Forensic Engineering

The Forensic  Engineer deals with failures. Just like the Pathologist examines dead bodies to determine the cause of death, the Forensic Engineer examines the scene of a failure to determine the cause of the accident or failure. The purpose of this Site is to provide information about Forensic Engineering and to give the reader places to go in order to become educated about the various branches of Forensic Engineering.

This site will explore the various areas of Engineering and provide information so some one in need of a Forensic Engineer will know what areas are appropriate for understanding the failure or accident that is under concern. The primary organization for Forensic Engineers, for all disciplines, is the National Academy of Forensic Engineers (NAFE).

I am past president of NAFE and can attest to the good ethics and excellent quality of the members.  NAFE has been led under the fine leadership of its Executive Director Marvin Specter , P.E., L.S., F.NSPE, Hon.M.ASCE.  I practice Forensic Engineering in the areas of Bicycle Accident Reconstruction and General Civil Engineering.

Since accidents can result in huge monetary damages, the Individual being hired to determine the cause of the accident should meet minimal qualifications:

• Professional Registration- The individual certainly should be registered as a Professional Engineer by Examination. You wouldn’t want a surgeon to operate on you if he wasn’t Board certified, so why would you want an Engineer who cannot sit for or pass the 16 hour Board examination.
• Academic Background- Certainly the Engineer should met the necessary academic criteria to graduate from a NCEES Engineering school with a minimum of a Bachelor of Science in Engineering – although a graduate degree in Engineering is becoming more critical and is almost mandatory in Courts dealing with complex cases. Be forewarned! A certificate in Engineering is not a NCEES approved Degree.