PASS 3: Temporal Dynamics
Case 9: Acknowledging Errors in Design
Timeline Overview
OWL-Time Temporal Structure 15 relations time: = w3.org/2006/time
Extracted Actions (7)
Volitional professional decisions with intentions and ethical contextDescription: Engineer T selected a straightforward structural modification approach requiring connections in a tightly constrained space beneath an upper floor and decided not to explore alternative design concepts.
Temporal Marker: Project scoping phase, at the start of the structural modifications project interval
Fluent Transitions:
- Constrained Access Design State
- Unexplored Safer Alternative State
Mental State: deliberate
Intended Outcome: Establish a straightforward, workable project scope for the structural modifications
Foreseen Unintended Effects:
- Constrained access for construction workers making the connections
Obligation Engagement:
- Competent Professional Design Obligation
Guided By Principles:
- Competence Principle
Required Capabilities:
Field classification (triples vs literals)
fulfillsObligation: Competent Professional Design ObligationguidedByPrinciple: Competence PrinciplerequiresCapability: Structural engineering design judgment; Project scopinginitiates: Constrained Access Design State; Unexplored Safer Alternative State
descriptioncontent: Engineer T selected a straightforward structural modification approach requiring connections in a tightly constrained space beneath an upper floor and decided not to explore alternative design concepts.hasAgentcontent: Engineer TtemporalMarkercontent: Project scoping phase, at the start of the structural modifications projecteventRoleContextcontent: Senior Structural Engineer, XYZ Consulting EngineershasMentalStatecontent: deliberateintendedOutcomecontent: Establish a straightforward, workable project scope for the structural modificationsforeseenUnintendedEffectscontent: Constrained access for construction workers making the connectionstextReferencescontent: In establishing the project scope for the structural modifications, Engineer T selected a straightforward approach that required making structural connections immediately beneath floor level on an upper floor, in a tightly constrained space.; Engineer T proceeded with the project per these parameters and did not explore alternative design approaches.temporalExtentcontent: intervaltemporalSequencecontent: 1withinCompetenceassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
{
"@context": {
"proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
"proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/9#",
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"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/9#Action_Design_Approach_Selection",
"@type": "proeth:Action",
"proeth:description": "Engineer T selected a straightforward structural modification approach requiring connections in a tightly constrained space beneath an upper floor and decided not to explore alternative design concepts.",
"proeth:eventRoleContext": "Senior Structural Engineer, XYZ Consulting Engineers",
"proeth:foreseenUnintendedEffects": [
"Constrained access for construction workers making the connections"
],
"proeth:fulfillsObligation": [
"Competent Professional Design Obligation"
],
"proeth:guidedByPrinciple": [
"Competence Principle"
],
"proeth:hasAgent": "Engineer T",
"proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate",
"proeth:initiates": [
"Constrained Access Design State",
"Unexplored Safer Alternative State"
],
"proeth:intendedOutcome": "Establish a straightforward, workable project scope for the structural modifications",
"proeth:raisesObligation": [],
"proeth:requiresCapability": [
"Structural engineering design judgment",
"Project scoping"
],
"proeth:temporalExtent": "interval",
"proeth:temporalMarker": "Project scoping phase, at the start of the structural modifications project",
"proeth:temporalSequence": 1,
"proeth:textReferences": [
"In establishing the project scope for the structural modifications, Engineer T selected a straightforward approach that required making structural connections immediately beneath floor level on an upper floor, in a tightly constrained space.",
"Engineer T proceeded with the project per these parameters and did not explore alternative design approaches."
],
"proeth:violatesObligation": [],
"proeth:withinCompetence": true,
"rdfs:label": "Design Approach Selection"
}
Description: Engineer T completed the design within the identified constraints, clearly noted the constrained access on the drawings, and issued construction documents for the modifications.
Temporal Marker: At design completion, before construction began instant
Fluent Transitions:
- Construction Documents Issued State
- Constrained Access Disclosed State
Mental State: deliberate
Intended Outcome: Deliver complete, professionally prepared construction documents that alert the contractor to the limited access condition
Foreseen Unintended Effects:
- Workers would have to make the connections in a contorted fashion
Obligation Engagement:
- Hold Paramount Public Safety Obligation
Guided By Principles:
- Public Safety Paramount Principle
- Competence Principle
Required Capabilities:
Field classification (triples vs literals)
fulfillsObligation: Hold Paramount Public Safety ObligationguidedByPrinciple: Public Safety Paramount Principle; Competence PrinciplerequiresCapability: Structural design documentation; Preparation of construction documentsinitiates: Construction Documents Issued State; Constrained Access Disclosed State
descriptioncontent: Engineer T completed the design within the identified constraints, clearly noted the constrained access on the drawings, and issued construction documents for the modifications.hasAgentcontent: Engineer TtemporalMarkercontent: At design completion, before construction beganeventRoleContextcontent: Senior Structural Engineer, XYZ Consulting EngineershasMentalStatecontent: deliberateintendedOutcomecontent: Deliver complete, professionally prepared construction documents that alert the contractor to the limited access conditionforeseenUnintendedEffectscontent: Workers would have to make the connections in a contorted fashiontextReferencescontent: Rather, Engineer T completed the design within the identified constraints and issued construction documents for the modifications.; The new structural connections were located in such a way that access was limited, and the drawings clearly noted the constrained access.temporalExtentcontent: instanttemporalSequencecontent: 2withinCompetenceassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
{
"@context": {
"proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
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"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/9#Action_Construction_Documents_Issuance",
"@type": "proeth:Action",
"proeth:description": "Engineer T completed the design within the identified constraints, clearly noted the constrained access on the drawings, and issued construction documents for the modifications.",
"proeth:eventRoleContext": "Senior Structural Engineer, XYZ Consulting Engineers",
"proeth:foreseenUnintendedEffects": [
"Workers would have to make the connections in a contorted fashion"
],
"proeth:fulfillsObligation": [
"Hold Paramount Public Safety Obligation"
],
"proeth:guidedByPrinciple": [
"Public Safety Paramount Principle",
"Competence Principle"
],
"proeth:hasAgent": "Engineer T",
"proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate",
"proeth:initiates": [
"Construction Documents Issued State",
"Constrained Access Disclosed State"
],
"proeth:intendedOutcome": "Deliver complete, professionally prepared construction documents that alert the contractor to the limited access condition",
"proeth:raisesObligation": [],
"proeth:requiresCapability": [
"Structural design documentation",
"Preparation of construction documents"
],
"proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
"proeth:temporalMarker": "At design completion, before construction began",
"proeth:temporalSequence": 2,
"proeth:textReferences": [
"Rather, Engineer T completed the design within the identified constraints and issued construction documents for the modifications.",
"The new structural connections were located in such a way that access was limited, and the drawings clearly noted the constrained access."
],
"proeth:violatesObligation": [],
"proeth:withinCompetence": true,
"rdfs:label": "Construction Documents Issuance"
}
Description: After the accident and site revisit, Engineer T met with Chief Structural Engineer B, explained the situation, and expressed the belief that a design error had been made and that the NSPE Code of Ethics required the error be acknowledged.
