Bridge engineering for the 21st century

The author discusses the need to prepare for the nation's bridge engineering needs for the 21st century, including a look at the present conditions. He offers some possible positive actions that can be taken now to prepare for future bridge building and rebuilding. These actions involve: engineer upgrading; material shortage anticipation; availability of concrete composites; structural performance evaluation; nondestructive evaluation; computerized communication process; automated construction process; consideration of environmental deterioration and temperature problems; quality control/inspection automation.