{"id":8,"date":"2021-08-17T16:36:47","date_gmt":"2021-08-17T16:36:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/studentsymposium.asce.org\/demo\/?page_id=8"},"modified":"2026-04-08T19:20:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T23:20:13","slug":"competitions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/studentsymposium.asce.org\/virginias\/competitions\/","title":{"rendered":"Competitions"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”2026 ASCE Society Competitions” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:50|text_align:center” google_fonts=”font_family:Adamina%3Aregular|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Local competition rules can be found below!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”2026 ASCE Society-wide Student Competition Rules” style=”gradient” gradient_color_1=”black” align=”center” button_block=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.asce.org%2Fcommunities%2Fstudent-members%2Fconferences%2Frules”][vc_separator color=”black”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

ASCE Concrete Canoe Competition<\/span><\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”2837″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text]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.\u00a0Learn more about the competition<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_separator color=”black”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

AISC\/ASCE Student Steel Bridge Competition<\/span><\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”3543″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

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ASCE<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0American Institute of Steel Construction<\/a>\u00a0(AISC) are partnering to offer the Student Steel Bridge Competition (SSBC) at ASCE Student Symposia.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Student Steel Bridge Competition challenges\u00a0students 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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. Find more information here.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Student Steel Bridge Team Intent Form – MUST be filled out by all teams & faculty advisor(s)” style=”gradient” gradient_color_1=”black” gradient_color_2=”sky” shape=”square” align=”center” button_block=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fasceforms.wufoo.com%2Fforms%2Fp6w5bjr06k4i69%2F|target:_blank”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”black”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

ASCE UESI Surveying Competition<\/span><\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”3020″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text]The ASCE UESI Surveying Competition\u2019s 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.\u00a0Learn more about the competition<\/a>.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Surveying Competition Team Intent Form – MUST be filled out by all teams & faculty advisor(s)” style=”gradient” gradient_color_1=”orange” gradient_color_2=”mulled-wine” shape=”square” align=”center” button_block=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fasceforms.wufoo.com%2Fforms%2Fp1lx0hx702m3i9n%2F|target:_blank”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_separator color=”black”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Sustainable Solutions Competition<\/span><\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”4050″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text]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.\u00a0Learn more about the competition<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

2026 Topic\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n

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\u2019s Envision as the primary sustainability framework.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Sustainable Solutions Team Intent Form – MUST be filled out by all teams & faculty advisor(s)” style=”gradient” gradient_color_1=”green” gradient_color_2=”black” shape=”square” align=”center” button_block=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fasceforms.wufoo.com%2Fforms%2Fpq9r7f70p0kpzl%2F|target:_blank”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”black”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Construction Institute Competition<\/span><\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”4053″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text]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\u2019s request. Students are expected to devise professional, technical, and creative solutions within a timed environment.<\/span>
\nThe 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\u2019s value throughout a student\u2019s academic and professional career.\u00a0Learn more about the competition!<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

This competition will continue to be offered as a pilot competition in 2026.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Construction Institute Team Intent Form – MUST be filled out by all teams & faculty advisor(s)” style=”gradient” gradient_color_1=”black” gradient_color_2=”sandy-brown” shape=”square” align=”center” button_block=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fasceforms.wufoo.com%2Fforms%2Fp1mepbq10mqbwu7%2F|target:_blank”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”” color=”black” border_width=”10″][vc_empty_space][vc_custom_heading text=”Regional Competitions” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:45|text_align:center” google_fonts=”font_family:Adamina%3Aregular|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_empty_space][vc_separator color=”black”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Water Resources Competition<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The Water Resources Competition will consist of a focused, calculation-based engineering challenge centered on fundamental hydraulic and water resources principles. The problem will be designed to reflect a simplified engineering scenario appropriate for undergraduate civil and environmental engineering students. Emphasis will be placed on technical accuracy, logical problem setup, and clear presentation of results.\u00a0Teams should be familiar with basic continuity and energy balance concepts commonly covered in undergraduate water resources and hydraulics courses.<\/b>\u00a0No physical construction, laboratory testing, or experimental components will be required.<\/p>\n