Temporal Marker: Following the accident and Engineer T's site revisit instant
Fluent Transitions:
- Error Acknowledgement Question Open State
Mental State: conscientious, motivated by felt personal responsibility
Intended Outcome: Determine whether the NSPE Code of Ethics required acknowledgement of a design error
Foreseen Unintended Effects:
- Potential professional and firm exposure from acknowledging an error
Obligation Engagement:
- Acknowledge Errors Obligation
- Personal Responsibility Obligation
Guided By Principles:
- Error Acknowledgement Principle
- Public Safety Paramount Principle
Required Capabilities:
Field classification (triples vs literals)
fulfillsObligation: Acknowledge Errors Obligation; Personal Responsibility ObligationguidedByPrinciple: Error Acknowledgement Principle; Public Safety Paramount PrinciplerequiresCapability: Ethical judgment; Professional self-assessmentinitiates: Error Acknowledgement Question Open State
descriptioncontent: After the accident and site revisit, Engineer T met with Chief Structural Engineer B, explained the situation, and expressed the belief that a design error had been made and that the NSPE Code of Ethics required the error be acknowledged.hasAgentcontent: Engineer TtemporalMarkercontent: Following the accident and Engineer T's site revisiteventRoleContextcontent: Senior Structural Engineer, XYZ Consulting EngineershasMentalStatecontent: conscientious, motivated by felt personal responsibilityintendedOutcomecontent: Determine whether the NSPE Code of Ethics required acknowledgement of a design errorforeseenUnintendedEffectscontent: Potential professional and firm exposure from acknowledging an errortextReferencescontent: Engineer T met with XYZ’s Chief Structural Engineer, Engineer B, explained the situation, and expressed a belief that a design error – i.e., not exploring alternative, safer design concepts – had been made and the NSPE Code of Ethics required that the error be acknowledged.temporalExtentcontent: instanttemporalSequencecontent: 5withinCompetenceassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
{
"@context": {
"proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
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"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/9#Action_Error_Concern_Raising",
"@type": "proeth:Action",
"proeth:description": "After the accident and site revisit, Engineer T met with Chief Structural Engineer B, explained the situation, and expressed the belief that a design error had been made and that the NSPE Code of Ethics required the error be acknowledged.",
"proeth:eventRoleContext": "Senior Structural Engineer, XYZ Consulting Engineers",
"proeth:foreseenUnintendedEffects": [
"Potential professional and firm exposure from acknowledging an error"
],
"proeth:fulfillsObligation": [
"Acknowledge Errors Obligation",
"Personal Responsibility Obligation"
],
"proeth:guidedByPrinciple": [
"Error Acknowledgement Principle",
"Public Safety Paramount Principle"
],
"proeth:hasAgent": "Engineer T",
"proeth:hasMentalState": "conscientious, motivated by felt personal responsibility",
"proeth:initiates": [
"Error Acknowledgement Question Open State"
],
"proeth:intendedOutcome": "Determine whether the NSPE Code of Ethics required acknowledgement of a design error",
"proeth:raisesObligation": [],
"proeth:requiresCapability": [
"Ethical judgment",
"Professional self-assessment"
],
"proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
"proeth:temporalMarker": "Following the accident and Engineer T\u0027s site revisit",
"proeth:temporalSequence": 5,
"proeth:textReferences": [
"Engineer T met with XYZ\u2019s Chief Structural Engineer, Engineer B, explained the situation, and expressed a belief that a design error \u2013 i.e., not exploring alternative, safer design concepts \u2013 had been made and the NSPE Code of Ethics required that the error be acknowledged."
],
"proeth:violatesObligation": [],
"proeth:withinCompetence": true,
"rdfs:label": "Error Concern Raising"
}
Description: After Engineer B set out reasons why no error acknowledgement was warranted, Engineer T and Engineer B jointly decided that the situation did not merit acknowledgement of an error.
Temporal Marker: During the meeting between Engineer T and Engineer B following the accident instant
Fluent Transitions:
- No Error Acknowledgement Position State
- Error Acknowledgement Question Open State
Mental State: deliberate, thoughtfully considered
Intended Outcome: Resolve whether the firm's design work constituted an error requiring acknowledgement under the NSPE Code
Foreseen Unintended Effects:
- The question of error would remain unaddressed unless raised again, such as in litigation
Guided By Principles:
- Error Acknowledgement Principle
- Competence Principle
Required Capabilities:
Field classification (triples vs literals)
guidedByPrinciple: Error Acknowledgement Principle; Competence PrinciplerequiresCapability: Ethical judgment; Knowledge of the professional standard of care; Understanding of contractual allocation of construction safety responsibilityinitiates: No Error Acknowledgement Position Stateterminates: Error Acknowledgement Question Open State
descriptioncontent: After Engineer B set out reasons why no error acknowledgement was warranted, Engineer T and Engineer B jointly decided that the situation did not merit acknowledgement of an error.hasAgentcontent: Engineer T and Engineer BtemporalMarkercontent: During the meeting between Engineer T and Engineer B following the accidenteventRoleContextcontent: Chief Structural Engineer, XYZ Consulting EngineershasMentalStatecontent: deliberate, thoughtfully consideredintendedOutcomecontent: Resolve whether the firm's design work constituted an error requiring acknowledgement under the NSPE CodeforeseenUnintendedEffectscontent: The question of error would remain unaddressed unless raised again, such as in litigationtextReferencescontent: Having thus thoughtfully considered the matter, both Engineer T and Engineer B decided that the situation did not merit acknowledgement of “an error.”temporalExtentcontent: instanttemporalSequencecontent: 6withinCompetenceassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
{
"@context": {
"proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
"proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/9#",
"rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
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"time": "http://www.w3.org/2006/time#"
},
"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/9#Action_Error_Acknowledgement_Decision",
"@type": "proeth:Action",
"proeth:description": "After Engineer B set out reasons why no error acknowledgement was warranted, Engineer T and Engineer B jointly decided that the situation did not merit acknowledgement of an error.",
"proeth:eventRoleContext": "Chief Structural Engineer, XYZ Consulting Engineers",
"proeth:foreseenUnintendedEffects": [
"The question of error would remain unaddressed unless raised again, such as in litigation"
],
"proeth:guidedByPrinciple": [
"Error Acknowledgement Principle",
"Competence Principle"
],
"proeth:hasAgent": "Engineer T and Engineer B",
"proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate, thoughtfully considered",
"proeth:initiates": [
"No Error Acknowledgement Position State"
],
"proeth:intendedOutcome": "Resolve whether the firm\u0027s design work constituted an error requiring acknowledgement under the NSPE Code",
"proeth:requiresCapability": [
"Ethical judgment",
"Knowledge of the professional standard of care",
"Understanding of contractual allocation of construction safety responsibility"
],
"proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
"proeth:temporalMarker": "During the meeting between Engineer T and Engineer B following the accident",
"proeth:temporalSequence": 6,
"proeth:terminates": [
"Error Acknowledgement Question Open State"
],
"proeth:textReferences": [
"Having thus thoughtfully considered the matter, both Engineer T and Engineer B decided that the situation did not merit acknowledgement of \u201can error.\u201d"
],
"proeth:withinCompetence": true,
"rdfs:label": "Error Acknowledgement Decision"
}
Description: XYZ's and the insurer's attorneys advised Engineer T to respond to deposition questions with complete transparency and not to distort or alter any facts, but not to voluntarily characterize the design work as an error, since the legal process would determine whether an error had been made.
Temporal Marker: Months later, during deposition preparation after a construction claim and lawsuit were filed interval
Fluent Transitions:
- Deposition Testimony Guidance State
Mental State: deliberate
Intended Outcome: Prepare Engineer T to testify truthfully while leaving the determination of error to the legal process
Foreseen Unintended Effects:
- Engineer T would not volunteer any acknowledgement of a possible error
Obligation Engagement:
- Not Distort or Alter Facts Obligation
Guided By Principles:
- Objectivity and Truthfulness Principle
Required Capabilities:
Field classification (triples vs literals)
guidedByPrinciple: Objectivity and Truthfulness PrinciplerequiresCapability: Legal judgment; Deposition preparationinitiates: Deposition Testimony Guidance StateraisesObligation: Not Distort or Alter Facts Obligation
descriptioncontent: XYZ's and the insurer's attorneys advised Engineer T to respond to deposition questions with complete transparency and not to distort or alter any facts, but not to voluntarily characterize the design work as an error, since the legal process would determine whether an error had been made.hasAgentcontent: Attorneys representing XYZ Consulting Engineers and XYZ's insurance companytemporalMarkercontent: Months later, during deposition preparation after a construction claim and lawsuit were filedagentscontent: Attorneys representing XYZ Consulting Engineers; XYZ's insurance companyagentRelationcontent: andhasMentalStatecontent: deliberateintendedOutcomecontent: Prepare Engineer T to testify truthfully while leaving the determination of error to the legal processforeseenUnintendedEffectscontent: Engineer T would not volunteer any acknowledgement of a possible errortextReferencescontent: Both of XYZ Consulting Engineers’ attorneys agreed that a clear obligation existed not to distort or alter any facts, and that Engineer T should respond to questions with complete transparency during the deposition.; The attorneys indicated that the legal process would determine whether, based on the facts, an error had been made, and that Engineer T should clearly report the facts, but should not voluntarily characterize the design work as an error.temporalExtentcontent: intervaltemporalSequencecontent: 8withinCompetenceassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
{
"@context": {
"proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
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},
"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/9#Action_Legal_Counsel_Advising",
"@type": "proeth:Action",
"proeth:agentRelation": "and",
"proeth:agents": [
"Attorneys representing XYZ Consulting Engineers",
"XYZ\u0027s insurance company"
],
"proeth:description": "XYZ\u0027s and the insurer\u0027s attorneys advised Engineer T to respond to deposition questions with complete transparency and not to distort or alter any facts, but not to voluntarily characterize the design work as an error, since the legal process would determine whether an error had been made.",
"proeth:foreseenUnintendedEffects": [
"Engineer T would not volunteer any acknowledgement of a possible error"
],
"proeth:fulfillsObligation": [],
"proeth:guidedByPrinciple": [
"Objectivity and Truthfulness Principle"
],
"proeth:hasAgent": "Attorneys representing XYZ Consulting Engineers and XYZ\u0027s insurance company",
"proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate",
"proeth:initiates": [
"Deposition Testimony Guidance State"
],
"proeth:intendedOutcome": "Prepare Engineer T to testify truthfully while leaving the determination of error to the legal process",
"proeth:raisesObligation": [
"Not Distort or Alter Facts Obligation"
],
"proeth:requiresCapability": [
"Legal judgment",
"Deposition preparation"
],
"proeth:temporalExtent": "interval",
"proeth:temporalMarker": "Months later, during deposition preparation after a construction claim and lawsuit were filed",
"proeth:temporalSequence": 8,
"proeth:textReferences": [
"Both of XYZ Consulting Engineers\u2019 attorneys agreed that a clear obligation existed not to distort or alter any facts, and that Engineer T should respond to questions with complete transparency during the deposition.",
"The attorneys indicated that the legal process would determine whether, based on the facts, an error had been made, and that Engineer T should clearly report the facts, but should not voluntarily characterize the design work as an error."
