The African Continental Representative, World Council of Civil Engineers (WCCE), Engr. Dr. Aishatu Aliyu Umar, has called on civil engineers to use artificial intelligence to build smart, safe, and more sustainable infrastructures that respond dynamically to the needs of growing populations.
This was as she charged Africa and global south to be contributors of emerging technologies and not consumers alone.
Engr. Aishatu stated this Wednesday in her remarks at the the 20th General Assembly of the World Council of Civil Engineers (WCCE) in Abuja.
Blueprint report that the theme of this year’s Assembly, “Artificial Intelligence, Data and Design: Reimagining Civil Engineering for a Connected World,”
She said: “Today, Artificial Intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept. It is here, shaping how we model bridges, monitor structural integrity, manage urban traffic, predict environmental hazards, and even optimise construction costs in real-time.
“Combined with big data analytics and cutting-edge design tools, we now have the potential to create smarter, safer, and more sustainable infrastructures that respond dynamically to the needs of growing populations.
“But allow me to sound a call to action, especially to Africa and the Global South.
“We must not only consume technology; we must contribute to it.”
Engr. who is also chairperson of the planning committee urged Africa and global south to invest in the next generation of engineers by mainstreaming data-driven policy in public works.
” Let us ensure our curricula in universities reflect the new digital reality.
“And above all, let us collaborate across borders, sharing knowledge and resources so no region is left behind,” she said.
She said the assembly is not just about papers and presentations but about connection of ideas, of people, of visions for a better-engineered world.
Speaking in an interview with journalists at the event, Engr. Oscar Alberto Sánchez Zúñiga, President, WCCE, expressed excitement for being in Nigeria for the event, highlighting that the choice of Nigeria to host the event was deliberate considering the growing influence of Nigerian Civil Engineering professionals in the African continent .
He said the deployment of artificial intelligence projects is a global practice, urging African continent to key in.
He said the conference is an opportunity for experts from different parts of the world; Africa, Europe, America etc to brainstorm and share knowledge on application of Artificial intelligence in infrastructure development.
“It is a platform for the big and developed countries will share knowledge with developing countries. I am from Costa Rica, it is not a big country but I will share my knowledge with my colleague,” he said.
He however, called for ethical deployment of AI, saying there is a limit to which it can be deployed.
“On ethics, we have to use AI in the right way because it is easy to use Artificial intelligence for other things.
“So we have to promote the ethical use of Artificial intelligence. For example, in my country there are limits to which it can be deployed for engineering projects,” he said.
