Forensic Engineering Investigation

Forensic engineering is the application of engineering principles, knowledge, skills, and methodologies to answer questions of fact that may have legal ramifications. Forensic engineers typically are called upon to analyze car accidents, building collapses, fires, explosions, industrial accidents, and various calamities involving injuries or significant property losses. Fundamentally, the job of a forensic engineer is to answer the question, what caused this to happen? A forensic engineer is not a specialist in any one science or engineering discipline. The solution of “real-world” forensic engineering problems often requires the simultaneous or sequential application of several scientific disciplines. Information gleaned from the application of one discipline may provide the basis for another to be applied, which in turn may provide the basis for still another to be applied. The logical relationships developed among these various lines of investigation usually form the basis for the solution of what caused the event to occur. Because of this, skilled forensic engineers are usually excellent engineering generalists. A forensic engineering assignment is perhaps akin to solving a picture puzzle. Initially, there are dozens, or perhaps even hundreds, of seemingly disjointed pieces piled in a heap. When examined individually, each piece may not provide much information. Methodically, the various pieces are sorted and patiently fitted together in a logical context. Slowly, an overall picture emerges. When a significant portion of the puzzle has been solved, it then becomes easier to see where the remaining pieces fit. As the title indicates, the following text is about the analyses and methods used in the practice of forensic engineering. It is intended for practicing forensic engineers, loss prevention professionals, and interested students who are familiar with basic undergraduate science, mathematics, and engineering. The emphasis is how to apply subject matter with which the reader already has some familiarity. As noted by Samuel Johnson, “We need more to be reminded than instructed!”

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