],
"proeth:violatesObligation": [],
"proeth:withinCompetence": true,
"rdfs:label": "Legal Counsel Advising"
}
Description: In the deposition, Engineer T responded factually to all questions regarding the design and the design process.
Temporal Marker: At the deposition, after deposition preparation interval
Fluent Transitions:
- Factual Testimony Provided State
Mental State: deliberate, transparent
Intended Outcome: Provide complete and truthful factual testimony about the project history and design process
Obligation Engagement:
- Objective and Truthful Statements Obligation
- Not Distort or Alter Facts Obligation
Guided By Principles:
- Objectivity and Truthfulness Principle
Required Capabilities:
Field classification (triples vs literals)
fulfillsObligation: Objective and Truthful Statements Obligation; Not Distort or Alter Facts ObligationguidedByPrinciple: Objectivity and Truthfulness PrinciplerequiresCapability: Truthful testimony; Knowledge of the project history and designinitiates: Factual Testimony Provided State
descriptioncontent: In the deposition, Engineer T responded factually to all questions regarding the design and the design process.hasAgentcontent: Engineer TtemporalMarkercontent: At the deposition, after deposition preparationeventRoleContextcontent: Senior Structural Engineer, XYZ Consulting EngineershasMentalStatecontent: deliberate, transparentintendedOutcomecontent: Provide complete and truthful factual testimony about the project history and design processtextReferencescontent: In the deposition, Engineer T responded factually to all questions regarding the design and the design process.temporalExtentcontent: intervaltemporalSequencecontent: 9withinCompetenceassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
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"time": "http://www.w3.org/2006/time#"
},
"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/9#Action_Factual_Deposition_Testimony",
"@type": "proeth:Action",
"proeth:description": "In the deposition, Engineer T responded factually to all questions regarding the design and the design process.",
"proeth:eventRoleContext": "Senior Structural Engineer, XYZ Consulting Engineers",
"proeth:fulfillsObligation": [
"Objective and Truthful Statements Obligation",
"Not Distort or Alter Facts Obligation"
],
"proeth:guidedByPrinciple": [
"Objectivity and Truthfulness Principle"
],
"proeth:hasAgent": "Engineer T",
"proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate, transparent",
"proeth:initiates": [
"Factual Testimony Provided State"
],
"proeth:intendedOutcome": "Provide complete and truthful factual testimony about the project history and design process",
"proeth:raisesObligation": [],
"proeth:requiresCapability": [
"Truthful testimony",
"Knowledge of the project history and design"
],
"proeth:temporalExtent": "interval",
"proeth:temporalMarker": "At the deposition, after deposition preparation",
"proeth:temporalSequence": 9,
"proeth:textReferences": [
"In the deposition, Engineer T responded factually to all questions regarding the design and the design process."
],
"proeth:violatesObligation": [],
"proeth:withinCompetence": true,
"rdfs:label": "Factual Deposition Testimony"
}
Description: Engineer T, following the attorneys' counsel and the earlier decision with Engineer B, did not offer an acknowledgement of a possible error at the deposition, and was not asked whether an error had been made. The case treats this non-performance as Engineer T's conduct and evaluates its ethics.
Temporal Marker: At the deposition instant
Fluent Transitions:
- Error Uncharacterized in Testimony State
Mental State: deliberate restraint, consistent with counsel's advice
Intended Outcome: Report the facts fully while leaving the determination of whether an error was made to the legal process
Foreseen Unintended Effects:
- The question of a possible design error would not be raised by Engineer T's own testimony
Obligation Engagement:
- Not Distort or Alter Facts Obligation
Guided By Principles:
- Objectivity and Truthfulness Principle
- Error Acknowledgement Principle
Required Capabilities:
Field classification (triples vs literals)
fulfillsObligation: Not Distort or Alter Facts ObligationguidedByPrinciple: Objectivity and Truthfulness Principle; Error Acknowledgement PrinciplerequiresCapability: Ethical judgment; Discretion in testimonyinitiates: Error Uncharacterized in Testimony State
descriptioncontent: Engineer T, following the attorneys' counsel and the earlier decision with Engineer B, did not offer an acknowledgement of a possible error at the deposition, and was not asked whether an error had been made. The case treats this non-performance as Engineer T's conduct and evaluates its ethics.hasAgentcontent: Engineer TtemporalMarkercontent: At the depositioneventRoleContextcontent: Senior Structural Engineer, XYZ Consulting EngineershasMentalStatecontent: deliberate restraint, consistent with counsel's adviceintendedOutcomecontent: Report the facts fully while leaving the determination of whether an error was made to the legal processforeseenUnintendedEffectscontent: The question of a possible design error would not be raised by Engineer T's own testimonytextReferencescontent: Engineer T was not asked if an error had been made and did not offer an acknowledgement of a possible error.temporalExtentcontent: instanttemporalSequencecontent: 11withinCompetenceassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
{
"@context": {
"proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
"proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/9#",
"rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
"rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#",
"time": "http://www.w3.org/2006/time#"
},
"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/9#Action_Error_Acknowledgement_Withholding",
"@type": "proeth:Action",
"proeth:description": "Engineer T, following the attorneys\u0027 counsel and the earlier decision with Engineer B, did not offer an acknowledgement of a possible error at the deposition, and was not asked whether an error had been made. The case treats this non-performance as Engineer T\u0027s conduct and evaluates its ethics.",
"proeth:eventRoleContext": "Senior Structural Engineer, XYZ Consulting Engineers",
"proeth:foreseenUnintendedEffects": [
"The question of a possible design error would not be raised by Engineer T\u0027s own testimony"
],
"proeth:fulfillsObligation": [
"Not Distort or Alter Facts Obligation"
],
"proeth:guidedByPrinciple": [
"Objectivity and Truthfulness Principle",
"Error Acknowledgement Principle"
],
"proeth:hasAgent": "Engineer T",
"proeth:hasMentalState": "deliberate restraint, consistent with counsel\u0027s advice",
"proeth:initiates": [
"Error Uncharacterized in Testimony State"
],
"proeth:intendedOutcome": "Report the facts fully while leaving the determination of whether an error was made to the legal process",
"proeth:raisesObligation": [],
"proeth:requiresCapability": [
"Ethical judgment",
"Discretion in testimony"
],
"proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
"proeth:temporalMarker": "At the deposition",
"proeth:temporalSequence": 11,
"proeth:textReferences": [
"Engineer T was not asked if an error had been made and did not offer an acknowledgement of a possible error."
],
"proeth:violatesObligation": [],
"proeth:withinCompetence": true,
"rdfs:label": "Error Acknowledgement Withholding"
}
Extracted Events (4)
Occurrences that trigger ethical considerations and state changesDescription: During construction, an accident occurred while workers were making the structural connections in a contorted fashion in the constrained space, resulting in a serious and permanent injury to a construction worker.
