Ans-1
To start off, I'd double-check my calculations to make sure everything adds up right and
there aren't any errors messing things up. After that, I'd run the design through the
simulation software to see if there are any red flags or failures popping up. I would have
discussion with my seniors or other civil engineers for their suggestions on this design.
Furthermore, I will research for the tower of the same designs and see for their failure, If
happened in previous years. I will try to contact other industry civil engineers, that have
worked on towers before, so we can discuss more about wind failure and how to tackle
wind-related issues.
Ans-2
My decision will be to prioritize safety over any other thing else. It is engineers’ ethical
responsibility to always consider safety first, rather than looking at budget of design or
commercial interests. Because at the last, if towers fail the engineer will be responsible for
it.
Three reasons for the best course of decision.
1. Ethics- My priority will be to ensure safety and follow standards to ensure that
towers are structurally safe as civil engineer. If I have encountered an error which
could lead to a failure and ignoring it will be the biggest failure of engineering ethics.
2. Long course- Engineer should consider any one failure will be considered in his
records for upcoming future projects, which can highly impact his career. So, he
shouldn’t ignore any errors which he encountered.
3. Risk assessment- Mitigating Risk such as in our case Fiona says to continue the
installation and ignore wind direction. We would still prioritise safety and to take in
account for oblique wind angles.
Ethically, I would defend this decision by always following standards, always making sure to
prioritize standards and will acknowledge extreme wind conditions for towers.
Ans-3
It won’t make a difference to my decision that Elexis are affixing the new antennae purely for
commercial benefits because commercial benefits should never compromise structural
safety of tower. Moreover, commercial benefits are good for success, but it will be long term
issue if tower fails which will lead to legal consequences costing fortunes.
Ans-4
Yes, it would make a huge difference to my decision if some of antennae will be erected near
residential area as it will be a bigger impact to human life and property damage. Moreover, it
will cost a lot for company to pay for those damages. Moreover, there's a substantial risk for
the engineer, not just financially through hefty fines, but also the potential for
imprisonment. The gravity of the situation extends beyond monetary consequences,
encompassing the serious responsibility of safeguarding human lives.
Ans-5
Responsibility for the tower failure would fall on the engineer who designed it and approved
it, which in our case is George Randall. Even though he must still get approval from her boss
Fiona, but he will be solely responsible for failure as he is the civil engineer of this project.
While in our case Fiona says to continue the installation and to ignore oblique wind direction
but still if tower fails civil engineer will be solely responsible as Fiona is going to retire in next
2 years so she won’t be around to take blame. Furthermore, civil engineer is responsible for
safety and to ensure structural integrity while following standards.