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.
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 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 computationally intractable. Although the core technology is still being developed, quantum-inspired computing already has been offering practical advantages for several computationally challenging problems. Despite the promising potential of both quantum computing and quantum-inspired computing, 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 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 these technologies continue to mature. • Introduction to quantum and quantum-inspired computing (QC & QiC). • Identifying the pros and cons of QC & QiC given civil engineering (CE) requirements. • Presenting a multivocal literature review on QC & QiC for CE. • Recommending high-potential use cases and QC & QiC approaches in CE • Identifying research topics to advance QC & QiC in CE for real-world impact.
Quantum engineering represents a burgeoning field at the intersection of quantum mechanics, engineering, and technology, aimed at harnessing the unique properties of quantum systems for practical applications. This paper provides an overview of recent advances in quantum engineering and explores the diverse array of applications enabled by quantum phenomena. From quantum computing and quantum communication to quantum sensing and metrology, quantum engineering promises to revolutionize various domains by offering unprecedented capabilities for processing and manipulating information, sensing and detecting signals, and simulating complex systems. By leveraging the principles of superposition, entanglement, and coherence, researchers are developing novel quantum devices and technologies with the potential to transform industries ranging from healthcare and telecommunications to finance and materials science. developments in quantum engineering, highlights emerging trends and challenges, and outlines future directions for research and innovation in this exciting and rapidly evolving field.
Quantum computing has emerged as a transformative paradigm, leveraging principles of quantum mechanics to tackle computationally intractable problems. This manuscript explores the potential of quantum computing for solving complex engineering problems—specifically optimization, simulation, and data analysis tasks—using technologies and methodologies available up to 2022. We examine both gate-based and quantum annealing approaches, outline experimental frameworks, and compare performance against classical counterparts. Results from simulated benchmark problems demonstrate promising speedups in select cases, though practical adoption is constrained by hardware limitations such as qubit coherence times and noise. The study concludes by highlighting avenues for integrating hybrid quantum-classical workflows in engineering, along with a discussion of current constraints and future directions. Over the past decade, research efforts have focused on understanding how quantum phenomena like superposition and entanglement can be harnessed to realize computational advantages for specific problem classes. In particular, combinatorial optimization problems—ubiquitous in engineering design and logistics—offer fertile ground for quantum algorithms such as the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) and quantum annealing. Additionally, quantum simulation techniques, including the Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE), promise to accelerate the modeling of physical systems at the molecular and materials level, potentially informing the design of next-generation structural and functional materials. Beyond raw algorithmic performance, this paper carefully assesses the end‑to‑end workflow, accounting for overheads in problem encoding, error mitigation, and classical post‑processing. We also present a detailed analysis of resource utilization—quantified by qubit counts, circuit depths, and annealing schedules—highlighting trade‑offs between solution quality and execution time. Ultimately, our findings underscore that, while pure quantum speedups remain rare in 2022, hybrid approaches harnessing both quantum and classical resources can yield practical benefits for small‑to‑medium scale engineering tasks. This expanded evaluation provides a roadmap for researchers and practitioners interested in applying quantum computing to real‑world engineering challenges.
Quantum computing represents a groundbreaking advancement with significant implications for engineering and science. This article delves into the fundamental principles of quantum computing and highlights major technological breakthroughs driving its progress. It examines the influence of quantum computing on engineering, emphasizing its potential to address complex problems with unmatched speed and efficiency. In the realm of scientific research, quantum computing offers transformative opportunities in areas such as materials science, cryptography, and drug discovery. Despite its potential, quantum computing faces considerable challenges, including hardware stability, high error rates, and scalability issues. The conclusion discusses future prospects, underscoring the importance of ongoing research and collaboration to overcome these challenges and fully leverage the potential of quantum computing for advancements in engineering and science.
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.