How Forensic Engineers Investigate

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I’ve thought there’s got to be a book in the 328 blogs I’ve posted in the last 14 years. Blogs that explain forensic engineering investigation for the lay reader. Folk like civil litigation lawyers, insurance claims managers, and property owners.

If a book on How Doctors Think is helpful, I’m sure one on How Forensic Engineers Investigate would be too. (Ref. 1)

I looked at the different topics covered in these blogs for insight on what I would cover in such a book. I also checked my library of books on engineering for ideas on the format – there’s a few books on my shelf as you can imagine on civil, geotechnical and forensic engineering.

KISS jumped out at me – Keep It Simple Stupid. Really, like so much of forensic engineering investigation as I’ve experienced and explained over the years.

The book Guidelines for Forensic Engineering Practice by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) met the mark for a suggestion on a working Table of Contents for my how-do book. (Ref. 2) A good read by an Association that has been guiding civil engineers for 174 years, since 1852.

The Contents of a how-do book on forensic engineering investigation for lay readers might look like this. Content ideas found in my 328 blogs are in italics:

  1. Introduction (see Preface in ASCE too. Bundles of blogs)
  2. Decision to take a case. The tyranny of the bottom line. Investigate a problem; see ASCE
  3. Qualifications of Forensic Engineers
  4. The Standard of Care
  5. Investigations (1. Steps; note similarity to science. 2. Examples of different investigations: flying objects, land slides, foundation settlement, shaking buildings, slip and fall accidents, MVA accidents. 3. New methods in forensic investigation: Drones, Google Earth, Hot tubes. 4. Professional Engineer to assess the forensic investigation required and if s/he qualified to do it. 5. Characterize nature of forensic investigation in Atlantic Canada.
  6. Reports (Civil procedure rule. Hot tubing. Peer review. Guidelines)
  7. Ethics
  8. The Legal Forum
  9. The Business of Forensic Engineering (The tyranny of the bottom line – there, at the beginning and the end)
  10. Summary

References

  1. Groopman, M.D., Jerome, How Doctors Think, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston 2007
  2. Kardon, Joshua B., Ph.D., S.E., Editor, Guidelines for Forensic Engineering Practice, 2nd edition, American Society of Civil Engineers, ASCE, Reston, Virginia 2012

(Posted by Eric E. Jorden, M.Sc., P.Eng. Consulting Professional Engineer and Forensic Engineer, Geotechnology Ltd., Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, September 4, 2026 ejorden@eastlink.ca)   

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