Temporal Marker: During construction, after issuance of construction documents instant
Fluent Transitions:
- Serious Permanent Worker Injury
- Constrained Access Hazard Realized
Caused By Action: Action_Design_Approach_Selection
Field classification (triples vs literals)
causedByAction: http://proethica.org/ontology/case/9#Action_Design_Approach_Selectioninitiates: Serious Permanent Worker Injury; Constrained Access Hazard Realized
descriptioncontent: During construction, an accident occurred while workers were making the structural connections in a contorted fashion in the constrained space, resulting in a serious and permanent injury to a construction worker.temporalMarkercontent: During construction, after issuance of construction documentstextReferencescontent: This design detail required the construction workers to make the connections in a contorted fashion. During construction, an accident occurred with a serious and permanent injury to a construction worker.eventTypecontent: outcometemporalExtentcontent: instanttemporalSequencecontent: 3confidenceassessment: 0.95
RDF JSON-LD
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"proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
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"rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
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"time": "http://www.w3.org/2006/time#"
},
"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/9#Event_Construction_Worker_Injury",
"@type": "proeth:Event",
"proeth:causedByAction": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/9#Action_Design_Approach_Selection",
"proeth:confidence": "0.95",
"proeth:description": "During construction, an accident occurred while workers were making the structural connections in a contorted fashion in the constrained space, resulting in a serious and permanent injury to a construction worker.",
"proeth:eventType": "outcome",
"proeth:initiates": [
"Serious Permanent Worker Injury",
"Constrained Access Hazard Realized"
],
"proeth:temporalExtent": "instant",
"proeth:temporalMarker": "During construction, after issuance of construction documents",
"proeth:temporalSequence": 3,
"proeth:textReferences": [
"This design detail required the construction workers to make the connections in a contorted fashion. During construction, an accident occurred with a serious and permanent injury to a construction worker."
],
"rdfs:label": "Construction Worker Injury"
}
Description: Upon revisiting the site after the accident, Engineer T realized that a fundamentally different, more complex but functionally equivalent design would have allowed workers to make all connections while standing on the floor, making injury far less likely. T came to feel some personal responsibility for the accident.
Temporal Marker: Following the accident, when Engineer T revisited the site instant
Fluent Transitions:
- Perceived Design Error Concern
- Personal Responsibility Feeling
Field classification (triples vs literals)
initiates: Perceived Design Error Concern; Personal Responsibility Feeling
descriptioncontent: Upon revisiting the site after the accident, Engineer T realized that a fundamentally different, more complex but functionally equivalent design would have allowed workers to make all connections while standing on the floor, making injury far less likely. T came to feel some personal responsibility for the accident.temporalMarkercontent: Following the accident, when Engineer T revisited the sitetextReferencescontent: Following the accident, Engineer T revisited the site and realized that had alternative design concepts been explored early on, the new structural modifications could have been proposed in a fundamentally different, more complex, but functionally equivalent way.; Engineer T felt some personal responsibility for the accident.eventTypecontent: outcometemporalExtentcontent: instanttemporalSequencecontent: 4confidenceassessment: 0.85
RDF JSON-LD
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"proeth:description": "Upon revisiting the site after the accident, Engineer T realized that a fundamentally different, more complex but functionally equivalent design would have allowed workers to make all connections while standing on the floor, making injury far less likely. T came to feel some personal responsibility for the accident.",
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"Engineer T felt some personal responsibility for the accident."
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"rdfs:label": "Alternative Design Realization"
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Description: Months after the accident, a construction claim was submitted and a lawsuit was filed, triggering deposition preparation for Engineer T with attorneys for XYZ and its insurance company.
Temporal Marker: Months later, after the accident instant
Fluent Transitions:
- Litigation Pending
Field classification (triples vs literals)
initiates: Litigation Pending
descriptioncontent: Months after the accident, a construction claim was submitted and a lawsuit was filed, triggering deposition preparation for Engineer T with attorneys for XYZ and its insurance company.temporalMarkercontent: Months later, after the accidenttextReferencescontent: Months later, after a construction claim had been submitted and a lawsuit had been filed, Engineer T met with attorneys representing XYZ and XYZ’s insurance company to prepare for a deposition of Engineer T.eventTypecontent: exogenoustemporalExtentcontent: instanttemporalSequencecontent: 7confidenceassessment: 0.9
RDF JSON-LD
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"rdfs:label": "Claim And Lawsuit Filing"
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Description: During the deposition, no question was posed to Engineer T about whether an error had been made, so the specific circumstance under which T would have had to characterize the design never arose.
Temporal Marker: During the deposition interval
Field classification (triples vs literals)
descriptioncontent: During the deposition, no question was posed to Engineer T about whether an error had been made, so the specific circumstance under which T would have had to characterize the design never arose.temporalMarkercontent: During the depositiontextReferencescontent: Engineer T was not asked if an error had been made and did not offer an acknowledgement of a possible error.eventTypecontent: exogenoustemporalExtentcontent: intervaltemporalSequencecontent: 10confidenceassessment: 0.65
RDF JSON-LD
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Causal Chains (10)
NESS test analysis: Necessary Element of Sufficient SetCausal Language: This design detail required the construction workers to make the connections in a contorted fashion. During construction, an accident occurred with a serious and permanent injury to a construction worker.
Necessary Factors (NESS):
- Selection of a design approach placing connections immediately beneath floor level in a tightly constrained space
- Non-exploration of alternative design concepts that would have allowed workers to stand on the floor
- Contractor proceeding to make connections in the constrained location
Sufficient Factors:
- Constrained connection location + contorted working posture + absence of contractor safety intervention was jointly sufficient to make serious injury far more likely
Responsibility Attribution:
Agent: Engineer T (design choice) shared with the contractor (construction safety)
Type: shared
Within Agent Control:
Yes
Causal Sequence:
-
Design Approach Selection
Engineer T selects the straightforward approach with connections beneath floor level in a tightly constrained space without exploring alternatives -
Construction Documents Issuance
Engineer T issues construction documents clearly noting the constrained access -
Contorted Construction Work
Workers must make the connections in a contorted fashion due to limited access -
Construction Worker Injury
During construction an accident occurs causing serious and permanent injury to a worker
Field classification (triples vs literals)
cause: Design Approach Selectioneffect: Construction Worker InjuryresponsibleAgent: Engineer T (design choice) shared with the contractor (construction safety)
causalLanguagecontent: This design detail required the construction workers to make the connections in a contorted fashion. During construction, an accident occurred with a serious and permanent injury to a construction worker.necessaryFactorscontent: Selection of a design approach placing connections immediately beneath floor level in a tightly constrained space; Non-exploration of alternative design concepts that would have allowed workers to stand on the floor; Contractor proceeding to make connections in the constrained locationsufficientFactorscontent: Constrained connection location + contorted working posture + absence of contractor safety intervention was jointly sufficient to make serious injury far more likelycounterfactualcontent: The alternative approach 'would have allowed the construction workers to make all connections while standing on the floor such that injury would have been far less likely'; the injury would probably not have occurred with the alternative designcausalSequencecontent: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Design Approach Selection', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer T selects the straightforward approach with connections beneath floor level in a tightly constrained space without exploring alternatives'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Construction Documents Issuance', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer T issues construction documents clearly noting the constrained access'}; {'proeth:step': 3, 'proeth:element': 'Contorted Construction Work', 'proeth:description': 'Workers must make the connections in a contorted fashion due to limited access'}; {'proeth:step': 4, 'proeth:element': 'Construction Worker Injury', 'proeth:description': 'During construction an accident occurs causing serious and permanent injury to a worker'}responsibilityTypeassessment: sharedwithinAgentControlassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
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"proeth:causalLanguage": "This design detail required the construction workers to make the connections in a contorted fashion. During construction, an accident occurred with a serious and permanent injury to a construction worker.",
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{
"proeth:description": "Engineer T selects the straightforward approach with connections beneath floor level in a tightly constrained space without exploring alternatives",
"proeth:element": "Design Approach Selection",
"proeth:step": 1
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{
"proeth:description": "Engineer T issues construction documents clearly noting the constrained access",
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{
"proeth:description": "Workers must make the connections in a contorted fashion due to limited access",
"proeth:element": "Contorted Construction Work",
"proeth:step": 3
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"proeth:description": "During construction an accident occurs causing serious and permanent injury to a worker",
"proeth:element": "Construction Worker Injury",
"proeth:step": 4
}
],
"proeth:cause": "Design Approach Selection",
"proeth:counterfactual": "The alternative approach \u0027would have allowed the construction workers to make all connections while standing on the floor such that injury would have been far less likely\u0027; the injury would probably not have occurred with the alternative design",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
"proeth:effect": "Construction Worker Injury",
"proeth:necessaryFactors": [
"Selection of a design approach placing connections immediately beneath floor level in a tightly constrained space",
"Non-exploration of alternative design concepts that would have allowed workers to stand on the floor",
"Contractor proceeding to make connections in the constrained location"
],
"proeth:responsibilityType": "shared",
"proeth:responsibleAgent": "Engineer T (design choice) shared with the contractor (construction safety)",
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Causal Language: The new structural connections were located in such a way that access was limited, and the drawings clearly noted the constrained access. This design detail required the construction workers to make the connections in a contorted fashion.
