The Louisiana Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers was founded in 1914 and has since been in continuous operation. The Section consists of the entire state of Louisiana and it is divided into four branches that directly serve its almost 2000 members.

Sharing the national objective of the ASCE the Section strives for the advancement of the science and profession of civil engineering to enhance the welfare of humanity. This is accomplished principally through its service to — and leadership in –– Louisiana’s civil engineering community. In this pursuit, Section leaders remain open to the ideas of those who express interest.

The Section produces a quarterly journal, The Louisiana Civil Engineer, to provide a source of news and information and that is supplemented by mass email. It is intended to facilitate direct communications particularly with the hundreds of members located in areas remote to the branch centers.

The Louisiana Journal has won the national ASCE Outstanding Section and Branch Newsletter Award for 2006 and 2008.

The Louisiana Journal is currently looking for advertisements and professional listings. For more information, see the Advertising Rates on the Louisiana Section website.

The currently approved branches in the Section and the parishes located within them are:

• The Acadiana Branch: Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Evangeline, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Rapides, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, Vermilion and Vernon.
• The Baton Rouge Branch: Ascension, Assumption, Concordia, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Point Coupee, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, Tensas, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana.
• The New Orleans Branch: Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Terrebonne and Washington.
• The Shreveport Branch: Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Caldwell, Catahoula, Claiborne, DeSoto, East Carroll, Franklin, Grant, Jackson, LaSalle, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Red River, Richland, Sabine, Union, Webster, West Carroll and Winn.

Just recently, the Louisiana Section has formed the Transportation & Development Institute Louisiana Chapter (ASCE-TD&I-LA).

The primary function of ASCE-T&DI-LA will be the organization and presentation of technical sessions and programs. ASCE-T&DI LA will arrange meetings, seminars and workshops dealing with the activities in transportation and development field. Sub-committees may be formed to deal with specific field such as planning, financing, infrastructure, port activities etc.

ASCE-T&DI-LA may review Transportation Engineering practice related to current events, regulations, policies and proposals set forth by governmental, educational and regulatory bodies, and policies being developed by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The purpose of such review would be to identify the consensus opinion of practitioners and formally communicate such opinions with appropriate recommendations to the ASCE Louisiana Section Board of Directors.

An ASCE-T&DI-LA goal is to raise the awareness of the general public to the role and accomplishments of the Civil/Transportation professionals.

The ASCE-TD&I-LA is a new organization and is currently developing the executive committee. Please see the ASCE-TD&I-LA website for more details.

Additionally, the Louisiana Section includes six student chapters within its boundaries. It seeks to aid them in the development of the technical and professional competence of their student members. This is accomplished in part through the participation of the Section and its members in their programs and coordinating and sharing meetings at mutual sites when practical.

The student chapters in the Section are located in the civil engineering departments of the following institutions: Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Southern University in Baton Rouge, University of Louisiana at Lafayette and University of New Orleans.

The Louisiana Section is a member of the newly formed Region 5 government of ASCE.