Kyla Erman: Engineering Can Improve Quality of Life

Though people often think of them as far removed from each other, strong ties exist between art history and civil and environmental engineering, according to University of Maryland (UMD) senior Kyla Erman.

Erman, who recently won a prestigious scholarship from the American Society of Highway Engineers (ASHE) is majoring in both subjects, while also minoring in sustainability. As she points out, some notable examples of civil infrastructure, such as Rome’s Colosseum or New York’s Brooklyn Bridge, also have artistic value.

“A building can be seen as a work of art,” she said, noting that such structures bring enjoyment and aesthetic pleasure as well as being of practical use; they enhance quality of life in multiple ways. It’s this common theme of human impact that connects her interests.

Transportation infrastructure can be beautiful as well: think of sleek high-speed trains or Dreamliner jets. Moreover, transportation can have a profound effect on mobility, educational opportunity, and employment.

Erman, who enjoys traveling, says she has seen firsthand how the extensive public transportation systems in some countries have a measurable, positive impact on communities. By contrast, school students in Baltimore and other U.S. cities sometimes end up late for school because underfunded bus systems are subject to delays.

This summer, Erman will be in Denmark for the Grøn Dyst (Green Challenge) competition, hosted by the Technical University of Denmark, which challenges student teams to devise innovative, practical ways to boost sustainability. UMD students compete each year in the contest as part of a course taught by Professor Birthe Kjellerup in partnership with the Office of Global Engineering Leadership at the university’s A. James Clark School of Engineering.

For their Green Challenge project, Erman and her teammates are exploring the use of porous asphalt to reduce traffic noise, which has been found to exacerbate stress, increase hearing loss risks, and in some cases exacerbate cardiovascular disease.

“Noise pollution isn’t something we always think about, but it can have very real effects on quality of life,” she said.

Erman is grateful to ASHE for the scholarship she received, saying it will provide valuable support as she wraps up her undergraduate studies and transitions to a career.

She hopes to apply her engineering education to transportation and urban planning, as well as to historic preservation–a field that brings together her passions for structures, sustainability, art, and history.

Published June 5, 2025