ABSTRACT

This Special Issue poses the question ‘What is the Body of Knowledge for Engineers involved with Civil Engineering Systems?’ There are some landmark systems concepts and some characteristic techniques. In that sense, there is a body of knowledge. But is a body of knowledge sufficient? Perhaps not. This paper gives a summary of how Sustainable Development guidelines were developed and embedded in the curricula requirements for civil engineering courses accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators in the UK and further afield. These requirements extended beyond parcels of Knowledge to include particular Skills and some Attitudes and Awareness. The development of these guidelines was all about systems and systems thinking. And whilst some systems tools and techniques have and continue to be used in narrower technical applications, they come into their own when examining and trying to resolve complex problems. And such problems will define the twenty-first century and humanity’s place in it.

摘要

本期特刊提出了一个问题：“与土木工程系统相关的工程师的知识体系是什么？” 有一些地标系统概念和一些特色技术。从这个意义上讲，存在着大量的知识。但是知识体系是否足够？也许不是。本文总结了如何制定可持续发展准则，并将其纳入由英国及其他地区的主持人联合委员会认可的土木工程课程的课程要求。这些要求超出了知识范围，包括特定的技能以及某些态度和意识。这些准则的制定全都与系统和系统思维有关。而且，尽管某些系统工具和技术已经并且将继续用于狭窄的技术应用中，他们在检查和尝试解决复杂问题时会发挥自己的作用。这样的问题将定义二十一世纪和人类在其中的地位。