ethics in engineering: a civil approach

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ETHICS IN ENGINEERING: A CIVIL APPROACH
Adam Bottenfield (asb121@pitt.edu)
greener, more sustainable energy supply is clearly a good
thing, while endangering the public’s safety and using
exorbitant amounts of taxpayer dollars on an untested
technology is risky to say the least. Taylor is faced with an
ethical dilemma that many engineers could one day face in
real life. As engineers, our job is to abide by a strict code of
ethics and, although the choice isn’t always clear, make a
decision that impacts potentially thousands of people.
AN ETHICAL DILEMMA
James Taylor, a senior civil engineer working for the
Department of Transportation is on the verge of redefining the
way that infrastructure is built and the way energy is produced
in the United States. He has been an innovative leader in the
controversial new technology Solar Roadways for well over a
decade and has become the world’s foremost expert on the
technology. Although he has faced many setbacks, Taylor
finally has his opportunity to see his dream come to life. A
recent vote by the city council of Pittsburgh decided that, in
an effort to solve both its energy concerns and infrastructure
issues, concrete roads will now be replaced with the recently
developed Solar Roadway tiles.
The Solar Roadway technology, although brand new, has
huge potential to solve both the energy and infrastructure
crisis that the United States is currently facing. Met with
substantial skepticism, Solar Roadways are a viable
technology that could greatly alter the energy industry. So
what exactly is a Solar Roadway? It is a road or highway
constructed entirely of solar panel tiles that can be used to
harness solar energy and distribute it to nearby buildings and
structures. A loose definition of the technology is provided by
Michael Belfiore of Popular Mechanics. Belfiore writes,
“Solar Roadways are comprised of rugged hexagonal glass
plates in which are embedded solar cells, electronics, and
LEDs” [1]. The basic structure is hexagonal because it allows
each piece to snap into place adjacently with another piece,
making the solar roadway very customizable, which is
essential if one wishes to make a useable road out of the
material. The glass is necessary to let in solar radiation so that
the solar cells can operate to maximum efficiency, and Taylor
claims they are still strong enough to withstand the wearing
of motor vehicles constantly pressing down on it. Finally the
LED’s are powered by the solar cells and will be able to
display an image or signal that motorists should be aware of.
For example, instead of painting lines every few years on the
surface, the LED’s could easily display the lines at no cost.
Many have raised concerns over the strength of the glass
and whether it is safe for motor vehicles to drive over.
Although Taylor claims that the glass used to construct the
tiles is sufficiently strong, the glass hasn’t been fully tested
yet since the technology is so new. Also, the deadline to start
the project is fast-approaching so Taylor and his team do not
have time for further tests. In addition, Taylor knows that his
project will be extremely expensive, so much so that he
questions whether or not taxpayer dollars should be spent on
such a gamble of a technology. Taylor must decide whether
or not to continue with the project even though his decision
could have serious implications. On the one hand, creating a
Abiding by Codes of Ethics
When considering his decision, Taylor will have to take
into account multiple factors. Engineers around the world
abide by a certain code of ethics, whether it is one that is
specific to their profession or a more general one. This is
certainly something Taylor will have to consider when
deciding whether to implement Solar Roadways or not.
Probably the most respected engineering association, the
National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), puts out
their own code of ethics, consisting of several fundamental
canons. The first canon is the broadest of all, and Taylor’s
current circumstance could come into conflict with it. The
canon states that an engineer should “Hold paramount the
safety, health, and welfare of the public” [2]. Obviously, if
Taylor decides to go through with the project and it turns out
that the tiles are not as strong as previously thought, then he
puts the welfare and safety of the public in danger, directly
clashing with the first canon. According to the NSPE rules of
practice, “If engineers' judgment is overruled under
circumstances that endanger life or property, they shall notify
their employer or client and such other authority as may be
appropriate” [2]. This would lead Taylor to stop the project if
he had doubts about the integrity of the panels and notify his
superiors about the problem. Although this may damage his
reputation, it would also potentially stop a serious disaster
from occurring.
Taylor would not only put NSPE’s code of ethics into
consideration, but he must also take into consideration the
American Society of Civil Engineer’s code of ethics. One of
the principles of the ASCE says that an engineer should strive
to advance the engineering profession by: “using their
knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human welfare
and the environment” [3]. This principle poses a problem for
Taylor because it states that a civil engineer should be honest
and also enhance the environment. Taylor should be honest in
his uncertainty of the strength of the tiles, but if he chooses to
continue with the project, he will be greatly reducing the cities
impact on the environment. The dilemma only increases when
one considers that implementing the Solar Roadway
technology would basically eliminate most carbon emissions
1
University of Pittsburgh, Swanson School of Engineering
2014-08-28
Adam Bottenfield
from the city of Pittsburgh, increasing the cleanliness of the
city and the inhabitant’s health.
