lebanese american university CIE 434

school of engineering The Civil Engineering Profession 2 credits

ipsa scientia potestas est
department of civil engineering October 30th, 2017 Selina
6:00 to 6:50 pm Open Book Korban
Midterm CORRECTION Dr. G. Karam, Sec 31, 32 FL 2017
Dr. N. Sfeir, Sec 33

1. ASCE Code of Ethics (40%)

Situational Question
Your cousin introduces you to his friend Sami who graduated ten years ago from LAU and who is
looking to hire civil engineers for his company in Iraq.

He offers you the job of a project manager on a bridge construction project; when you express your
concern about not having the required experience or background he laughs and tells you that it does not
matter, all you have to do is to beef up your CV with a list of fictitious projects and he will get you
approved by the officials in the Basra Governorate. And not to worry once you are appointed, all you
will have to do is sign the paperwork you are asked to sign.

He then brags about how he registered a contracting company and got it qualified in Basra by just
creating a web site and filling it with previous projects and expertise copied from the websites of
various international bridge construction companies and that he obtained falsified project completion
certificates from Nigeria and Ghana to complete his file.

When you express your serious worries about him getting caught and going to jail in Iraq, he whispers
to you that El Hajj Abbas the son in law of the Governor is his silent partner to whom he pays 30%
gross of all the company’s income and El Hajj takes good care of the government officials and
everything else.

a) Sami is offering you a salary of $4,000USD per month, do you take the job or do you ask
for more money? (15%)
Whereas you may be tempted to accept, or even to greedily ask for more money such
as 10 or $20,000USD per month, your answer should be to avoid any unethical or
illegal activity.

b) After taking CIE 434, what would your answer be and what parts of which Canons of the
ASCE Code of Ethics may cover your situation if you take the job and Sami’s activities?
Detail your answer.(25%)

You should decline the job as you will be violating ASCE canons of ethics more
specifically:

Canon 1 Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and shall strive
to comply with the principles of sustainable development in the performance of their professional
duties.
a. Engineers shall recognize that the lives, safety, health and welfare of the general public are dependent
upon engineering judgments, decisions and practices incorporated into structures, machines, products,
processes and devices.
b. Engineers shall approve or seal only those design documents, reviewed or prepared by them, which are
determined to be safe for public health and welfare in conformity with accepted engineering standards.
c. Engineers whose professional judgment is overruled under circumstances where the safety, health and
welfare of the public are endangered, or the principles of sustainable development ignored, shall inform
their clients or employers of the possible consequences.
d. Engineers who have knowledge or reason to believe that another person or firm may be in violation of
any of the provisions of Canon 1 shall present such information to the proper authority in writing and shall
cooperate with the proper authority in furnishing such further information or assistance as may be required.

Note: Please write clearly and legibly and let your work reflect only your personal effort.
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Canon 2 Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence.

a. Engineers shall undertake to perform engineering assignments only when qualified by education or
experience in the technical field of engineering involved.
b. Engineers may accept an assignment requiring education or experience outside of their own fields of
competence, provided their services are restricted to those phases of the project in which they are qualified.
All other phases of such project shall be performed by qualified associates, consultants, or employees.
control.
c. Engineers shall not affix their signatures or seals to any engineering plan or document dealing with
subject matter in which they lack competence by virtue of education or experience or to any such plan or
document not reviewed or prepared under their supervisory
Canon 5 Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall
not compete unfairly with others.
a. Engineers shall not give, solicit or receive either directly or indirectly, any political contribution, gratuity,
or unlawful consideration in order to secure work, exclusive of securing salaried positions through
employment agencies.
b. Engineers should negotiate contracts for professional services fairly and on the basis of demonstrated
competence and qualifications for the type of professional service required.
d. Engineers shall not falsify or permit misrepresentation of their academic or professional qualifications or
experience.
Canon 6 Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor, integrity, and
dignity of the engineering profession and shall act with zero tolerance for bribery, fraud, and
corruption.
a. Engineers shall not knowingly engage in business or professional practices of a fraudulent, dishonest or
unethical nature.
b. Engineers shall be scrupulously honest in their control and spending of monies, and promote effective use
of resources through open, honest and impartial service with fidelity to the public, employers, associates and
clients.
c. Engineers shall act with zero-tolerance for bribery, fraud, and corruption in all engineering or
construction activities in which they are engaged.
d. Engineers should be especially vigilant to maintain appropriate ethical behavior where payments of
gratuities or bribes are institutionalized practices.
e. Engineers should strive for transparency in the procurement and execution of projects. Transparency
includes disclosure of names, addresses, purposes, and fees or commissions paid for all agents facilitating
projects.