Necessary Factors (NESS):
- Issuance of construction documents embodying the constrained-access detail
- Contractor executing the work per the issued documents
Sufficient Factors:
- Issued documents specifying constrained connections + contractor performing work as documented + no safety flag raised was jointly sufficient to expose workers to the hazard
Responsibility Attribution:
Agent: Engineer T (in responsible charge), with contractual safety responsibility on the contractor
Type: shared
Within Agent Control:
Yes
Causal Sequence:
-
Construction Documents Issuance
Engineer T completes the design within the identified constraints and issues construction documents noting the constrained access -
Contractor Acceptance Without Question
The contractor accepts the construction risk and responsibility without raising safety questions -
Contorted Construction Work
Workers perform connections in a contorted fashion in the constrained space -
Construction Worker Injury
An accident during construction causes serious and permanent injury
Field classification (triples vs literals)
cause: Construction Documents Issuanceeffect: Construction Worker InjuryresponsibleAgent: Engineer T (in responsible charge), with contractual safety responsibility on the contractor
causalLanguagecontent: The new structural connections were located in such a way that access was limited, and the drawings clearly noted the constrained access. This design detail required the construction workers to make the connections in a contorted fashion.necessaryFactorscontent: Issuance of construction documents embodying the constrained-access detail; Contractor executing the work per the issued documentssufficientFactorscontent: Issued documents specifying constrained connections + contractor performing work as documented + no safety flag raised was jointly sufficient to expose workers to the hazardcounterfactualcontent: Had the documents not been issued as drawn (or had they been revised after a safety review), workers would not have been placed in the contorted working position and injury would likely have been avoidedcausalSequencecontent: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Construction Documents Issuance', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer T completes the design within the identified constraints and issues construction documents noting the constrained access'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Contractor Acceptance Without Question', 'proeth:description': 'The contractor accepts the construction risk and responsibility without raising safety questions'}; {'proeth:step': 3, 'proeth:element': 'Contorted Construction Work', 'proeth:description': 'Workers perform connections in a contorted fashion in the constrained space'}; {'proeth:step': 4, 'proeth:element': 'Construction Worker Injury', 'proeth:description': 'An accident during construction causes serious and permanent injury'}responsibilityTypeassessment: sharedwithinAgentControlassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
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"proeth:cause": "Construction Documents Issuance",
"proeth:counterfactual": "Had the documents not been issued as drawn (or had they been revised after a safety review), workers would not have been placed in the contorted working position and injury would likely have been avoided",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
"proeth:effect": "Construction Worker Injury",
"proeth:necessaryFactors": [
"Issuance of construction documents embodying the constrained-access detail",
"Contractor executing the work per the issued documents"
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Causal Language: Following the accident, Engineer T revisited the site and realized that had alternative design concepts been explored early on, the new structural modifications could have been proposed in a fundamentally different, more complex, but functionally equivalent way.
Necessary Factors (NESS):
- Occurrence of the accident prompting the site revisit
- Engineer T's site revisit and reflection on the design
- Existence of a feasible, functionally equivalent alternative design
Sufficient Factors:
- Accident + Engineer T's post-accident site revisit was sufficient to trigger the hindsight realization
Responsibility Attribution:
Agent: Engineer T
Type: indirect
Within Agent Control:
No
Causal Sequence:
-
Construction Worker Injury
Serious and permanent injury occurs during construction -
Site Revisit
Engineer T revisits the site following the accident -
Alternative Design Realization
Engineer T realizes a fundamentally different, safer, functionally equivalent design was possible and feels personal responsibility
Field classification (triples vs literals)
cause: Construction Worker Injuryeffect: Alternative Design RealizationresponsibleAgent: Engineer T
causalLanguagecontent: Following the accident, Engineer T revisited the site and realized that had alternative design concepts been explored early on, the new structural modifications could have been proposed in a fundamentally different, more complex, but functionally equivalent way.necessaryFactorscontent: Occurrence of the accident prompting the site revisit; Engineer T's site revisit and reflection on the design; Existence of a feasible, functionally equivalent alternative designsufficientFactorscontent: Accident + Engineer T's post-accident site revisit was sufficient to trigger the hindsight realizationcounterfactualcontent: Without the accident, Engineer T would have had no occasion to revisit the site and would likely not have realized the safer alternative existedcausalSequencecontent: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Construction Worker Injury', 'proeth:description': 'Serious and permanent injury occurs during construction'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Site Revisit', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer T revisits the site following the accident'}; {'proeth:step': 3, 'proeth:element': 'Alternative Design Realization', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer T realizes a fundamentally different, safer, functionally equivalent design was possible and feels personal responsibility'}responsibilityTypeassessment: indirectwithinAgentControlassessment: False
RDF JSON-LD
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"proeth:effect": "Alternative Design Realization",
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"Occurrence of the accident prompting the site revisit",
"Engineer T\u0027s site revisit and reflection on the design",
"Existence of a feasible, functionally equivalent alternative design"
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"proeth:responsibilityType": "indirect",
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Causal Language: Engineer T met with XYZ’s Chief Structural Engineer, Engineer B, explained the situation, and expressed a belief that a design error – i.e., not exploring alternative, safer design concepts – had been made and the NSPE Code of Ethics required that the error be acknowledged.
Necessary Factors (NESS):
- Engineer T's realization that a safer alternative design existed
- Engineer T's feeling of personal responsibility for the accident
- Engineer T's belief that the NSPE Code required error acknowledgement
Sufficient Factors:
- Realization + felt personal responsibility + perceived Code obligation was sufficient to prompt raising the concern with Engineer B
Responsibility Attribution:
Agent: Engineer T
Type: direct
Within Agent Control:
Yes
Causal Sequence:
-
Alternative Design Realization
Engineer T realizes in hindsight a safer alternative design was possible -
Felt Personal Responsibility
Engineer T feels some personal responsibility for the accident -
Error Concern Raising
Engineer T meets Engineer B and expresses a belief that a design error was made and must be acknowledged
Field classification (triples vs literals)
cause: Alternative Design Realizationeffect: Error Concern RaisingresponsibleAgent: Engineer T
causalLanguagecontent: Engineer T met with XYZ’s Chief Structural Engineer, Engineer B, explained the situation, and expressed a belief that a design error – i.e., not exploring alternative, safer design concepts – had been made and the NSPE Code of Ethics required that the error be acknowledged.necessaryFactorscontent: Engineer T's realization that a safer alternative design existed; Engineer T's feeling of personal responsibility for the accident; Engineer T's belief that the NSPE Code required error acknowledgementsufficientFactorscontent: Realization + felt personal responsibility + perceived Code obligation was sufficient to prompt raising the concern with Engineer Bcounterfactualcontent: Without the realization of the safer alternative, Engineer T would have had no basis to believe an error was made or to raise the concerncausalSequencecontent: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Alternative Design Realization', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer T realizes in hindsight a safer alternative design was possible'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Felt Personal Responsibility', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer T feels some personal responsibility for the accident'}; {'proeth:step': 3, 'proeth:element': 'Error Concern Raising', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer T meets Engineer B and expresses a belief that a design error was made and must be acknowledged'}responsibilityTypeassessment: directwithinAgentControlassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
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Causal Language: Having thus thoughtfully considered the matter, both Engineer T and Engineer B decided that the situation did not merit acknowledgement of “an error.”
