Forensic Engineering: Environmental Case Histories for Civil Engineers and Geologists

This book explores these and many other related subjects. This book will be of great value to expert witnesses in liability suits resulting from flood, erosion, landslide, mudslide, or other types of natural hazard-related damage. It clearly explains the needs of an expert, the relationship of the expert to the client and the attorney, the challenges to face, and the proper orientation as an expert. Through a variety of case studies, the book illustrates investigative techniques, case and data presentation to prove "reasonableness" or "unreasonableness" of conduct and "causation."

Adequacy of emergency procedures for evacuation and street closures in an area designed for and designated as a retention basinNecessity of the purchase or condemnation of flood-threatened properties due to partial blockage of a canyon by a previous landslideWidsom of providing qualified and objective engineering and geologic input to the land use planning in environmentally hazardous areas

Forensic Investigations: A Growth Industry. Introduction to Case Histories. Malibu Landslide: Massive Litigation. Utah Landslide: Rural Slides Can Be Devastating, Too. Abalone Cove Landslide: Mitigation Instead of Litigation. Flooding within a Flood Plain while the Sun Was Shining. Flooding Outside a Flood Plain: Was It Really a Flood? Fire-Flood Sequence: A Deadly Combination. Land Subsidence on a Large Scale: Dire Consequences. River Morphology: Mining versus Agriculture. An Overview. Glossary. References. Index.