One such case, presented by the Department of
Philosophy and the Department of Mechanical Engineering at
Texas A&M, illustrates the need to pay great attention to
safety. The object of concern is a radio tower built by a
company called Antenna Engineering that collapsed due to
insufficiently sized bolts. One of the interesting facets of this
case is the “gray area” that develops when one considers who
is responsible. Is it the manufacturer of the materials because
they did not provide the workers with sufficiently sized bolts,
or is it the workers themselves for not realizing that the bolts
were not large for the task at hand? The paper poses the
questions: “Where does the responsibility of Antenna
Engineering end and Riggers begin? Should Antenna
Engineering have provided adequate hoisting lugs in their
original design?” [7]. Taylor would have to consider these
types of questions when constructing the Solar Roadway
because, although he didn’t design the original components of
the tiles, he would be the one putting them together and would
therefore bare some of the responsibility.
Another case study involves the fourth canon in the NSPE
code of ethics, which states that an engineer must “Act for
each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees” [2]. The
scenario is that an engineer hired by a landlord is aware of fire
code violations, but does not inform anyone because, in order
to be a “faithful agent” to his client, the engineer must
maintain a level of confidentiality. On the other hand, Beck,
the author of the case study, writes, “Professional engineers
have a fundamental obligation to act consistently with regard
to such requirements because of their impact on the public
health, safety, and welfare” [8]. It would seem that these
canons contradict each other in certain circumstances. On one
hand, an engineer is called to maintain confidentiality with
his/her client, while on the other hand an engineer must make
sure that the public is safe. If the engineer is then called to
withhold information that pertains to the public’s safety,
complications occur. When dealing with Solar Roadways,
Taylor could be forced to encounter this situation if the
Pittsburgh City Council requires him to continue the project
even though there are major safety concerns. In this instance,
Taylor would have to choose between keeping faith with his
client and the safety of the general public. One would think
that the safety of the public would outweigh the obligations to
the client, but it would be a difficult situation for any engineer
hoping to be hired in the future.
A third case study, written by the National Institute of
Engineering Ethics, deals with the licensing of engineers,
which is relevant to Taylor’s situation because the project he
is taking on is very large, so he will undoubtedly have to hire
additional engineers to aid him with the planning and
development of the Solar Roadways. As project manager,
Taylor will be in charge of hiring all engineers under him, so
he will need to make sure that each one is licensed in the state
of Pennsylvania. In this specific case study, an engineer works
without a license because he is called to help in a potentially
dangerous situation, where a clock tower is endangering
workers because it is leaning and could potentially fall [9].
A Practical Approach
Aside from the philosophical and moral approaches of
abiding by his profession’s code of ethics, Taylor could turn
to well-established research and real-world situations to help
him decide about his present dilemma. Numerous engineering
disasters have occurred that have been well documented, and
understanding the errors of other engineers can help prevent
any future disasters that could occur. For example, Steve
Starrett of the ASCE looked into a recent collapse of a
skywalk caused by failures on the part of the engineers.
Starrett determined that faulty connections were to blame, but
really the root of the problems stemmed from the engineers
determination to complete the project quickly without regard
to safety. Starrett then concluded that all engineering disasters
have a few ethical issues that were neglected. A few key
factors that apply to Taylor’s situation are: 1). “Financial
aspects contribute to most human-caused disasters” 2). “It is
common to find that shortcuts in regular procedures
contributed to a disaster” 3). “Design and construction errors
are a key factor in accidents” [4]. If Taylor considered these
findings, he would understand that taking shortcuts would be
a very dangerous option indeed, especially considering that
thousands of people would be using his Solar Roadways every
day.
Aside from safety, Taylor must also consider the cost of
the project he is undertaking. Taylor has an obligation to the
public to use their money wisely, and if the benefits of the
project do not outweigh the costs, then the project should not
be undertaken. According to Sunny Freeman of the
Huffington Post, Solar Roadway tiles cost around $70 per
square foot, whereas traditional asphalt cost anywhere
between $3-$15 per square foot [5]. Although this is a huge
difference in cost, the idea of free energy to Pittsburgh’s
citizens is very inviting. David Roberts of Grist sums up the
value of clean energy nicely when he states, “Think not just
about solar roadways, but more generally about the goal of
clean, abundant energy, economic renewal, and a livable
climate. What’s that worth?” [6]. Once again, Taylor would
have to be able to prove that the initial cost of constructing the
roads is negligible compared to the savings that would be a
result of the Solar Roadway.
Case Studies
Another way to determine the correct ethical approach to
Taylor’s situation is to look at a number of case studies. By
looking at both hypothetical and real-life cases, one can draw
connections to the Solar Roadway case and perhaps determine
the best course of action. Although the situations may not
directly relate to this specific case, many ethical concepts are
similar and therefore can be applied to other ethical
predicaments.