Necessary Factors (NESS):
- Engineer T raising the error concern with Engineer B
- Engineer B's counter-reasoning (standard of care met, no request to consider alternatives, T's lack of construction safety training, contractor's silence)
- Joint deliberation between T and B
Sufficient Factors:
- The raised concern + Engineer B's rationale + joint consideration was sufficient to produce the decision not to acknowledge an error
Responsibility Attribution:
Agent: Engineer T and Engineer B
Type: shared
Within Agent Control:
Yes
Causal Sequence:
-
Error Concern Raising
Engineer T expresses belief that a design error was made and must be acknowledged -
Engineer B's Counter-Reasoning
Engineer B explains the firm responded professionally, alternatives were not requested, and T could not have reasonably assessed the safety risk -
Error Acknowledgement Decision
Both engineers decide the situation did not merit acknowledgement of an error
Field classification (triples vs literals)
cause: Error Concern Raisingeffect: Error Acknowledgement DecisionresponsibleAgent: Engineer T and Engineer B
causalLanguagecontent: Having thus thoughtfully considered the matter, both Engineer T and Engineer B decided that the situation did not merit acknowledgement of “an error.”necessaryFactorscontent: Engineer T raising the error concern with Engineer B; Engineer B's counter-reasoning (standard of care met, no request to consider alternatives, T's lack of construction safety training, contractor's silence); Joint deliberation between T and BsufficientFactorscontent: The raised concern + Engineer B's rationale + joint consideration was sufficient to produce the decision not to acknowledge an errorcounterfactualcontent: Without Engineer T raising the concern, there would have been no deliberation and no explicit joint decision on acknowledgementcausalSequencecontent: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Error Concern Raising', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer T expresses belief that a design error was made and must be acknowledged'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': "Engineer B's Counter-Reasoning", 'proeth:description': 'Engineer B explains the firm responded professionally, alternatives were not requested, and T could not have reasonably assessed the safety risk'}; {'proeth:step': 3, 'proeth:element': 'Error Acknowledgement Decision', 'proeth:description': 'Both engineers decide the situation did not merit acknowledgement of an error'}responsibilityTypeassessment: sharedwithinAgentControlassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
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{
"proeth:description": "Engineer B explains the firm responded professionally, alternatives were not requested, and T could not have reasonably assessed the safety risk",
"proeth:element": "Engineer B\u0027s Counter-Reasoning",
"proeth:step": 2
},
{
"proeth:description": "Both engineers decide the situation did not merit acknowledgement of an error",
"proeth:element": "Error Acknowledgement Decision",
"proeth:step": 3
}
],
"proeth:cause": "Error Concern Raising",
"proeth:counterfactual": "Without Engineer T raising the concern, there would have been no deliberation and no explicit joint decision on acknowledgement",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
"proeth:effect": "Error Acknowledgement Decision",
"proeth:necessaryFactors": [
"Engineer T raising the error concern with Engineer B",
"Engineer B\u0027s counter-reasoning (standard of care met, no request to consider alternatives, T\u0027s lack of construction safety training, contractor\u0027s silence)",
"Joint deliberation between T and B"
],
"proeth:responsibilityType": "shared",
"proeth:responsibleAgent": "Engineer T and Engineer B",
"proeth:sufficientFactors": [
"The raised concern + Engineer B\u0027s rationale + joint consideration was sufficient to produce the decision not to acknowledge an error"
],
"proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}
Causal Language: Months later, after a construction claim had been submitted and a lawsuit had been filed, Engineer T met with attorneys representing XYZ and XYZ’s insurance company to prepare for a deposition of Engineer T.
Necessary Factors (NESS):
- Occurrence of the serious and permanent injury
- Injured party's (or claimant's) decision to pursue a claim and lawsuit
Sufficient Factors:
- Serious permanent injury + claimant's pursuit of legal remedy was sufficient to produce the claim and lawsuit
Responsibility Attribution:
Agent: Injured worker/claimant (initiating legal process); underlying harm shared among project parties
Type: indirect
Within Agent Control:
No
Causal Sequence:
-
Construction Worker Injury
Accident causes serious and permanent injury during construction -
Claim And Lawsuit Filing
Months later a construction claim is submitted and a lawsuit is filed -
Deposition Preparation
Engineer T meets with XYZ's and the insurer's attorneys to prepare for deposition
Field classification (triples vs literals)
cause: Construction Worker Injuryeffect: Claim And Lawsuit FilingresponsibleAgent: Injured worker/claimant (initiating legal process); underlying harm shared among project parties
causalLanguagecontent: Months later, after a construction claim had been submitted and a lawsuit had been filed, Engineer T met with attorneys representing XYZ and XYZ’s insurance company to prepare for a deposition of Engineer T.necessaryFactorscontent: Occurrence of the serious and permanent injury; Injured party's (or claimant's) decision to pursue a claim and lawsuitsufficientFactorscontent: Serious permanent injury + claimant's pursuit of legal remedy was sufficient to produce the claim and lawsuitcounterfactualcontent: Without the worker injury there would have been no basis for the construction claim or lawsuitcausalSequencecontent: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Construction Worker Injury', 'proeth:description': 'Accident causes serious and permanent injury during construction'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Claim And Lawsuit Filing', 'proeth:description': 'Months later a construction claim is submitted and a lawsuit is filed'}; {'proeth:step': 3, 'proeth:element': 'Deposition Preparation', 'proeth:description': "Engineer T meets with XYZ's and the insurer's attorneys to prepare for deposition"}responsibilityTypeassessment: indirectwithinAgentControlassessment: False
RDF JSON-LD
{
"@context": {
"proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
"proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/9#",
"rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
"rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#"
},
"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/9#CausalChain_6",
"@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
"proeth:causalLanguage": "Months later, after a construction claim had been submitted and a lawsuit had been filed, Engineer T met with attorneys representing XYZ and XYZ\u2019s insurance company to prepare for a deposition of Engineer T.",
"proeth:causalSequence": [
{
"proeth:description": "Accident causes serious and permanent injury during construction",
"proeth:element": "Construction Worker Injury",
"proeth:step": 1
},
{
"proeth:description": "Months later a construction claim is submitted and a lawsuit is filed",
"proeth:element": "Claim And Lawsuit Filing",
"proeth:step": 2
},
{
"proeth:description": "Engineer T meets with XYZ\u0027s and the insurer\u0027s attorneys to prepare for deposition",
"proeth:element": "Deposition Preparation",
"proeth:step": 3
}
],
"proeth:cause": "Construction Worker Injury",
"proeth:counterfactual": "Without the worker injury there would have been no basis for the construction claim or lawsuit",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
"proeth:effect": "Claim And Lawsuit Filing",
"proeth:necessaryFactors": [
"Occurrence of the serious and permanent injury",
"Injured party\u0027s (or claimant\u0027s) decision to pursue a claim and lawsuit"
],
"proeth:responsibilityType": "indirect",
"proeth:responsibleAgent": "Injured worker/claimant (initiating legal process); underlying harm shared among project parties",
"proeth:sufficientFactors": [
"Serious permanent injury + claimant\u0027s pursuit of legal remedy was sufficient to produce the claim and lawsuit"
],
"proeth:withinAgentControl": false
}
Causal Language: Months later, after a construction claim had been submitted and a lawsuit had been filed, Engineer T met with attorneys representing XYZ and XYZ’s insurance company to prepare for a deposition of Engineer T.
