Quantum computing is expected to offer solutions to computational problems that are otherwise practically intractable. While the core technology is still developing, quantum-inspired computing already offers practical advantages for several computationally challenging problems. Despite the promising potential of both technologies, applications in civil engineering remain underexplored. This study aims to lay the foundation for future adoption by introducing the fundamental principles of quantum computing and quantum-inspired computing and by conducting a systematic multivocal literature review. The review provides insights into the current research landscape in civil engineering and offers a detailed analysis of potential use cases and application areas. The findings are expected to serve as a foundation for guiding future research endeavors and practical deployments of quantum computing and quantum-inspired computing in civil engineering, as the technologies continue to mature.
Quantum computing is expected to offer solutions to computational problems that are otherwise practically intractable. While the core technology is still developing, quantum-inspired computing already offers practical advantages for several computationally challenging problems. Despite the promising potential of both technologies, applications in civil engineering remain underexplored. This study aims to lay the foundation for future adoption by introducing the fundamental principles of quantum computing and quantum-inspired computing and by conducting a systematic multivocal literature review. The review provides insights into the current research landscape in civil engineering and offers a detailed analysis of potential use cases and application areas. The findings are expected to serve as a foundation for guiding future research endeavors and practical deployments of quantum computing and quantum-inspired computing in civil engineering, as the technologies continue to mature.
Civil engineering problems are inherently complex and computationally intensive, often requiring advanced methods to analyze large-scale systems and nonlinear interactions. Addressing these challenges requires next-generation computing paradigms that can deliver greater speed and efficiency. Quantum computing, which exploits quantum–mechanical principles such as superposition and entanglement, offers the potential to process information in ways that far surpass classical computing, enabling faster and more accurate solutions to intricate engineering problems. This emerging technology could transform multiple areas within civil engineering—for example, materials science, project management, structural analysis, and design. Continued research and development in this direction may usher the discipline into a new era of computational innovation. Although quantum computing remains at an early stage of maturity, it has already attracted significant attention from researchers across diverse civil-engineering subfields. Fully realizing its potential will require overcoming major technical and practical challenges. This article presents an in-depth review of quantum computing applications in civil engineering, highlighting current progress, advantages, and limitations. It also outlines promising directions for future research to guide the evolution of this rapidly developing interdisciplinary field.
Quantum computing has emerged as a transformative technology with the potential to revolutionize various fields, including engineering. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the applications of quantum computing in engineering, focusing on algorithms, hardware, and future prospects. We explore the fundamental principles of quantum computing, the current state of quantum hardware, and the key algorithms that have been developed for engineering problems. We also discuss the challenges and opportunities in integrating quantum computing into engineering workflows and provide a forward-looking perspective on the future of this field. This review aims to serve as a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, and practitioners interested in the intersection of quantum computing and engineering
Quantum computing, leveraging quantum phenomena like superposition and entanglement, is emerging as a transformative force in computing technology, promising unparalleled computational speed and efficiency crucial for engineering applications. This advancement presents both opportunities and challenges, requiring engineers to familiarize themselves with quantum principles, applications, and complexities. This paper systematically explores the foundational concepts of quantum mechanics and their implications for computational advancements, emphasizing the superiority of quantum algorithms in solving engineering problems. It identifies areas where gate-based quantum computing has the potential to outperform classical methods despite facing scalability and coherence issues. By offering clear examples with minimal reliance on in-depth quantum physics or hardware specifics, the aim is to make quantum computing accessible to engineers, addressing the steep learning curve and fostering its practical adoption for complex problem-solving and technological advancement as quantum hardware becomes more robust and reliable.
The vital role of civil engineering is to enable the development of modern cities and establish foundations for smart and sustainable urban environments of the future. Advanced sensing technologies are among the instrumental methods used to enhance the performance of civil engineering infrastructures and address the multifaceted challenges of future cities. Through this study, we discussed the shortcomings of traditional sensors in four primary civil engineering domains: construction, energy, water, and transportation. Then, we investigated and summarized the potential of quantum sensors to contribute to and revolutionize the management of civil engineering infrastructures. For the water sector, advancements are expected in monitoring water quality and pressure in water and sewage infrastructures. In the energy sector, quantum sensors may facilitate renewables integration and improve grid stability and buildings’ energy efficiency. The most promising progress in the construction field is the ability to identify subsurface density and underground structures. In transportation, these sensors create many fresh avenues for real-time traffic management and smart mobility solutions. As one of the first-in-the-field studies offering the adoption of quantum sensors across four primary domains of civil engineering, this research establishes the basis for the discourse about the scope and timeline for deploying quantum sensors to real-world applications towards the quantum transformation of civil engineering.
Quantum computing has emerged as a transformative computational paradigm capable of addressing limitations increasingly encountered by classical computing systems as Moore’s law approaches physical and economic constraints. By leveraging quantum mechanical principles such as superposition, entanglement, and interference, quantum systems offer the potential for significant computational advantages in solving complex problems that are currently infeasible for conventional architectures. This review critically synthesizes recent advances in quantum computing by examining foundational principles, major algorithmic breakthroughs, evolving hardware platforms, and interdisciplinary real-world applications. A structured narrative literature review was conducted using major scientific databases, including PubMed, IEEE Xplore, Nature, ScienceDirect, and arXiv, with emphasis on peer-reviewed studies, landmark foundational research, and major industry developments published between 2018 and 2026. Key findings indicate substantial progress in superconducting, trapped ion, photonic, and topological quantum systems, alongside innovations in algorithms such as Shor’s, Grover’s, variational quantum methods, and quantum machine learning. Despite these advancements, major challenges including decoherence, noise, scalability limitations, and fault-tolerant error correction remain substantial barriers to commercial maturity. Future implications suggest quantum computing may profoundly influence artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, optimization, molecular simulation, and scientific discovery, particularly through hybrid classical-quantum systems and cloud-based democratization. Although practical deployment remains transitional, quantum computing is positioned to become a foundational technology with broad scientific, industrial, and societal implications.
Transport research has significant potential to benefit from quantum computing. The rise of intelligent transport systems, autonomous vehicles, and the Internet of Things has created an unprecedented demand for efficient information processing and computational optimisation. Accordingly, transport engineers and scientists have explored the ever-improving capabilities of quantum computers in an effort to meet this demand. Motivated by this growing interest, this paper sets out three aims: (1) to introduce the fundamental aspects of quantum computing relevant to the transport domain; (2) to develop a pipeline for identifying transport-related problems which are suitable for quantum advantage, solving them, and assessing their performance fairly; (3) to provide a systematic review of the existing literature and a perspective. For the latter, a systematic search of the Scopus and IEEE Xplore databases, supplemented by additional citation sources, identified 91 studies for inclusion following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. While a diverse set of use cases have been proposed, we conclude that future research should prioritise problems where quantum computation offers a clearer practical benefit. To this end, we suggest promising directions to guide further work in this burgeoning subfield.