2. Registration and licensure in Civil Engineering (40%)

(a) What is the purpose of engineering registration/licensure in any country? (10%)

The objectives of engineering registration licensure are:

1-Protection of the Public safety, welfare and wellbeing
2-Quality control of the services offered
3-Regulation of the profession (definitions, qualifications, numbers,
responsibilities, legal issues, protection of the local market)
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(b) Compare the conditions of Licensure in Ontario, Canada (attached) with those in the USA and
those of Lebanon. (20%)

Lebanon USA Ontario, CA

 Acceptable  Engineering degree from an  Hold an undergraduate
engineering degree to ABET accredited college engineering degree from a
the Order of Canadian Engineering
Engineers and the Accreditation board
Ministry of (CEAB)-accredited
Education and Higher program, or possess
Education equivalent equivalent qualifications,
to the 5yrs diploma and, if required, successfully
of the Lebanese complete any technical
University exams
 Passing the Fundamentals of
Engineering (FE) exam
 Four years of training  Four years work experience
(Engineer in Training) in at least one of which must
engineering positions of be acquired in a Canadian
gradually increasing jurisdiction under a licensed
responsibility under the professional engineer
supervision of PE
 Presenting the required
training reports to the state
licensure board
 Passing an entrance  Passing the Principles and  Passing the PEO’s
exam (planned but Practice of Engineering Professional Practice
not yet administered) (PE) exam Examination (PPE).
 Having a clean  be at least 18 years old
criminal record  be of good character
 Being a Lebanese for
more than 10yrs
 Maintain registration  Maintain registration by  Maintain registration by
by paying yearly fees paying yearly fees paying yearly fees
 Maintain qualifications by  Maintain qualifications by
continuous education / continuous education /
professional development professional development
hours (PDH) hours (PDH)

http://www.peo.on.ca/index.php/ci_id/2057/index.php?ci_id=2057&la_id=1#requirements

(c) What is the key difference between the North American conditions and those of Lebanon, and how
is the Order or Engineers in Lebanon planning to address it? (10%)

Three key differences:

-Entrance/Qualifier exams in USA/Canada; Lebanon is planning to administer one.
-Required training period in USA/Canada; Lebanon has not considered one yet (Lawyers
have a two years training period “stage”)
-Continuous education requirement in USA/Canada; none in Lebanon!
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3. Civil Engineering Specialties (20%)

(a) Describe what type of professional assignments a Civil Engineer who specializes in Forensic
Engineering would be carrying (10%)

ASCE:
Forensic engineering is the application of engineeringprinciples to the investigation of
failures or other performance problems. Forensic engineering also involves testimony
on the findings of these investigations before a court of law or other judicial forum, when
required.

Columbia University:
Engineering investigation and determination of the causes of structural failures of
buildings, bridges and other constructed facilities, as well as rendering opinions and
giving testimony in judicial proceedings, often referred to as Forensic Structural
Engineering, has become a field of professional practice of its own in the US. With rapid
economic development, increased design sophistication, more-and-more daring
construction technology and accelerated project delivery came the proliferation of
structural failures throughout the world. Several countries are reviewing and/or
streamlining technical, business, and legal procedures modeled on US practices - with
both their advantages and faults - which require expert consultants/witnesses in both the
forensic investigation and in the ensuing dispute resolution.

(b) List the courses that your current undergraduate program may contain information, material, and
tools that you would use in the forensic analysis of the failure of a reinforced concrete building.
(10%)

All courses related to the design and analysis of structural and materials behavior
including:
 Construction Materials
 Stress Analysis
 Structural Analysis
 Concrete Design
 Foundation Engineering
 Steel Structures

In case the failure investigated is caused by water then Fluid Mechanics and
Hydraulics would also be involved.