Engineering Ethics: The Big Dig Tunnel Ceiling Collapse

In Engineering Ethics: The Big Dig Tunnel Ceiling Collapse, you'll learn ...

• What caused the Big Dig tunnel ceiling collapse
• Multiple errors, oversights and missed opportunities that preceded the collapse
• Roles and responsibilities of the engineers involved in the accident as they relate to public safety, structural design and project management
• Lessons learned from this tragedy that you can apply to your own professional practice

Overview

Preview a portion of this course before purchasing it.

Credit: 1 PDH

Length: 24 pages

The Big Dig ceiling collapse occurred on July 10, 2006, when a concrete ceiling panel and debris weighing 26 short tons (24,000 kg) and measuring 20 by 40 feet (6.1 by 12.2 m) fell in Boston's D Street portal, just west of the Ted Williams Tunnel. The panel fell on a car traveling on the two-lane ramp connecting northbound I-93 to eastbound I-90, killing a passenger and injuring the driver. Investigation and repair of the collapse caused a section of the Big Dig project to be closed for almost a full year, causing chronic traffic backups in the Boston area.

In this course, you’ll learn the root cause of the ceiling collapse, as well as the numerous mistakes, oversights and missed opportunities that contributed to the disaster.

The tragedy of the Big Dig Tunnel Collapse serves as a reminder of our obligation to the public as stated in Canon 1 of the ASCE Code of Ethics:

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.

One of the best ways that we can honor the memory of victims of engineering disasters is by learning from them so that future tragedies can be avoided. You’ll take away from this course valuable lessons learned from the Big Dig tunnel ceiling collapse that you can apply to your own professional practice.

Special Note: Course ET-1036 and webinar ET-2026W are alternate presentations of the same course material. Therefore, only one version, either the course or webinar, can be taken during a renewal cycle. If you have any questions regarding course eligibility, please contact our Customer Service Team.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe the purpose and scope of the Big Dig project.
• Identify project execution issues and cost overruns associated with the Big Dig.
• Explain the ceiling design and fabrication details.
• Analyze why the ceiling failed even though the anchor loads were within the load capacities stated in the manufacturer's specifications.
• Explain why creep resistance must be specified for epoxy used in structural systems.
• Identify warning signs that were evident before the accident and explain why they were not heeded.
• Analyze why post-construction inspections did not detect the problems before the failure.
• Explain the importance of redundancy in structural engineering designs.
• Evaluate the importance of testing and verifying manufacturers' specifications and understanding the properties of materials used in structural systems.

Certificate of Completion

You will be able to immediately print a certificate of completion after passing a multiple-choice quiz consisting of 10 questions. PDH credits are not awarded until the course is completed and quiz is passed.