Editor’s Note

Establishment of a new Forensic Engineering Council of India is currently planned, following a very successful International Conference on Forensic Engineering, held in Mumbai, India, December 6–9, 2007. The conference was organized by the India Chapter of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and was supported by many international organizations, including ASCE and the United Kingdom-based Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). Ramesh Raikar, a member of this journal’s Editorial Review Board, was the lead conference coordinator, Ken Carper (journal Editor) along with Jonathan Wood (representing ICE) were the international coordinators. Delegates attended from more than 40 countries.

ASCE was well represented at the conference, by a number of fine papers presented by members from the United States. In particular, six members of the ASCE Technical Council on Forensic Engineering (TCFE) formed a delegation, with partial financial assistance provided by the ASCE International Activities Committee (IAC). Included in this delegation were Norbert Delatte, current TCFE chair; Kimball Beasley, former TCFE chair; Ken Carper, former TCFE chair; Shen-En Chen; Michael Drerup; and Clemens Rossell.

In conjunction with the conference, meetings were held to discuss the formation of the new Forensic Engineering Council of India, with substantial input provided by TCFE members. The $25\text{-}\text{year}$ history of the ASCE Technical Council on Forensic Engineering was of considerable interest to the organizing committee. It was helpful to have ASCE staff member Tenzing Barshee present at these meetings. He was coincidentally in India at the time of the conference and volunteered to attend. Our Indian hosts have expressed sincere appreciation for the support ASCE provided to their efforts, both during the conference and following its conclusion. We look forward to future collaborations.

Infrastructure is desperately needed in India in every sector. As the economy of India continues to expand, numerous opportunities will emerge for thoughtful development to meet the basic needs of the country’s vast population. This development will require skillful planning to reduce the potential for further environmental degradation. The community of forensic engineers will play a vital role in India’s development, as the lessons learned from successes and failures are formally integrated into engineering practice through their efforts.

The Publications Committee is seeking manuscripts describing case histories of facilities built on expansive soils. A Special Topic Issue is contemplated, pending receipt of a sufficient number of relevant manuscripts. The Guest Editor for the project is Oswald Rendon-Herrero, professor emeritus, Mississippi State University. Professor Rendon-Herrero is currently collecting manuscripts from design and construction professionals practicing in the state of Mississippi, where problem soil conditions are commonly encountered, but our desire is to include similar case studies from other regions as well.

Examples of topics to be considered in the case history papers include the following:

Should you wish to discuss a potential case history manuscript involving expansive soils or any other topic, please feel free to contact me as follows: by mail at Kenneth L. Carper, School of Architecture and Construction Management, College of Engineering and Architecture, P.O. Box 642220, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-2220; by phone at (509) 335-1229; by fax at (509) 335-6132; or by e-mail at [email protected].