Professional Ethics

By

Muhammad Haris Khan 1819

Submitted To

Sir Shahid Kamal

Department of Civil Engineering

ABASYN University, Islamabad,
Pakistan 2021
Assignment # 2

Case study # 1:

During quality control visit in a remote village, it has been found that a building is being constructed on
the bank of a river and it will be damaged due to flood. Approximately 25% of the construction was
completed. The survey was done by your friend with the consent of the local people. However, the
quality of construction was as per the specification. Your job is limited to control the quality of building
only. Discuss the case and recommend your views on whether to continue the construction or not.

Answer:

While constructing a building various specifications including the area of construction should be kept in
mind. In this case the building is going to be constructed on the bank of river having high threat of
destruction due to flood. Although the quality of construction was as per specifications but the
environmental factor was not taken into account in the survey done by local people.

During quality control visit since it is found that the destination of the building is not suitable and
approximately 25 percent construction is completed so the ethical and moral duty of the quality control
team is to inform the owner about the unfavorable area of construction and its impacts. In my opinion
construction should be immediately ended as in future it will lead to the threats of lives due to natural
disaster (flood).

Case study # 2:

Client came to a designer and asked to design a multistoried building. The soil type of the proposed site
was found not suitable for that type of structure. The designer hesitated to design the building. The
client said that he actually was not going to build that structure. He wanted to collect money from
outside sources showing that designed as a proposal for his venture and wanted to utilize that money in
other business. Explain the roles of the client and the designer in the perspective of professional ethics.

Answer:

In the above stated case moral and ethical role of client is to inform the outside sources about the
unfavourability of designing two story building in that particular soil and be sincere and honest to his
investors. But the client is not acting according to principles of ethics and is trying to cheat the outside
sources in order to collect money from them.

The designer should follow professional ethics by not designing the proposed two story building as the
soil is unfavourable.The moral and ethical duty of the designer is to refuse the client and if possible
inform the investor.
Case Study # 3:

A number of cracks, structural as well as settlement appeared in a building designed by an engineer

within two years of its completion. Municipality had approved the design and drawing. Later it is found
that without any soil investigation, structural design and detailing of reinforcement report had been
prepared during the construction of the building.

a) Discuss the position of the house owner.

b) The engineer’s role.

c) The role of the Municipality

d) Who is ultimately responsible for the damage?

Answer:

A. Since the owner was unaware of the consideration of basic elements of construction I.e. Soil
investigation, structural design but now the owner has to find solution. The owner must contact
engineer to Check for Stability of Building by Nondestructive testing (NDT).

B. The role of the engineer is to examine and investigate the soil condition before Construction but in
this case the Construction is already completed. Now the engineer has to go for testing, analysis and
evaluation of the results, based on that he has to Consult Structural team for another solutions like retro
fitting etc.

C. When a building design or construction does not comply with the Building Code Act or the Building
Code regulation, municipal building Committee can issue an order to enforce compliance. If the orders
are not followed, municipalities can prosecute individuals including building owners but in this case the
design and drawing was approved by the municipality so here the role of municipality is negligible.

D. In the above stated case the owner, Engineer and the municipality all are responsible for the cracks as
well a settlement in the building. Although the municipality's role is negligible in this case, as the
Construction is already completed and the municipality after Construction is not responsible for such
mistakes but it is the duty of the municipality before Construction that the permission must not be
granted before taking into accounts the soil testing and analyzing structural design.

Case Study # 4:

Engineer Mohit was appointed as an engineer by District Development Committee (DDC) of Nuwakot.
He was assigned an alignment survey for a proposed road connecting A VDC to B VDC. He went for
alignment survey and completed his task. During survey, he used his

Professional skill and knowledge. After alignment survey, a group of Peoples’ Hak Party (PHP) protested
at DDC stating that (a) Engineer Mohit has touched his 5 Ropanis of land through proposed road
alignment to increase value of his land and (b) Engineering Mohit also included in his alignment survey a
small piece of land of Mr. Ranabir because of his personal conflict with Ranabir some 10 year ago. On
these grounds the alignment survey shall be discarded and need a survey and also need to act against
Engineer Mohit.

Answer the following questions using adequate reference.

a) What Engr. Mohit should have done?

b) What the DDC should do?

c) Did Engr. Mohit abused his position and authority?

Answer:

A.Engineer Mohit should have followed ethical standards while performing his duty. He should keep his
personal life separated from his professional life and does not revenge somebody by using his power
and authority.

B.DDC should review the aligned survey proposed by Eng. Mohit by hiring another engineer who has no
connection with the people and land of that area. DDC himself should take part in investigation of the
allegation against Engineer Mohit to resolve the matter without any bias.

C.If the allegations against Engineer Mohit are proved than it is obvious that he has abused his position
and authority for tanking revenge.