Civil engineers learn to build infrastructure according to local, state and federal codes, but what happens when that infrastructure fails to uphold? When a bridge or building collapses, forensic engineers step in to investigate the cause and determine who may be liable, particularly in case of a trial.
Starting this fall, ΒιΆΉΣ³»΄«Γ½ students enrolled in an undergraduate engineering program can take CGN 4120: Forensic Investigation for Engineering, a new technical elective focused on the forensic investigation process. This course is the first of its kind in the nation and will be taught by Dennis Filler, a senior lecturer in the College of Engineering and Computer Scienceβs Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering.
Filler has written a forthcoming book on the subject and says that the topic is critical to the future of engineering.
βThe frequency of engineering disasters, engineering failures, has not reduced in 100 years,β Filler says. βDuring that time, we’ve been improving our design codes. Thatβs not working though, and engineering judgment, I believe, is at the core to why the frequency of failures continues.β
Filler cites the pedestrian bridge collapse at Florida International University in 2018 as an example of bad engineering judgment. The event, which resulted in six deaths and multiple injuries, was caused by engineering design errors and inadequate peer review, as determined by the National Transportation Safety Board after a forensic investigation.
Students who take the course can expect to learn about the history of forensic engineering, the nature of failures and the forensic investigation process. The first half of the course will delve into the legal system, civil engineering law and jurisprudence. The goal is to prepare students to reduce liability and be an expert witness should an investigation occur during their careers.
In the second half of course, students will explore a number of case studies that cover real investigations across engineering disciplines, from automobile accidents to product liability, environmental disasters to water treatment design flaws, and other failure scenarios over the past 25 years.
Filler says students will gain three crucial skills in this course: critical thinking, attention to detail, and cause and effect as it relates to engineering failures.
Students of all engineering disciplines are welcome to enroll, but Filler says that mature senior-level students who desire to think like a scientist or a forensic criminologist are best suited to this course β even if they donβt plan to pursue a career in forensic engineering.
βYou don’t have to become a forensic engineer to use the skills that we’ll develop in forensic engineering,β Filler says. βThey’ll aid their practice no matter what discipline they go into.β
Interested students who want to learn more about the course can connect with Filler at dennis.filler@ucf.edu.
