This blog post explores how forensic engineering—the fusion of law and engineering—strengthens the social safety net by identifying accident causes, preventing recurrence, and improving systems.
The term ‘forensic engineering’ may be unfamiliar to many. The combination of ‘law’ and ‘engineering’—two seemingly incompatible fields—might feel awkward. Forensic engineering, like forensic medicine, is a branch of forensic science. It is a discipline that contributes to legal proceedings by identifying the causes of incidents and accidents through engineering analysis. To clarify this somewhat ambiguous definition: If investigating the cause of an incident is the engineer’s job, and listening to testimony in court, providing expert advice, and determining legal liability is the legal professional’s job, then investigating the cause of an incident and providing legal advice is precisely the job of the forensic engineer. If engineering involves deeply analyzing a given task, predicting failure through material behavior, and designing reliability, forensic engineering finds the cause of failure from an incident that has already occurred, analyzes it in depth, and makes it usable as crucial evidence in court.
The history and development of forensic engineering are highly fascinating. Forensic engineering emerged as a discipline in the late 19th century, born from the fusion of engineering technology—which rapidly advanced alongside the Industrial Revolution—and law. Initially focused primarily on investigating industrial accidents, its scope gradually expanded, leading to its application across diverse fields. Modern forensic engineering plays a crucial role in resolving complex cases by integrating specialized knowledge from various engineering disciplines such as architecture, mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering.
The primary functions of forensic engineering can be divided into three categories. First, because forensic engineering can apply state criminal jurisdiction, it can impose penalties on responsible parties through scientific investigation. For example, on February 17, 2014, an accident occurred at the Mauna Ocean Resort gymnasium in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea, where the roof collapsed during a welcome party for new students of Pusan University of Foreign Studies. Under the Building Act, Gyeongju City required the building to be constructed to withstand a snow load of 50 kg/m², but at the time of the accident, the building was subjected to a snow load of 114 kg/m². Had the building been constructed according to the design plans, it was expected to withstand this load. However, the investigation revealed illegal construction practices, including the use of low-strength materials for the gymnasium’s roof and columns, and arbitrary changes to the blueprints without review by a licensed structural engineer. Consequently, arrest warrants were requested for six individuals, including the resort manager and those responsible for the substandard construction.
Another crucial role of forensic engineering is cultivating experts through education and training. Since forensic engineers must possess legal knowledge beyond mere technical expertise, programs educating them are vital. These educational programs include not only degree courses offered by universities but also continuing education courses for professionals already active in the field. Through this, forensic engineers continuously learn the latest technologies and legal changes, developing the ability to apply this knowledge to real-world cases.
Furthermore, by investigating causes through incidents and accidents and compiling statistics, they can help prevent future accidents. Following the Mauna Ocean Resort gymnasium collapse incident, snow load standards for buildings were strengthened nationwide, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced it would review building standards regarding extreme weather events to improve the system. Strengthening building standards can prevent future safety accidents, such as building collapses.
Forensic engineering also plays a crucial role in fulfilling social responsibilities. Forensic engineers contribute to maintaining societal safety and order by uncovering the causes of various incidents and accidents and taking legal action based on their findings. This goes beyond merely identifying accident causes; it plays a vital role in elevating the overall safety level of society.
Finally, forensic engineering expertise can assist in civil disputes and contribute to insurance claims for losses caused by disasters. In litigation, one must present their case using objective data and counter the opposing party’s arguments. Here, forensic engineering expertise can help win lawsuits by utilizing objective and crucial scientific evidence.
Some may question whether it is necessary to create a distinct discipline called forensic engineering by combining law and engineering. However, even with the same scientific evidence, different engineers may interpret it differently. Consequently, the outcome of a lawsuit can vary depending on which evidence is used and how it is presented. Therefore, the discipline of forensic engineering, which integrates these two fields, is necessary to achieve the best possible outcome in litigation.
It is said that forensic engineering is about learning new production from destruction. While preventing accidents is ideal, the greatest significance of forensic engineering lies in accurately identifying the cause of an accident, punishing those responsible, raising vigilance, and strengthening safety standards to prevent further harm. South Korea reportedly has the highest proportion of safety accidents among all causes of death among OECD countries. Recently, major safety accidents like the ‘Mauna Ocean Resort Gymnasium Collapse’ and the ‘Sewol Ferry Disaster’ have occurred frequently. It is now time to break free from complacency about safety, maintain constant vigilance, and prevent accidents. It is expected that forensic engineering will enable more systematic development.
The future of forensic engineering is even brighter. Alongside advancements in cutting-edge technology, new research and techniques continue to be developed within the field of forensic engineering. Accident cause prediction through artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analysis, along with on-site investigations using the latest equipment like drones, are significantly enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of forensic engineering. These technological advancements will help forensic engineers analyze incidents more swiftly and accurately, enabling better legal measures. Furthermore, through international cooperation, forensic engineers from various countries can share knowledge and collaborate, contributing to raising global safety standards.
