Human Factors in Civil and Geotechnical Engineering Failures

Despite modern advances in technology, civil engineering failures continue to occur. Most investigations identify the technical causes and financial liability. This paper looks at where and why the engineering process (planning, design, construction, and operation) breaks down. The data base is largely from the writer's unpublished failure investigations. Approximately 500 failures are evaluated. Of these, 58% originated in design, 38% in construction, and 4% in operation. Approximately half of the problems occurring during construction originated in design; the other half in construction. Three causes are identified: absence, ignorance, and rejection of current technology. Absence accounts for 12%, ignorance for 33%, and rejection for 55%. Of the total, 88% reflect human shortcomings that can be reduced by acknowledging professional limitations, continuing education, modifying design and construction systems, and resisting the unbalanced pressures that thwart good engineering.