Going organic: using evolution in civils design

Products, buildings and infrastructure are starting to look more natural thanks to recent advances in engineering design, manufacturing and construction technology. Traditional hard, rectilinear structures are being replaced by softer, more organic forms—and not just because they look more natural: millions of years of evolution mean Earth's flora and fauna are engineered to near perfection. But while the enduring design of a mosquito might not give us the blueprint for a mosque, engineers can now replicate the natural process of evolutionary design for their own purposes. This paper introduces the genetic algorithm to civil engineering designers and presents summaries of recent research areas of application, including reinforced earth embankment design, truss optimisation, masonry arch collapse loads and mechanisms, and yield-line analysis of reinforced-concrete slabs. Whereas it cannot replace an engineering experience or judgement, the method appears to have great potential as an aid to more creative design.