Forensic Engineering Investigation

Forensic Engineering Investigation is a compendium of the investigative methodologies used by engineers and scientific investigators to evaluate some of the more common types of failures and catastrophic events. In essence, the book provides analyses and methods for determining how an entity was damaged and when that damage may have legal consequen

This book outlines the fundamental steps that will assist forensic engineers in tailoring their forensic investigations of failures and performance problems associated with structures and building systems.

A comprehensive resource that builds a bridge between engineering disciplines and the building sciences and trades, Forensic Engineering: Damage Assessments for Residential and Commercial Structures provides an extensive look into the world of forensic engineering. With a focus on investigations associated with insurance industry claims, the book describes methodologies for performing insurance-related investigations including the causation and origin of damage to residential and commercial structures and/or unhealthy interior environments and adverse effects on the occupants of these structures. Edited by an industry expert with more than 30 years of experience, and authors with more than 100 years of experience in the field, the book takes the technical aspects of engineering and scientific principles and applies them to real-world issues in a non-technical manner. It provides readers with the experiences, investigation methodologies, and investigation protocols used in, and derived from completing thousands of forensic engineering investigations. It begins with providing a baseline methodology for completing forensic investigations and closes with advice on testifying as an expert witness. Much of what must be known in this field is not learned in school, but is based upon experience since recognizing the cause of a building system failure requires a blending of skills from the white collar and blue collar worlds. Such knowledge can be vital since failures (e.g., water entry) often result from construction activities completed out of sequence.. This book details proven methodologies based on over 7,000 field investigations, methodologies which can be followed by both professionals and laymen alike.

This book provides extensive coverage of all the engineering aspects of product liability from the design review stage to failure analysis to preparation for legal proceedings. It will greatly help you understand the engineering and scientific viewpoints of product failures as well as provide a technical framework for litigation.

"The investigation of failures - ranging from serviceability to catastrophic - which may lead to legal activity, including both civil and criminal."-- Ed. pref.

Forensic Engineering: The Art and Craft of a Failure Detective synthesizes the current academic knowledge, with advances in process and techniques developed in the last several years, to bring forensic materials and engineering analysis into the 21st century. The techniques covered in the book are applied to the myriad types of cases the forensic engineer and investigator may face, serving as a working manual for practitioners. Analytical techniques and practical, applied engineering principles are illustrated in such cases as patent and intellectual property disputes, building and product failures, faulty design, air and rail disasters, automobile recalls, and civil and criminal cases. Both private and criminal cases are covered as well as the legal obligation, requirements, and responsibilities under the law, particularly in cases of serious injury or even death. Forensic Engineering will appeal to professionals working in failure analysis, loss adjustment, occupational health and safety as well as professionals working in a legal capacity in cases of produce failure and liability—including criminal cases, fraud investigation, and private consultants in engineering and forensic engineering.

This book serves as an introductory text to the forensic civil engineering discipline and provides guidelines for carrying out the practice in an effective (and ethical) manner.

Within the broad field of civil engineering, the practice of forensic engineering involves the investigation of performance, difficulties, or failures of buildings, structures, pipelines, foundations, airplanes, manufacturing equipment, vehicles, bridges, flood control facilities, and other engineered products. Guideline for Forensic Engineering Practice is organized into five general topics of forensic engineering: (1) Qualifications addresses commonly accepted education and experience requirements for forensic engineers. Various aspects of Federal and State law are cited with an expanded section on admissibility and disqualifications are discussed in this chapter; (2) Investigations intended to show the typical aspects of physically carrying out a forensic investigation, such as the handling of evidence for subsequent courtroom presentation; (3) Ethics the promulgation of guidelines for ethical behavior of the forensic engineer is a primary objective of ASCE and the Forensic Practice Committee, as well as the ASCE Code of Ethics and codes from other engineering associations are applied to the forensic engineer; (4) Legal gives a brief overview of the court system as it applies to the construction industry, including the role of the forensic engineer as an expert witness is defined; and (5) Business intended to relate the non-technical management side of forensic engineering practices and the marketing of forensic engineering services within an acceptable ethical scheme is encouraged.