Forensic Engineer
By: Suzanna Donato
Biotechnical Engineering
Mr. Sneed
October 22, 2012
What is Forensics
• Scientific tests or techniques used in the
investigation of crimes.
What Skills are Required
• In order to prepare useful reports and give
reliable testimony, it is important to have
excellent writing and speaking skills.
• Anyone considering a career in forensic
engineering should have excellent critical
thinking skills and a working knowledge of the
legal system and procedures.
What Duties are Performed
• Forensic Engineers apply scientific
methodology to investigate the failures of
materials, components, products and
structures. Forensic Engineers often are used
in product liability cases, a type of civil court
case, and, occasionally, criminal cases, to
investigate and testify about the source of a
product's, design's or object's failure.
What Education is Required
• To become a Forensic Engineer, you'll need at
least a 4-year degree in engineering.
• In addition to the required education, you
need to become a licensed engineer in the
state in which you are employed; require
several years of experience and culminate in
the successful completion of the Principles
and Practice of Engineering exam.
What is the Area of Specialization
• Forensic Engineers often are used in product
liability cases, a type of civil court case, and,
occasionally, criminal cases, to investigate and
testify about the source of a product's, design's
or object's failure.
• Forensic Engineers are usually called upon to
isolate the specific reason or reasons a product,
device or substance failed in order to improve the
longevity or performance of the product or to
improve its safety profil
Conclusion Questions
1. How does an engineer contribute to the world of forensics?
- An engineer contributes to the world of forensics by creating useful
machines and gadgets that can be used in investigating a crime scene
2. List the forensic technology created by or impacted by engineers?
- Forensic Technology created the Integrated Ballistics Identification System
(IBIS) in 1991. IBIS technology can find the “needle in the haystack”,
suggesting possible matches between pairs of spent bullets and cartridge
cases, at speeds well beyond human capacity, in order to help forensic
experts give detectives more timely information about crimes, guns, and
suspects.
3. How does an engineer work with forensic scientists and forensic
technicians?
- Engineers work with forensic scientists and technicians by creating useful
gadgets or determining why a machine or structure failed and how it
pertained to the crime