What Does a Forensic Engineer Do?
To put it simply, forensic engineering is the application of engineering principles and science used in the investigation of failure, more specifically, the failure of a machine, component, material or structure. A lot of times, people think of it as reverse engineering, as these applications are used to uncover why something went wrong or stopped working. Reports provided by forensic engineers are used in matters involving injury or property damage, such as a building collapse, a sprinkler failure, or a machine malfunction causing injury. Many times, these findings are also used in court to help settle a case or a claim. When this happens, the engineer will be deposed to offer testimony as to why the failure occurred. In addition, engineers are tasked with investigating catastrophic damages following hurricanes and floods, earthquakes, explosions and large fires. While the field of forensic engineering is broad, it can be narrowed down and specified by discipline, such as mechanical, electrical, structural, or fire-related failures, for example.
Types of Forensic Engineering
There are many types of forensic engineering experts, from biomechanical, to metallurgy, to geotechnical. At Envista, we have forensic engineers and experts that offer expertise to legal and insurance professionals surrounding:
- Accident Reconstruction
- Biomechanics
- Biosciences and Healthcare
- Civil Failures
- Construction Defects
- Electrical Failure Analysis
- Energy and Renewable System Failures
- Geotechnical Analysis
- Mechanical Failure Analysis
- Materials Analysis
- Structural Failures
In addition, Envista also employs experts in a number of fields such as:
- Builder’s Risk/Course of Construction
- Cyber Security and Incident Response
- Digital Forensics
- Equipment Loss Consulting
- Fire and Explosion Investigation
- Inland and Ocean Marine Investigation
What is forensic engineering, and how is it used?
Envista engineers will apply scientific principles to investigate failures in structures, machines, or products. It’s used in legal cases, insurance claims, and safety analysis. Common areas include building collapses, electrical failures, fires, and defective products. The goal is to find the cause of failure and help prevent future incidents.
What does a forensic engineer do in an investigation?
During an investigation, an Envista expert will inspect the scene/evidence, collect data, analyze/inspect the failure, identify root cause and conclusions, prepare the report, and provide it to the client. Expert testimony and testifying in court will occur if needed.
How do forensic engineers help in legal and insurance cases?
Envista engineers assist in legal and insurance cases by analyzing accidents or failures to determine the root cause of failure, whether from design flaws, material defects, or human error. They provide detailed expert reports, support or challenge legal claims, help insurers assess liability, and often testify in court to explain technical findings.
What types of failures do forensic engineers investigate?
Forensic engineers investigate a wide range of failures across various industries. Common types include: Structural Failures, such as collapses of buildings, bridges, etc., mechanical failures such as a machine or equipment malfunction, electrical failures like short circuits, fires, or equipment damage, material failures such as corrosion, or fatigue, fire and explosion incidents in homes, businesses, factories, or vehicles, product failures that cause injury or damage, transportation accidents, and environmental failures such as contamination or leaks.
