ASCE Metropolitan Section

Forensic Engineering Group News

Robert Ratay to Speak at International Conference on Forensic Engineering

Robert Ratay, Ph.D., P.E., a structural engineer and Adjunct Professor at Columbia University will be giving the keynote address at the Fifth International Conference on Forensic Engineering, which will be held from April 16-17, 2013 in London and focuses on improving our built environment through investigation and understanding of engineering projects in the past.

Robert is a key member of the Steering Committee for the Met Section's Forensic Engineering Group. Robert's paper on "Rewards of failure - Changes in codes, standards and practices resulting from failures" is a wide ranging review of how forensic investigations in the USA have contributed to improved construction practice.
Robert joins an outstanding group of international consultants, academics and contractors who will present 42 papers on:

Engineering investigation and determination of the causes of structural failures of buildings, bridges and other constructed facilities, as well as rendering opinions and giving testimony in judicial proceedings, often referred to as Forensic Structural Engineering, has become a field of professional practice of its own in the United States. With rapid economic development, increased design sophistication, more-and-more daring construction technology and accelerated project delivery came the proliferation of structural failures throughout the world. Several countries are reviewing and/or streamlining technical, business, and legal procedures modeled on United States practices—with both their advantages and faults—which require expert consultants/witnesses in both the forensic investigation and in the ensuing dispute resolution.

Scott Wood, PE explains key points of critical considerations regarding structural engineering design implementations to prevent progressive collapse of structures

On April 10, 2012, Macarena Schachter-Adaros, PE and Scott Wood, PE from Weidlinger Associates, Inc. Consulting Engineers' Washington, DC office gave a 2 ½ hour technical presentation on the topic of "Design to Prevent Progressive Collapse" to the Forensic Engineering Group at the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art.

Alan Jeary, Ph.D., PE discusses all the important engineering considerations regarding Structural Performance Monitoring, as attendees took notes during this 2 ½ hour highly technical engineering presentation.

On March 20, 2012 Structural engineering experts Alan P. Jeary Ph.D., P.E. & Thomas A. Winant, P.E. from STRAAM Corp. provided a very informative 2 1/2 hour technical presentation on all the important considerations regarding the specialty engineering field of "Structural Performance Monitoring" to the Forensic Engineering Group.

Sixth Congress on Forensic Engineering

ASCE's Technical Council on Forensic Engineering held its Sixth Congress on Forensic Engineering on October 31-November 3, 2012 in San Francisco, California. The conference was chaired by Anthony Dolhon, PE, Princpal Engineer from Exponent-Engineering and Scientific Consulting, and committee member of the ASCE Metropolitan Section's Forensic Engineering Technical Group.

Sources of Errors and Opportunities for Catching Them

June 15, 2010 - Ed Nachtmann, SE, PE (center), is flanked by James Cohen, PE of ARUP (left) and Paul Roppa, PE (right)

In spite of the best efforts of engineers, contractors, and owners, failures of engineered structures continue to occur. In some cases the failures are dramatic and may even result in loss of life, and in other cases the failure may not be particularly newsworthy. Regardless of the type of failure, they almost all result in expensive litigation, and they all provide information that can be used to improve our professional practice.

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