Necessary Factors (NESS):
- Filing of the claim and lawsuit
- Scheduling of Engineer T's deposition
- XYZ's and insurer's engagement of attorneys
Sufficient Factors:
- Lawsuit + impending deposition of Engineer T was sufficient to necessitate attorney preparation and advice
Responsibility Attribution:
Agent: XYZ Consulting Engineers' and insurer's attorneys
Type: direct
Within Agent Control:
Yes
Causal Sequence:
-
Claim And Lawsuit Filing
A construction claim is submitted and a lawsuit is filed -
Deposition Preparation Meeting
Engineer T reviews project history with XYZ's and the insurer's attorneys -
Legal Counsel Advising
Attorneys advise complete transparency and factual answers but that T should not voluntarily characterize the work as an error
Field classification (triples vs literals)
cause: Claim And Lawsuit Filingeffect: Legal Counsel AdvisingresponsibleAgent: XYZ Consulting Engineers' and insurer's attorneys
causalLanguagecontent: Months later, after a construction claim had been submitted and a lawsuit had been filed, Engineer T met with attorneys representing XYZ and XYZ’s insurance company to prepare for a deposition of Engineer T.necessaryFactorscontent: Filing of the claim and lawsuit; Scheduling of Engineer T's deposition; XYZ's and insurer's engagement of attorneyssufficientFactorscontent: Lawsuit + impending deposition of Engineer T was sufficient to necessitate attorney preparation and advicecounterfactualcontent: Without the claim and lawsuit, there would have been no deposition and no occasion for the attorneys' advicecausalSequencecontent: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Claim And Lawsuit Filing', 'proeth:description': 'A construction claim is submitted and a lawsuit is filed'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Deposition Preparation Meeting', 'proeth:description': "Engineer T reviews project history with XYZ's and the insurer's attorneys"}; {'proeth:step': 3, 'proeth:element': 'Legal Counsel Advising', 'proeth:description': 'Attorneys advise complete transparency and factual answers but that T should not voluntarily characterize the work as an error'}responsibilityTypeassessment: directwithinAgentControlassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
{
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"proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
"proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/9#",
"rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
"rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#"
},
"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/9#CausalChain_7",
"@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
"proeth:causalLanguage": "Months later, after a construction claim had been submitted and a lawsuit had been filed, Engineer T met with attorneys representing XYZ and XYZ\u2019s insurance company to prepare for a deposition of Engineer T.",
"proeth:causalSequence": [
{
"proeth:description": "A construction claim is submitted and a lawsuit is filed",
"proeth:element": "Claim And Lawsuit Filing",
"proeth:step": 1
},
{
"proeth:description": "Engineer T reviews project history with XYZ\u0027s and the insurer\u0027s attorneys",
"proeth:element": "Deposition Preparation Meeting",
"proeth:step": 2
},
{
"proeth:description": "Attorneys advise complete transparency and factual answers but that T should not voluntarily characterize the work as an error",
"proeth:element": "Legal Counsel Advising",
"proeth:step": 3
}
],
"proeth:cause": "Claim And Lawsuit Filing",
"proeth:counterfactual": "Without the claim and lawsuit, there would have been no deposition and no occasion for the attorneys\u0027 advice",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
"proeth:effect": "Legal Counsel Advising",
"proeth:necessaryFactors": [
"Filing of the claim and lawsuit",
"Scheduling of Engineer T\u0027s deposition",
"XYZ\u0027s and insurer\u0027s engagement of attorneys"
],
"proeth:responsibilityType": "direct",
"proeth:responsibleAgent": "XYZ Consulting Engineers\u0027 and insurer\u0027s attorneys",
"proeth:sufficientFactors": [
"Lawsuit + impending deposition of Engineer T was sufficient to necessitate attorney preparation and advice"
],
"proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}
Causal Language: Both of XYZ Consulting Engineers’ attorneys agreed that a clear obligation existed not to distort or alter any facts, and that Engineer T should respond to questions with complete transparency during the deposition.
Necessary Factors (NESS):
- Attorneys' instruction to respond with complete transparency and not distort facts
- Engineer T's willingness to follow counsel and testify honestly
- Deposition questions being posed about the design and design process
Sufficient Factors:
- Attorneys' advice + Engineer T's own commitment to honesty was sufficient to produce fully factual testimony
Responsibility Attribution:
Agent: Engineer T
Type: direct
Within Agent Control:
Yes
Causal Sequence:
-
Legal Counsel Advising
Attorneys advise complete transparency and clear reporting of facts -
Factual Deposition Testimony
Engineer T responds factually to all questions regarding the design and the design process
Field classification (triples vs literals)
cause: Legal Counsel Advisingeffect: Factual Deposition TestimonyresponsibleAgent: Engineer T
causalLanguagecontent: Both of XYZ Consulting Engineers’ attorneys agreed that a clear obligation existed not to distort or alter any facts, and that Engineer T should respond to questions with complete transparency during the deposition.necessaryFactorscontent: Attorneys' instruction to respond with complete transparency and not distort facts; Engineer T's willingness to follow counsel and testify honestly; Deposition questions being posed about the design and design processsufficientFactorscontent: Attorneys' advice + Engineer T's own commitment to honesty was sufficient to produce fully factual testimonycounterfactualcontent: Engineer T's ethical obligation to be truthful likely would have produced factual testimony even without the advice, but the advice reinforced and shaped the testimonycausalSequencecontent: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Legal Counsel Advising', 'proeth:description': 'Attorneys advise complete transparency and clear reporting of facts'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Factual Deposition Testimony', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer T responds factually to all questions regarding the design and the design process'}responsibilityTypeassessment: directwithinAgentControlassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
{
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"proeth": "http://proethica.org/ontology/intermediate#",
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"rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
"rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#"
},
"@id": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/9#CausalChain_8",
"@type": "proeth:CausalChain",
"proeth:causalLanguage": "Both of XYZ Consulting Engineers\u2019 attorneys agreed that a clear obligation existed not to distort or alter any facts, and that Engineer T should respond to questions with complete transparency during the deposition.",
"proeth:causalSequence": [
{
"proeth:description": "Attorneys advise complete transparency and clear reporting of facts",
"proeth:element": "Legal Counsel Advising",
"proeth:step": 1
},
{
"proeth:description": "Engineer T responds factually to all questions regarding the design and the design process",
"proeth:element": "Factual Deposition Testimony",
"proeth:step": 2
}
],
"proeth:cause": "Legal Counsel Advising",
"proeth:counterfactual": "Engineer T\u0027s ethical obligation to be truthful likely would have produced factual testimony even without the advice, but the advice reinforced and shaped the testimony",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
"proeth:effect": "Factual Deposition Testimony",
"proeth:necessaryFactors": [
"Attorneys\u0027 instruction to respond with complete transparency and not distort facts",
"Engineer T\u0027s willingness to follow counsel and testify honestly",
"Deposition questions being posed about the design and design process"
],
"proeth:responsibilityType": "direct",
"proeth:responsibleAgent": "Engineer T",
"proeth:sufficientFactors": [
"Attorneys\u0027 advice + Engineer T\u0027s own commitment to honesty was sufficient to produce fully factual testimony"
],
"proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}
Causal Language: The attorneys indicated that the legal process would determine whether, based on the facts, an error had been made, and that Engineer T should clearly report the facts, but should not voluntarily characterize the design work as an error.
Necessary Factors (NESS):
- Attorneys' explicit advice not to voluntarily characterize the work as an error
- Engineer T's and Engineer B's earlier joint decision that no error acknowledgement was merited
- Absence of any deposition question about whether an error was made
Sufficient Factors:
- Attorneys' advice + prior decision with Engineer B + no direct question posed was jointly sufficient for Engineer T to withhold any error acknowledgement
Responsibility Attribution:
Agent: Engineer T, with contributing influence of XYZ's attorneys and Engineer B
Type: shared
Within Agent Control:
Yes
Causal Sequence:
-
Error Acknowledgement Decision
Engineer T and Engineer B decide the situation did not merit acknowledgement of an error -
Legal Counsel Advising
Attorneys advise T to report facts but not voluntarily characterize the work as an error -
Error Question Absence
No deposition question is posed about whether an error was made -
Error Acknowledgement Withholding
Engineer T does not offer an acknowledgement of a possible error
Field classification (triples vs literals)
cause: Legal Counsel Advisingeffect: Error Acknowledgement WithholdingresponsibleAgent: Engineer T, with contributing influence of XYZ's attorneys and Engineer B
causalLanguagecontent: The attorneys indicated that the legal process would determine whether, based on the facts, an error had been made, and that Engineer T should clearly report the facts, but should not voluntarily characterize the design work as an error.necessaryFactorscontent: Attorneys' explicit advice not to voluntarily characterize the work as an error; Engineer T's and Engineer B's earlier joint decision that no error acknowledgement was merited; Absence of any deposition question about whether an error was madesufficientFactorscontent: Attorneys' advice + prior decision with Engineer B + no direct question posed was jointly sufficient for Engineer T to withhold any error acknowledgementcounterfactualcontent: Without the attorneys' advice, Engineer T—who had originally believed an error was made—might have volunteered an acknowledgement; the prior decision with B alone might also have led to withholding, so the advice is a NESS contributor rather than strictly necessarycausalSequencecontent: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Error Acknowledgement Decision', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer T and Engineer B decide the situation did not merit acknowledgement of an error'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Legal Counsel Advising', 'proeth:description': 'Attorneys advise T to report facts but not voluntarily characterize the work as an error'}; {'proeth:step': 3, 'proeth:element': 'Error Question Absence', 'proeth:description': 'No deposition question is posed about whether an error was made'}; {'proeth:step': 4, 'proeth:element': 'Error Acknowledgement Withholding', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer T does not offer an acknowledgement of a possible error'}responsibilityTypeassessment: sharedwithinAgentControlassessment: True
RDF JSON-LD
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"proeth-case": "http://proethica.org/ontology/case/9#",
"rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#",
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"proeth:causalSequence": [
{
"proeth:description": "Engineer T and Engineer B decide the situation did not merit acknowledgement of an error",
"proeth:element": "Error Acknowledgement Decision",
"proeth:step": 1
},
{
"proeth:description": "Attorneys advise T to report facts but not voluntarily characterize the work as an error",
"proeth:element": "Legal Counsel Advising",
"proeth:step": 2
},
{
"proeth:description": "No deposition question is posed about whether an error was made",
"proeth:element": "Error Question Absence",
"proeth:step": 3
},
{
"proeth:description": "Engineer T does not offer an acknowledgement of a possible error",
"proeth:element": "Error Acknowledgement Withholding",
"proeth:step": 4
}
],
"proeth:cause": "Legal Counsel Advising",
"proeth:counterfactual": "Without the attorneys\u0027 advice, Engineer T\u2014who had originally believed an error was made\u2014might have volunteered an acknowledgement; the prior decision with B alone might also have led to withholding, so the advice is a NESS contributor rather than strictly necessary",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
"proeth:effect": "Error Acknowledgement Withholding",
"proeth:necessaryFactors": [
"Attorneys\u0027 explicit advice not to voluntarily characterize the work as an error",
"Engineer T\u0027s and Engineer B\u0027s earlier joint decision that no error acknowledgement was merited",
"Absence of any deposition question about whether an error was made"
],
"proeth:responsibilityType": "shared",
"proeth:responsibleAgent": "Engineer T, with contributing influence of XYZ\u0027s attorneys and Engineer B",
"proeth:sufficientFactors": [
"Attorneys\u0027 advice + prior decision with Engineer B + no direct question posed was jointly sufficient for Engineer T to withhold any error acknowledgement"
],
"proeth:withinAgentControl": true
}
Causal Language: Engineer T was not asked if an error had been made and did not offer an acknowledgement of a possible error.
