Forensic Engineering Education Workshops: A Review of Experiences in the U.S. and in Latin America

An ongoing activity of the Committee on Education of the ASCE Technical Council on Forensic Engineering is the development of workshops for civil engineering faculty. The workshops are aimed at integrating lessons from failure case histories into undergraduate and graduate university education. These workshops have been successfully presented at seven locations throughout the United States to more than 100 college and university professors. The workshops encourage the use of forensic case histories in existing courses by providing easily adapted case modules, visual aids, and proven teaching strategies. Recently, the project has been extended to the international arena, with presentations in the UK, China, India, and Latin America. This paper reviews the background, intent, and content of the forensic engineering education workshops, with a focus on the international activities. Included are specific comments regarding the Latin American experiences in Costa Rica and Ecuador.