Forensic Engineering: What Role for ASCE?

Responding to heightened concern within and without the American Society for Civil Engineers (ASCE) about failures of engineered structures and other works, ASCE formed two commitees to study the Society’s future role in helping to prevent such failures. One of these committees surveyed ASCE members to solicit their ideas, resulting in a show of overwhelming support for the Society to take a more active role in failure prevention, primarily through education of both the membership and the public. This article reports the responses to the survey questionnaire including suggestions that the Society disseminate information and guidelines for investigation of failures through a variety of media. Other roles ASCE might play, as suggested by some survey respondents, are also included.