2
Adam Bottenfield
This case study shows the legal trouble that engineers can face
if they do not follow proper procedures, and Taylor will
certainly have multitudes of procedures to follow considering
the size of the engineering project that he is undertaking.
Although the legal procedures for this project would certainly
be overwhelming, Taylor would have to pay close attention to
them to make sure his project is being done in the right way.
A final case study, written by E. Karagianis, is perhaps the
most applicable to Taylor’s situation. It involves a structural
engineer who has been recently informed that a skyscraper
that he built has serious structural flaws. If the engineer
decides to do nothing, thousands of people are in danger. If
the engineer decides to take action and notify his superiors,
his professional reputation will be impacted negatively [10].
Taylor would face a similar situation if he decided to continue
on with his project and later find out that the Solar Roadway
tiles were not durable enough to withstand the wear of
constant motor traffic. Taylor would then be put in a difficult
situation, but according to the first canon of NSPE’s Code of
Ethics, Taylor would have a clear choice to make. He would
undoubtedly have to inform his superiors so as not to
endanger thousands of people’s safety.
lar-roadways-indiegogo_n_5416811.html
[6] D. Roberts. (2009). “Could We Replace the Nation’s
Pavement with Solar Panels?” Grist. (online article).
http://grist.org/article/2009-08-28-could-we-replace-roadsand-parking-lots-with-solar-panels/
[2] (2014). “NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers.”
National Society of Professional Engineers. (online journal).
http://www.nspe.org/resources/ethics/code-ethics
[3] (2014). “Code of Ethics.” American Society of Civil
Engineers. (online journal). http://www.asce.org/Ethics/Cod
e-of-Ethics/.
[4] S. Starrett. (2013). “Engineers Face Ethical
Dilemmas.” American Society of Civil Engineers. (online
article).
http://ascelibrary.org/doi/full/10.1061/%28ASCE%29LM.19
43-5630.0000213
[7] (1992). “Engineering Ethics”. Texas A&M University:
Department of Philosophy and Department of Mechanical
Engineering.(online journal).http://ethics.tamu.edu/Portals/3
/Case%20Studies/TVAntennaCollapse.pdf
[8] C. Beck, J. Branch. (2014). “Public Health and SafetyDelay in Addressing Fire Code Violations”. National Society
of
Professional
Engineers.
(online
journal).
http://www.nspe.org/sites/default/files/BER%20Case%20No
%2013-11-FINAL.pdf
[9] R. Bucknam. “The Leaning Tower: A Timely
Dilemma” National Institute for Engineering Ethics. (online
article).
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/murdoughcenter/products/cases.ph
p
[10] M. McFarland (2012). “Occidental Engineering”.
Online Ethics Center for Engineering and Science. (online
article).
http://www.onlineethics.org/Resources/Cases/OccidentalEng
.aspx
[1] M. Belfiore. (2014). “We Could Build a SolarPowered Roadway. But Will We?” PopularMechanics.
(online
article).
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/engineering/i
nfrastructure/we-could-build-a-solar-powered-roadway-butwill-we-16879565
CONCLUSIONS
It is clear from the multiple sources compiled that Taylor
has many angles to approach the problem from. Taylor must
take into account the canons of both NSPE’s and ASCE’s
code of ethics. When considering these, one could easily say
that Taylor should immediately stop the project now despite
that fact that it would hurt his reputation as an engineer.
However, one must also consider the great gains that could
be made by the Solar Roadway technology if it is to be
successful. If the Solar Roadway project turns out to be
successful, clean energy will be provided to the entire city of
Pittsburgh for free, reducing carbon emissions and
increasing the health of its citizens. When looking at other
real-life situations and case studies, the one aspect that
stands out that safety should always be taken extremely
seriously. This being said, if I were in Taylor’s situation, I
would inform the Pittsburgh city council that I would need
to perform further tests on the tiles so that I could ensure that
they could structurally withstand the wear of motor traffic.
This would also ensure that the taxpayer’s money isn’t
wasted on an unproven technology. In conclusion, the first
canon of NSPE’s code of ethics trumps other factors, such as
professional reputation and even the hope of clean, free
energy for the time being. Protecting the public’s welfare
should be taken seriously in all cases of engineering.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank Malik Snowden and John Loss for
helping me write my paper by staying up in Benedum all night
on Saturday, and slapping me in the face with soap when I fell
asleep so that I could get more work done.
REFERENCES
[5] S. Freeman. (2014). “Solar Roadways Spark Public's
Imagination, But Cost Could Be Barrier”. Huffington Post.
(online article). http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/05/30/so
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