Competitions

ASCE Concrete Canoe Competition

Since the early 1970s, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) student chapters have competed to be the best at designing, constructing, and racing concrete canoes. During that time, canoe mixtures and designs have varied, but the long-established tradition of teamwork, camaraderie, and spirited competition has been constant. Each year, teams, their associates, judges, and other participants build upon this tradition. This year, teams answered a call for Technical Proposals and Enhanced Focus Area Reports and are competing to be the winning bid on a prototype standardized canoe design for future concrete canoe competitions. Learn more about the competition.

AISC/ASCE Student Steel Bridge Competition

ASCE and the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) are partnering to offer the Student Steel Bridge Competition (SSBC) at ASCE Student Symposia.

The Student Steel Bridge Competition challenges students to extend their classroom knowledge to a practical and hands-on steel-design project that grows their interpersonal and professional skills, encourages innovation, and fosters impactful relationships between students and industry professionals.

Each student team develops a concept for a scale-model steel bridge to span approximately 20 feet and to carry 2,500 pounds according to the competition rules. The team must determine how to fabricate their bridge and then plan for an efficient assembly under timed construction conditions at the competition. Bridges are also load-tested, weighed, and judged on aesthetics.

ASCE UESI Surveying Competition

The ASCE UESI Surveying Competition’s educational and professional goals include a recognition of the importance of basic surveying principles to all civil engineering projects. Students will be required to use standard field and office equipment and procedures to solve common problems encountered in industry. A clear understanding of and ability to apply basic surveying principles will assist the graduate civil engineer in communicating and working with the surveying professionals on the job site and during the design process. Learn more about the competition.

The ASCE UESI Surveying Competition rules describe five tasks: a topographic mapping project with a presentation and four field tasks.

ASCE Sustainable Solutions Competition

The ASCE Sustainable Solutions Competition challenges students to develop a stronger understanding of sustainability and learn to incorporate sustainable solutions into everyday problems that engineers incur. Students are encouraged to be creative in their solutions and use all resources available. Learn more about the competition.

2026 Topic

The CE Computing Corporation (CECC) is requesting proposals for professional civil engineering services and sustainability consulting services to construct a new data center within the City of ASCE. The CECC board of directors has approved enhanced sustainability goals for the proposed data center, including using the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure’s Envision as the primary sustainability framework.

Timber-Strong Design Build Competition 

ASCE has partnered with the American Wood Council (AWC), APA – Engineered Wood Association (APA), and Simpson Strong-Tie (SST) to pilot the Timber-Strong Design Build℠ (TSDB℠) Competition. The competition seeks student teams to design and build an artistically creative 2-story wood light-framed building that is sustainable, aesthetically pleasing and structurally durable.

This competition will continue to be offered as a pilot competition in 2026.

Learn more about the competition partners:

• American Wood Council (AWC)
• APA – The Engineered Wood Association (APA)
• Simpson Strong-Tie

Construction Institute Competition

Each year, the Construction Institute (CI) Student Symposium Competition presents a real-world construction engineering challenge that allows students to simulate the role of a construction firm responding to an owner’s request. Students are expected to devise professional, technical, and creative solutions within a timed environment.
The competition promotes teamwork, innovation, and real-world application of civil and construction engineering principles. It strengthens student engagement with the construction industry and builds awareness of CI’s value throughout a student’s academic and professional career.

This competition will continue to be offered as a pilot competition in 2026.

Paper & Presentation Competition

The ASCE Student Symposium Paper Competition emphasizes the importance of being able to write and present a paper as essential communication skills for all engineers and often necessary for advancement in your career.

Good faith participation in the ASCE Student Symposium Paper Competition, including submission and presentation by at least one (1) member of the ASCE Student Chapter, is a requirement to advance to an ASCE Society-wide Competition Finals.  Competitions requiring this include Concrete Canoe, Student Steel Bridge, UESI Surveying, and Sustainable Solutions.

No other Society-wide competition report or paper may serve as a submission for the ASCE Student Symposium Paper Competition.

Student Symposium Paper Competition topic:

Engineering the Public Welfare: How Civil Engineers Engage and Advance Communities Through Ethical Infrastructure Design in accordance with the ASCE Code of Ethics

Civil engineering is not only about the design and construction of vertical and horizontal infrastructure. It is an essential part of shaping communities and building a better quality of life for all persons. In this essay, critically analyze the ethical responsibility of civil engineers to recognize the historical, cultural, and social needs of a community and to incorporate those considerations into their work. Discuss how civil engineers can engage with communities to develop solutions that protect historical and cultural resources, improve access and mobility, and expand economic and social opportunities. Use real-world examples and reflect on how emerging technologies and policies can support these objectives.

Authors are encouraged to develop and apply their own original thoughts. The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing models (NLP), such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT©, is neither encouraged nor discouraged. However, if such models are used, all instances shall be cited as work completed by the respective generative AI/NLP. Failure to cite all instances of generative AI/NLP use will be considered plagiarism

Submission Due Date: March 1st

Design an intersection timing plan for a complicated campus location. Update your plan mid-competition given an unexpected change.

Construct a cardboard chair using the least material possible to support 200 lbs within the specified time constraints. Submit a technical drawing of your original design

Design and construct a precast, prestressed concrete beam using bass guitar strings in place of traditional seven-wire steel strands. Cast and test the beam.

Design and construct a lightweight bridge using the provided balsa wood and adhesive, following strict dimension limits, to carry the maximum possible load until failure.

Each team will pre-construct a homemade water filter system inside of a two-liter bottle. Items that function solely to treat or purify water will not be allowed in the competition.

Design and construct a lightweight truss from provided balsa wood and strings, meet strict wood material limits, and hold as much load as possible until failure.

Navigate Tuscaloosa using principles of transportation and urban design! Discover some of our favorite structures as you analyze routes, landmarks, and infrastructure on your way to a successful hunt.

Put your understanding of static equilibrium to the test! Teams will apply opposing tensions along the rope, using friction and optimizing distribution of forces to overcome ∑F=0.

Answer a variety of civil engineering themed questions. Topics will vary, challenging teams to think like they’re taking the ultimate FE exam.

Design and craft two school-spirited concrete “gulf” balls that withstand a six-foot drop test and compete for accuracy and durability on the mini-golf course. 

Design and create an original T-shirt that showcases creativity and school spirit, following the specified design guidelines.

Operate various pieces of construction equipment to complete a task.

Are you sure you understand dynamics? In this projectile motion bracket tournament, you’ll need to achieve the perfect angle and velocity to achieve the perfect launch.

Solve a surprise challenge revealed, testing creativity, adaptability, and teamwork under time constraints.