Using Failure Case Studies To Address Civil Engineering Program And Bok Criteria

This paper suggests ways that failure case studies may be used to address Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology Engineering Accreditation Commission (ABET EAC) general and civil engineering program specific criteria, as well as Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge (BOK) criteria. The study of engineering failures can offer students valuable insights into associated technical, ethical, and professional issues. Lessons learned from failures have substantially affected civil engineering practice. The history of development of practice in many engineering disciplines is, in large part, the story of failures and of the changes to standards and procedures made as the result of forensic analyses. In addition to technical issues, concepts such as professional and ethical responsibility are highlighted by the cases. Some specific examples are presented.