Engineering Ethics: The Big Dig Tunnel Ceiling Collapse (Ohio Timed & Monitored Video)

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

To meet the Ohio Board's intent that online courses be "paced" by the provider, a timer will be used to record your study time. You will be unable to access the quiz until the required study time of 103 minutes has been met.

Credit: 2 PDH

Duration: 103 minutes

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 webinar, 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:

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 webinar valuable lessons learned from the Big Dig tunnel ceiling collapse that you can apply to your own professional practice.

Get ready for the full story about the incident and be prepared to discuss how this story affects us all.

This video is a recording of a live webinar training session. As a recording of a live event, you will hear the discussion that occurred between the instructor and those who attended this webinar.

Special Note: Course ET-1036, ET-2035V, and webinar ET-2042W 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.
• Explain the project-execution issues and cost overruns associated with the Big Dig.
• Summarize the ceiling design and fabrication details.
• Explain why the ceiling failed even though the anchor loads were well within the load capacities stated in the manufacturer’s specifications.
• Describe why specifying creep resistance for epoxy used in structural systems is critical.
• Identify the warning signs evident before the accident and explain why they were not heeded.
• Explain why post-construction inspections did not detect the problems before the failure.
• Describe the importance of redundancy in structural engineering designs.
• Explain the importance of testing and verifying manufacturers’ specifications and understanding the properties of the materials used.