Contemporary Model of Civil Engineering Failures

The civil engineer's involvement in engineering failure litigation provides a basis for examining aspects of professional practice. Several case histories of civil engineering failures were discussed by a seminar group composed of civil engineering graduate students and engineering practitioners. The underlying theme of the seminar was the characterization of civil engineering failures in contemporary society, specifically the need for a more rational approach to the resolution of legal disputes. In the present (and likely future) system, most participants in an engineering project will probably be brought into the litigation process when a dispute arises. Recognition of this reality would lead the future practicing engineer to minimize the high transaction costs of lawsuits through active participation in efforts to resolve disputes, rather than defensively denying responsibility or blaming others. The civil engineering practitioner should understand the expectations of all the participants in a project and make realistic appraisals of the associated risks when the opportunity of participation, with all of its hidden long term costs, is first offered.