Every four years, America’s civil engineers provide a comprehensive assessment of the nation’s 17 major infrastructure categories in ASCE’s Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. Using a simple A to F school report card format, the Report Card examines current infrastructure conditions and needs, assigning grades and making recommendations to raise them.

The ASCE Committee on America’s Infrastructure, made up of 31 dedicated civil engineers from across the country with decades of expertise in all categories, volunteers their time to work with ASCE Infrastructure Initiatives staff to prepare the Report Card. The Committee assesses all relevant data and reports, consults with technical and industry experts, and assigns grades using the following criteria:

• CAPACITY - Does the infrastructure’s capacity meet current and future demands?
• CONDITION - What is the infrastructure’s existing and near-future physical condition?
• FUNDING - What is the current level of funding from all levels of government for the infrastructure category as compared to the estimated funding need?
• FUTURE NEED - What is the cost to improve the infrastructure? Will future funding prospects address the need?
• OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE - What is the owners’ ability to operate and maintain the infrastructure properly? Is the infrastructure in compliance with government regulations?
• PUBLIC SAFETY - To what extent is the public’s safety jeopardized by the condition of the infrastructure and whatcould be the consequences of failure?
• RESILIENCE - What is the infrastructure system’s capability to prevent or protect against significant multi-hazard threats and incidents? How able is it to quickly recover and reconstitute critical services with minimum consequences for public safety and health, the economy, and national security?
• INNOVATION - What new and innovative techniques, materials, technologies, and delivery methods are being implemented to improve the infrastructure?

In addition to this national Report Card, ASCE’s sections and branches also prepare state reports on a rolling basis.