Necessary Factors (NESS):
- Absence of any direct question about an error during the deposition
- Attorneys' instruction not to volunteer an error characterization
- Engineer T's compliance with counsel
Sufficient Factors:
- No direct question + advice against volunteering + T's compliance was sufficient for the acknowledgement never to be made
Responsibility Attribution:
Agent: Engineer T (conduct); opposing counsel (questioning scope)
Type: indirect
Within Agent Control:
No
Causal Sequence:
-
Factual Deposition Testimony
Engineer T responds factually to all questions posed -
Error Question Absence
No question is asked about whether an error was made -
Error Acknowledgement Withholding
Engineer T does not volunteer an acknowledgement of a possible error
Field classification (triples vs literals)
cause: Error Question Absenceeffect: Error Acknowledgement WithholdingresponsibleAgent: Engineer T (conduct); opposing counsel (questioning scope)
causalLanguagecontent: Engineer T was not asked if an error had been made and did not offer an acknowledgement of a possible error.necessaryFactorscontent: Absence of any direct question about an error during the deposition; Attorneys' instruction not to volunteer an error characterization; Engineer T's compliance with counselsufficientFactorscontent: No direct question + advice against volunteering + T's compliance was sufficient for the acknowledgement never to be madecounterfactualcontent: Had the question been asked, Engineer T—obligated to complete transparency—would have had to address the error issue directly rather than withhold itcausalSequencecontent: {'proeth:step': 1, 'proeth:element': 'Factual Deposition Testimony', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer T responds factually to all questions posed'}; {'proeth:step': 2, 'proeth:element': 'Error Question Absence', 'proeth:description': 'No question is asked about whether an error was made'}; {'proeth:step': 3, 'proeth:element': 'Error Acknowledgement Withholding', 'proeth:description': 'Engineer T does not volunteer an acknowledgement of a possible error'}responsibilityTypeassessment: indirectwithinAgentControlassessment: False
RDF JSON-LD
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"proeth:causalLanguage": "Engineer T was not asked if an error had been made and did not offer an acknowledgement of a possible error.",
"proeth:causalSequence": [
{
"proeth:description": "Engineer T responds factually to all questions posed",
"proeth:element": "Factual Deposition Testimony",
"proeth:step": 1
},
{
"proeth:description": "No question is asked about whether an error was made",
"proeth:element": "Error Question Absence",
"proeth:step": 2
},
{
"proeth:description": "Engineer T does not volunteer an acknowledgement of a possible error",
"proeth:element": "Error Acknowledgement Withholding",
"proeth:step": 3
}
],
"proeth:cause": "Error Question Absence",
"proeth:counterfactual": "Had the question been asked, Engineer T\u2014obligated to complete transparency\u2014would have had to address the error issue directly rather than withhold it",
"proeth:discoveredInSection": "facts",
"proeth:effect": "Error Acknowledgement Withholding",
"proeth:necessaryFactors": [
"Absence of any direct question about an error during the deposition",
"Attorneys\u0027 instruction not to volunteer an error characterization",
"Engineer T\u0027s compliance with counsel"
],
"proeth:responsibilityType": "indirect",
"proeth:responsibleAgent": "Engineer T (conduct); opposing counsel (questioning scope)",
"proeth:sufficientFactors": [
"No direct question + advice against volunteering + T\u0027s compliance was sufficient for the acknowledgement never to be made"
],
"proeth:withinAgentControl": false
}
Allen Temporal Relations (15)
Interval algebra relationships with OWL-Time standard properties| From Entity | Allen Relation | To Entity | OWL-Time Property | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| workers making connections in a contorted fashion |
during
Entity1 occurs entirely within the duration of Entity2 |
construction |
time:intervalDuring
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalDuring |
This design detail required the construction workers to make the connections in a contorted fashion.... [more] |
| establishing project scope / selecting straightforward approach |
before
Entity1 is before Entity2 |
completing design and issuing construction documents |
time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore |
In establishing the project scope... Engineer T selected a straightforward approach... Rather, Engin... [more] |
| issuing construction documents |
before
Entity1 is before Entity2 |
construction |
time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore |
issued construction documents for the modifications... During construction, an accident occurred |
| worker accident/injury |
during
Entity1 occurs entirely within the duration of Entity2 |
construction |
time:intervalDuring
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalDuring |
During construction, an accident occurred with a serious and permanent injury to a construction work... [more] |
| accident |
before
Entity1 is before Entity2 |
Engineer T revisiting the site and realizing alternative existed |
time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore |
Following the accident, Engineer T revisited the site and realized that had alternative design conce... [more] |
| Engineer T's site revisit and realization |
before
Entity1 is before Entity2 |
meeting with Chief Structural Engineer B |
time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore |
Engineer T felt some personal responsibility for the accident. Engineer T met with XYZ's Chief Struc... [more] |
| meeting with Engineer B (decision no error acknowledgement warranted) |
before
Entity1 is before Entity2 |
construction claim submission and lawsuit filing |
time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore |
Months later, after a construction claim had been submitted and a lawsuit had been filed, Engineer T... [more] |
| construction claim submission and lawsuit filing |
before
Entity1 is before Entity2 |
deposition preparation meeting with attorneys |
time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore |
Months later, after a construction claim had been submitted and a lawsuit had been filed, Engineer T... [more] |
| review of project history and conversation with Engineer B |
during
Entity1 occurs entirely within the duration of Entity2 |
deposition preparation meeting |
time:intervalDuring
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalDuring |
During preparation, Engineer T reviewed and discussed the project history, including the conversatio... [more] |
| deposition preparation meeting |
before
Entity1 is before Entity2 |
deposition |
time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore |
met with attorneys... to prepare for a deposition of Engineer T... In the deposition, Engineer T res... [more] |
| Engineer T answering questions factually |
during
Entity1 occurs entirely within the duration of Entity2 |
deposition |
time:intervalDuring
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalDuring |
In the deposition, Engineer T responded factually to all questions regarding the design and the desi... [more] |
| noting constrained access on drawings |
during
Entity1 occurs entirely within the duration of Entity2 |
design phase |
time:intervalDuring
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalDuring |
The new structural connections were located in such a way that access was limited, and the drawings ... [more] |
| hypothetical exploration of alternative design concepts |
before
Entity1 is before Entity2 |
design completion (counterfactual) |
time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore |
had alternative design concepts been explored early on, the new structural modifications could have ... [more] |
| contractor's acceptance of construction risk without question |
before
Entity1 is before Entity2 |
accident |
time:intervalBefore
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalBefore |
The contractor had not raised questions regarding the construction safety risk or safer construction... [more] |
| Engineer T's realization of alternative design |
after
Entity1 is after Entity2 |
accident |
time:intervalAfter
http://www.w3.org/2006/time#intervalAfter |
the fact that Engineer T... noticed after the accident that an alternative design approach could hav... [more] |
About Allen Relations & OWL-Time
Allen's Interval Algebra provides 13 basic temporal relations between intervals. These relations are mapped to OWL-Time standard properties for interoperability with Semantic Web temporal reasoning systems and SPARQL queries.
Each relation includes both a ProEthica custom property and a
time:* OWL-Time property for maximum compatibility.