While skimming thru the info, this forensic material deals with crime investigation. There is another side of forensics and that deals with serious accident investigations of which I was ignorant about it until a forensic engineer was involved in an accident investigation and reconstruction of a fatality on one of our job sites.
There's another form of forensic science that deals with failure investigations of construction. While not as glamorous as the criminal side, and not quite as interesting as some accident re-creation, it is nonetheless challenging.
There's not nearly as much literature on this aspect of forensics as the others.
Otto von Bismarck “Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made.”
In March of 2009 the National Research Council published its report to Congress entitled Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward.
For a free copy of the Summary of the report go to:
If your understanding of forensics has been gained solely from television shows like CSI Miami, NCIS, or even, Nancy Grace you may be forgiven for believing that all crimes can be solved in 40 minutes, by a team of good looking, higly paid, crack scientists in white lab coats, who also happen to have miraculous ,. instant insights and excellent cleavage.this report will, sadly, disabuse you of such notions. Nor will you find in it any mention of psychic detectives, cadaver dogs, criminal profilers, lie detectors, or experts in body language. But, if you can live without those things, you will find the following main “sciences” discussed:
? Nuclear DNA
? Finger prints
? Firearms examination
? Tool marks
? Bite marks
? Impressions ( tires, footwear..)
? Bloodstain pattern analysis
? Handwriting
? Hair
? Coatings ( e.g. paint )
? Chemicals ( including drugs )
? Materials ( including fibers )
? Fluids ( including serology )
? Fire and explosives analysis
? Digital evidence
As an engineer, it is more than likely that you will have some knowledge of many of these areas and may even be expert in one or more. Perhaps you have even been an expert witness. If you have you will also know about two of forensic science’s main legal underpinnings. These are;
The 1993 Supreme Court decision Daubert vs. Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc , and
Rule 702 of the Federal Rules of Evidence.
The ways in which scientists and lawyers approach problem solving contrast significantly. As engineers, we often fall awkwardly between both groups. We are not alone in this position. Others, such as Medical Examiners, Coroners and police and juries are similarly situated.
The report now moves to Congress, which is rich in legal minds but has few scientists or engineers, and fewer still “ordinary” citizens of the kind which might found on juries. If this subject interests you, even a little, you may want to read the Summary of the report and follow its path through the legislative process.
I use to think civil forensic engineering would be the most challenging and fun engineering around. Once i started talking to some people who work with it i found many of them get a significant amount of their business assessing whether homes have been damaged by wind first or by water first for the insurance companies. so much for fun.
My business is construction forensics where I deal with a variety of failures, particularly structural and water intrusion. Even the insurance stuff can be challenging; although they are often looking for confirmation of a pre-conceived answer (to support their claim denial). That occurs more often in residential claims. They don't typically try that with commercial as the resources are better to refute their erroneous denial. Sometimes they are right in denying claims though.
I find my work to be challenging, rewarding, and generally fun, once you get past the fact that if someone had not screwed up, I wouldn't have a job!
Cases do not make it to court very often. Most of the time, settlement is offered or mediation induces a settlement dialogue, particularly when the technical issues are clear cut. Determining the party liable for failures is sometimes a difficult and arduous task, which may ultimately be decided by a jury trial, if other means fail. But all in all, it is still a challenging technical process.
One aspect of forensics that often repeats itself....things ain't always as they seem!
