Forensic Engineering: Environmental Case Histories for Civil Engineers and Geologists

This book explores these and many other related subjects. This book will be of great value to expert witnesses in liability suits resulting from flood, erosion, landslide, mudslide, or other types of natural hazard-related damage. It clearly explains the needs of an expert, the relationship of the expert to the client and the attorney, the challenges to face, and the proper orientation as an expert. Through a variety of case studies, the book illustrates investigative techniques, case and data presentation to prove "reasonableness" or "unreasonableness" of conduct and "causation."

• Adequacy of emergency procedures for evacuation and street closures in an area designed for and designated as a retention basin
• Necessity of the purchase or condemnation of flood-threatened properties due to partial blockage of a canyon by a previous landslide
• Widsom of providing qualified and objective engineering and geologic input to the land use planning in environmentally hazardous areas

The expert witness, whether uninitiated or veteran, must be prepared to deal with the inevitable confrontations inherent in the judicial process. Forensic Engineering represents a comprehensive overview of this rapidly growing field, emphasizing the professional, ethical, and societal issues stemming from the investigatory and litigation processes, including
* the complexities of proof
* the relationship of the expert with the client and attorney
* the concepts of negligence and reasonableness
Case histories of environmetally related failures and disasters serve to illustrate the complexities of the issues involved, especially
* investigative techniques for site analysis
* foreseeability of damage
* generally accepted standards of conduct
Anyone involved in engineering-related litigation, including land planners, environmental specialists, hydrogeologists, public administrators, and attorneys, will find a wealth of practical information within these pages.