scholarly journals Forensic Engineering Data Collection For Stairway Incidents

2007 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilbur T. Yaxley ◽  
Armstrong Jeffrey D.
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Building Codes ◽  
Building Code ◽  
Engineering Data ◽  
Forensic Engineering ◽  
Riser Height ◽  
Design Construction

Forensic Engineers Are Often Called Upon To Investigate Injury Events On Stairs. A Significant Number Of Injuries And Deaths Occur On Stairways. With A Background In Design, Construction, And Building Codes, Forensic Engineers Can Identify The Appropriate Codes With Which The Stairs Might Be Required To Comply, Can Determine Whether Deficiencies Exist And To What Extent, And Whether Deficiencies Are Related To The Design Or The Construction Of The Facility. Data Collection On Stairways Can Be Difficult And Tedious. Measurements Of Tread Depths And Riser Heights Must Be Measured With Precision To Compare With Allowable Tolerances. This Paper Presents Various Means Of Collecting Data Related To Stairways, Including Documentation Of Tread Depth, Riser Height, Tread Slope, Nosing, Handrails, And Headroom Clearances. The Paper Will Also Introduce A Device That Was Developed And Validated By The Authors For Measuring Treads And Risers. This Paper Focuses Only On Data Collection Methodologies, And Does Not Present Analyses Or Render Opinions With Regard To Building Code Requirements. The Building Code Requirements That Are Presented Herein Are Only For The Purpose Of Illustrating Typical Code Requirements, To Illustrate Why Various Data Must Be Collected, And To Review Proper Methods Of Data Collection.

scholarly journals Forensic Engineering Investigations Of Guards Handrails And Stairs

2004 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Norman L. Cooper
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Air Travel ◽  
Building Code ◽  
Fundamental Issue ◽  
Forensic Engineering ◽  
Gap Height ◽  
Riser Height

There Are More Accidental Deaths From Falls In The United States Than From Fire, Drowning, And Air Travel Combined. The Following Summarizes Forensic Engineering Investigations (In Several Of The United States) Of Guards, Handrails, And Stairs, Most Following Falls Resulting In Injury Or Death. The Fundamental Issue Is Whether The Guards, Handrails, And Stairs Complied With The Applicable Building Code. Liability, Advocacy, And Unsafe Structure Requirements Are Discussed. Many Example Cases Are Cited Involving Code Noncompliance Including: Guards: Omission, Strength, Gap, Height, And Ladder Effect; Handrails: Omission, Height, Grip, Length, Strength, Return, And Continuity; Stairs: Omission, Obstruction, Strength, Riser Height, Tread Length, Uniformity, Tread Slope, Riser Gap, And Lighting. Case Outcomes Are Discussed And Recommendations Made.

scholarly journals Anatomy Of A Forensic Engineering Case

2003 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Kravitz
Keyword(s):  
Building Codes ◽  
Building Code ◽  
Accident Reconstruction ◽  
First Case ◽  
Forensic Engineering

There Are Two Cases That Will Be Discussed. The First Case Involved Three Domains Of The Writers Practice That Included Building Codes, Street Construction, And Vehicular Accident Reconstruction, And To The Extent That Opposing Experts Have Opined In Attempts To Try And Win A Case For Their Clients. The Second Case Involved Old Building Codes, But More Importantly It Involved The Definitions Of Words Within The Building Code As Defined By The Opposing Attorney, Which Had To Be Rebuffed In The Process Of Defending The Writers Opinion.

scholarly journals Forensic Engineering Investigation Of Dezincification In A Major Corrosion Litigation

2013 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert N. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Zinc Content ◽  
Building Code ◽  
Insurance Companies ◽  
Urban Location ◽  
Home Owner ◽  
Plumbing Systems ◽  
Forensic Engineering ◽  
Low Strength ◽  
Engineering Investigation

Zinc-Rich Brasses With The Zinc Content Above 30% Can Be Involved In Corrosion Processes With Catastrophic Results. The Dezincification Results In A Low Strength Copper With A Porous Sponge Like Structure. The Case, Where Dezincification Occurred With Massive Impact, Involved 34,000 New Homes In An Urban Location In Nevada. These Homes Were Constructed Using Building Code Approved Plastic Pex Tubing For Plumbing With Brass Fittings. Leaks Developed In The Home Plumbing Systems After Approximately 3-6 Years. This Failure Resulted In Lawsuits Involving Home Owner Associations, Insurance Companies, Contractors, Plumbers, Architects, Manufacturers, And Suppliers.

scholarly journals Forensic Engineering Analysis of Dynamic Forces Created by Pedestrians Impacting Plate Glass at Different Speeds

2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Kravitz
Keyword(s):  
Impact Load ◽  
Building Code ◽  
Engineering Analysis ◽  
Glass Panel ◽  
Impact Speed ◽  
Dynamic Forces ◽  
Exit Door ◽  
Forensic Engineering ◽  
Pedestrian Impact ◽  
The Impact

This paper examines the effect of a pedestrian inadvertently impacting a glass panel adjacent to a glass exit door. The glass panel was full length and unmarked, violating the local building code and building commissioner directives. The defense argued that the old building code, to which the college building was constructed, was “grandfathered” and there was no violation. Initial witness and plaintiff statements indicated that the plaintiff was running when he struck the panel, which shattered and caused the plaintiff to incur injuries. The plaintiff testified later, in deposition, that he was walking when he struck the glass. The court needed to establish liability percentage, which is common in civil cases, and it was necessary to determine at what pedestrian impact speed the glass panel would break. The analysis used Timoshenko’s theory of vibration plates, Roark’s stress strain formulas, ergonomics, and human factors to estimate the impact load and stresses on the glass panel that caused failure.