Rules:<\/strong>
\n1. Teams may consist of up to five (5) students
\n2. Permitted resources include calculators and spreadsheets only
\n3. Teams must clearly document their assumptions, intermediate calculations, and final answers
\n4. The competition problem will be distributed on the day of the symposium
\n5. A one (1) hour time limit will be enforced for problem completion[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”black”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Geotechnical Competition<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Geotechnical Competition involves constructing a wrapped face mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining wall utilizing kraft paper for support. The overall goal is to design a segment of a wrapped face MSE wall with the least amount of reinforcement (paper) necessary for both the overall assist as well as surcharge loads from static and dynamic angles.<\/p>\n

**Rules have been revised as of 1\/23\/2026**<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Learn more about the Geotechnical Competition rules” style=”gradient” gradient_color_1=”green” gradient_color_2=”juicy-pink” align=”center” button_block=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fstudentsymposium.asce.org%2Fvirginias%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F13%2F2026%2F01%2F2026-ASCE-Virginias-Student-Symposium-GeoWall-Competition-at-ODU.pdf|title:Learn%20more%20about%20the%20Geotechnical%20Competition%20rules|target:_blank”][vc_separator color=”black”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Civil Problem Solving Competition<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The Technical Problem-Solving Competition involves a fictitious real-world application of the engineering principles typically required of engineering civil\/environmental engineering undergraduates.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rules:<\/strong>
\n1. Calculators\/spreadsheets only. All calculations and assumptions must accompany the team answers for the problem.
\n2. Maximum number of team members is five (5). Problem will be multidiscipline, i.e., structural, water\/wastewater, geotechnical, hydraulics, engineering econ., and each part of the problem will be related to but not require information from another part of the problem.
\n3. There will be a 2 hour time limit.[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”black”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Sandcastle Competition<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The Sandcastle Competition will involve the typical expectations of what all goes into building a beach sandcastle using only sand and water as the main material.<\/p>\n

**Rules have been revised as of 3\/19\/2026**<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Learn more about the Sandcastle Competition rules” style=”gradient” gradient_color_1=”sky” gradient_color_2=”chino” align=”center” button_block=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fstudentsymposium.asce.org%2Fvirginias%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F13%2F2026%2F03%2F2026-ASCE-VA-Student-Symposium-Sandcastle.pdf|title:Learn%20more%20about%20the%20Sandcastle%20Competition%20rules|target:_blank”][vc_separator color=”black”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Hardy-Cross & Marr Paper Competition<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The Hardy-Cross Competition requires researching a civil engineering related subject before the conference starts (chosen by the participant). Once at the competition, those taking part will give an oral presentation about their topic at hand. The Marr Paper Competition requires a research paper rather than a spoken presentation.[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Learn more about the Hardy-Cross Competition rules” style=”gradient” gradient_color_1=”pink” gradient_color_2=”mulled-wine” align=”center” button_block=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fstudentsymposium.asce.org%2Fvirginias%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F13%2F2026%2F01%2F6A-Hardy-Cross-Oratory-Competition-Rules-2026.pdf|title:Learn%20more%20about%20the%20Hardy-Cross%20Competition%20rules|target:_blank”][vc_btn title=”Learn more about the Marr Paper Competition rules” style=”gradient” gradient_color_1=”mulled-wine” gradient_color_2=”pink” align=”center” button_block=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fstudentsymposium.asce.org%2Fvirginias%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F13%2F2026%2F01%2F6B-Marr-Technical-Paper-Rules-2026.pdf|title:Learn%20more%20about%20the%20Marr%20Paper%20Competition%20rules|target:_blank”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”2026 ASCE Society Competitions” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:50|text_align:center” google_fonts=”font_family:Adamina%3Aregular|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text] Local competition rules can be found below! \u00a0[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”2026 ASCE Society-wide Student Competition Rules” style=”gradient” gradient_color_1=”black” align=”center” button_block=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.asce.org%2Fcommunities%2Fstudent-members%2Fconferences%2Frules”][vc_separator color=”black”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] ASCE Concrete Canoe […]","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nCompetitions - Virginias<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/studentsymposium.asce.org\/virginias\/competitions\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Competitions - Virginias\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”2026 ASCE Society Competitions” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:50|text_align:center” google_fonts=”font_family:Adamina%3Aregular|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text] Local competition rules can be found below! 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