rehabilitation of dams and reservoirs; the relicensing and expansion of hydropower; the maintenance, upgrading, and improvement of our transportation system with particular reference to waterways and bridges; meeting future demands for river transportation; formulating improved flood‐control measures; and meeting the present and future needs in terms of water supply and water quality. Challenges to the profession are as follows. The water‐related engineer must become better educated in terms of the physical responses of systems to development, as well as in the assessment of associated multidisciplinary impacts. Finally, it will be increasingly important that engineers and scientists be able to judge, based upon interaction, experience, and knowledge of the physical processes, the utility of mathematical models.