Success criteria-based impacts of risk factors on education building projects in southwestern Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olufisayo Adewumi Adedokun ◽  
Temitope Egbelakin ◽  
Deborah Oluwafunke Adedokun ◽  
Johnson Adafin
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
User Satisfaction ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
Project Performance ◽  
Capital Outlay ◽  
Building Projects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Design Construction

Purpose Despite the huge capital outlay in tertiary education building projects (TEBP), these projects undoubtedly failed in meeting the set objectives of cost, time and quality, among others. Therefore, rather than the impacts of risks on the overall project performance, which is common in the construction management literature, the purpose of this study is to assess the impacts of risk factors on the criteria for measuring the success of public TEBP. Design/methodology/approach The paper adopted a quantitative research method where the data collection was via a questionnaire survey. The researcher administered 452 questionnaires to the client representatives, consultants and contractors involved in building projects across five public tertiary education institutions in Ondo State, Nigeria. Of 452 questionnaires, 279 were retrieved and suitable for the analysis, translating to a 61.73% response rate. The reliability analysis of the research instrument showed 0.965 and 0.807, via Cronbach’s alpha test, indicating high reliability of the instrument used for data collection. Findings The study found different risk factors affecting the criteria for measuring the success of TEBP. For instance, the environmental risk factor significantly impacted completion to cost, while financial and political risk factors significantly impacted completion to time. In addition, while environmental, legal and management risks significantly impacted end-user satisfaction, safety performance was significantly impacted by logistic, legal, design, construction, political and management risks. Besides, the logistic, legal, design, construction, financial, political and management risk factors impacted profit. However, despite profit being one of the criteria for measuring the success of building projects, it recorded the highest risk impacts amounting to 41% variance. Research limitations/implications The findings are limited to the public tertiary education building projects procured via competitive tendering; therefore, the results might differ when considering other procurement methods. Practical implications The practical implication is that rather than focusing on all risk factors, the project stakeholders could give adequate attention to the significant risk factors impacting each of the parameters for measuring the success of education building projects. Originality/value The study revealed specific risk factors impacting the criteria for measuring the success of TEBP, which extend beyond the use of the overall project performance approach.

scholarly journals A Retrospective Analysis of System Engineering Data Collection Metrics for a 3D Printed UAS Design

2019 ◽  
Vol 153 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Simon W Miller ◽  
Michael A Yukish ◽  
Meghan E Hoskins ◽  
Lorri A Bennett ◽  
Eric J Little
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Retrospective Analysis ◽  
System Engineering ◽  
Engineering Data ◽  
3D Printed

scholarly journals Liability In Conducting Tests

1998 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy J. Leonard
Keyword(s):  
Data Sheet ◽  
Building Code ◽  
Materials Testing ◽  
Testing Laboratory ◽  
Raw Data ◽  
Design Information ◽  
Laboratory Results ◽  
Forensic Engineering ◽  
Project File ◽  
Building Project

Instead Of Earning A Small Fee On A Building Project, A Materials Testing Laboratory Can Instead Become Involved In Litigation Which Could Cost It And Its Liability Insurers An Amount Many Times The Fee. But More Than This, There Could Also Be An Infinitely Greater Amount Of Time Spent Defending The Firm Than Was Ever Spent In Performing The Tests. In The Majority Of Cases The Tests Are Performed To Either Supply Design Information Or Monitor Compliance With Project Specifications And/Or Building Code Requirements. However, If Problems Develop And Litigation Begins, Then The Project File Information Becomes Evidence Of What Took Place On The Project. In Some Cases, However, The Laboratory Is Employed After Litigation Has Begun, Or The Probability Of A Lawsuit Is High, And The Testing Is Performed To Provide Evidence. In Any Event, The Results Of These Tests Are Taken As Essential Facts Which Will Be Reviewed By The Attorneys And Their Forensic Engineering Experts. Sometimes The Technicians Or Managers Of The Firm Providing These Field Or Laboratory Results Will Be Deposed, And Every Raw Data Sheet, Report And Log In The File May Be Examined In Great Detail By The Various Parties. If One Error Is Found, It May Be Contended That There May Be Other Errors Which Have Not Been Found Yet. If It Develops That Any Errors Or Suspected Errors Were Made, Then The Laboratory May Become Party To The Lawsuit.

scholarly journals Forensic Engineering Determination Of who Was Driving

2011 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey D. Armstrong
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Kinematic Analysis ◽  
Vehicle Crashes ◽  
Passenger Compartment ◽  
Crash Data ◽  
Physical Evidence ◽  
Forensic Engineering ◽  
Witness Statements

The Investigation Of Vehicle Crashes Occasionally Presents A Question Of Who Was Driving A Vehicle At the Time Of A Collision. Many Accidents Result In Drivers And Passengers Being Thrown About The Passenger compartment, Or Being Completely Ejected From Their Vehicle. In Such Cases, Driver, Passenger, And witness Statements Are Often In Conflict With One Another; Especially When The Driver Could Potentially be Charged With A Crime, Or Be Held Liable For Damages Resulting From A Crash. In Many Cases, Physical evidence Can Provide The Forensic Engineer With Information To Conduct A Proper Reconstruction Of The crash, To Perform An Occupant Kinematic Analysis, And To Make A Determination And Render An Opinion regarding Who Was Driving The Vehicle At The Time Of The Crash.  this Paper Will Address Methodologies For Data Collection And Crash Reconstruction That Can Be Used in Determining Who Was Driving A Vehicle At The Time Of A Crash. It Will Include Instruction To The At-Scene investigator As To Data That Can Be Helpful In Such Analyses And Determinations. Two Case Studies Will Be presented In Which The Author Analyzed The Crash Data To Determine Who Was Driving.

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