Engineering
World Details
Description: The Engineering Ethics World represents a domain where engineers navigate complex ethical dilemmas requiring the application of abstract principles to concrete situations. In this world, professionals must balance their paramount duty to protect public safety against other obligations such as client confidentiality, employer loyalty, and professional integrity. Decision-making involves analyzing specific facts, identifying relevant ethical codes, resolving conflicts between competing principles through operationalization, and drawing analogies to precedent cases. The world encompasses scenarios involving safety assessments, environmental impacts, product integrity, confidential information, and professional conduct, all within organizational contexts that include established hierarchies, procedures, and economic pressures that influence ethical judgments.
Ontology: Engineering Ethics Edit Ontology
World Entities
Edit EntitiesThe role of rdf:type person or organization that commissions engineering services
The role of rdf:type government official responsible for enforcing regulations
- Regulatory Compliance Capability
The role of an engineer who designs and develops mechanical systems
- Mechanical Systems Design Capability
- Regulatory Compliance Capability
- Safety Assessment Capability
- Technical Reporting Capability
The role of an engineer who works for rdf:type regulatory agency or in regulatory compliance
The role of an engineer who analyzes and designs structural systems
- Regulatory Compliance Capability
- Safety Assessment Capability
- Structural Analysis Capability
- Structural Design Capability
- Technical Reporting Capability
The role of an official who enforces building codes and regulations
The role of an engineer who provides expert advice to clients
- Engineering Consultation Capability
- Regulatory Compliance Capability
- Safety Assessment Capability
- Technical Reporting Capability
The role of rdf:type member of the public affected by engineering work
The role of an engineer performing inspection services
- Regulatory Compliance Capability
- Safety Assessment Capability
- Technical Reporting Capability
The role of an engineer who manages engineering projects
- Project Management Capability
- Regulatory Compliance Capability
- Safety Assessment Capability
- Technical Reporting Capability
The role of an engineer who designs and develops electrical systems
- Electrical Systems Design Capability
- Regulatory Compliance Capability
- Safety Assessment Capability
- Technical Reporting Capability
The role of an engineer bound by confidentiality agreements
A dilemma where professional competence limitations conflict with client demands
A dilemma where confidentiality obligations conflict with public safety obligations
The principle that engineers should maintain objectivity in their professional judgments
A deficiency in rdf:type building's electrical system that may violate codes or standards
The principle that engineers shall not reveal facts, data, or information without prior consent of the client (NSPE Code II.1.c)
The principle that engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence (NSPE Code II.2)
A condition related to public health that requires engineering assessment or intervention
The principle that engineers shall not complete, sign or seal plans that are not safe to public health and welfare (NSPE Code III.2.b)
A legal requirement to maintain confidentiality of information
A weakness or flaw in rdf:type structural system that may compromise safety
A dilemma where existing regulations conflict with broader public safety considerations
The principle that engineers shall be objective and truthful in professional reports and statements
The principle that engineers should consider future impacts of their work beyond immediate requirements
A condition that poses risk to safety in an engineering context
A dilemma where an engineer must navigate conflicting interests in professional practice
A deficiency in rdf:type building's mechanical system that may violate codes or standards
A condition that violates building codes or engineering standards
The principle that engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence
The principle that engineers should disclose relevant information to affected parties
A deficiency in rdf:type building system that may pose safety hazards
A condition where an engineer has competing interests that may compromise professional judgment
The principle that engineers shall not reveal confidential information without proper consent
A dilemma where an engineer must determine the extent of their professional responsibility
The principle that engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public
A conflict where an engineer serves in two different roles with potentially competing interests
A dilemma where quality standards conflict with budget constraints
The principle that engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public (NSPE Code I.1)
A specific section of the NSPE Code of Ethics
The National Society of Professional Engineers Code of Ethics
A report documenting structural engineering findings
A set of regulations governing building design and construction
A specific section of an ethics code or building code
A report documenting findings from an engineering inspection
Technical drawing showing engineering design details
A code of ethics for engineering professionals
Engineering drawings showing design specifications
A report documenting engineering findings or analysis
Detailed requirements for engineering work
An action of modifying an engineering design
A decision about whether to approve an engineering design
A decision about whether to breach confidentiality to protect public safety
A decision about whether to report unethical practices or dangerous conditions
A decision weighing public safety against confidentiality obligations
An action of preparing an engineering report
An action of reporting rdf:type safety hazard to authorities or stakeholders
A decision weighing public safety obligations against confidentiality obligations
An event where safety issues are reported to authorities
An event where rdf:type confidential report is delivered to rdf:type client
An event where an engineered structure or system is inspected
An event where rdf:type structure is inspected for integrity
An event where rdf:type safety hazard is discovered during professional work
An event where rdf:type safety hazard is discovered during professional work
An event where information is not disclosed to relevant parties
An event where an engineer meets with rdf:type client
The capability to design mechanical systems
The capability to provide expert engineering advice
The capability to ensure compliance with regulations
The capability to analyze structural systems
The capability to prepare technical reports
The capability to manage engineering projects
The capability to design electrical systems
The capability to assess safety risks in engineering contexts
The capability to design structural systems
Guidelines
Add GuidelinesNSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers
Preamble Engineering is an important and learned profession. As members of this profession, engineers are expected to exhibit the highest standards of honesty and integrity. Engineering has a direct...
View DetailsCase Studies
Add Case StudyNSPE Ethics Case: Misrepresentation Qualifications
Engineer A is a licensed Professional Engineer in three states (C, D, and E) and is a Board-certified Diplomate in Forensic Engineering. Attorney X contacts Engineer A, seeking the services of a non-e...
View DetailsNSPE Ethics Case: Good Samaritan Laws
Engineer A, a registered professional engineer in State Z, is discussing with colleague Engineer B a recently enacted law in their state that provides design professionals with immunity from liability...
View DetailsNSPE Ethics Case: Public Safety Health Welfare Avoiding Rolling Blackouts
Engineer A works for an organization that for years has operated a fossil-fueled co-generation facility primarily to supply thermal energy for process needs. The facility has the capability to produce...
View DetailsNSPE Ethics Case: Conflict Interest Pes Serving State Licensure Boards
The Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers (“the PE Board”) in State X consists of six professional engineers and a public member. The governor of State X has recently appointed two new board m...
View DetailsNSPE Ethics Case: Post Public Employment City Engineer Transitioning Consultant
Engineer D, a licensed professional engineer, works as the City Engineer in a mid-sized municipality that has been experiencing rapid growth along with rapid infrastructure growth. Engineer D has been...
View DetailsNSPE Ethics Case: Excess Stormwater Runoff
A new subdivision is planned in City C, located in State Q. Developer G retains Firm BWJ (an engineering and surveying firm), under the direction of Principal Engineer R, to develop plans for the subd...
View DetailsNSPE Ethics Case: Competence Design Services
County A was expecting a significant amount of rural roadway construction in the upcoming construction season. County A did not have enough engineering staff to handle the design effort required for t...
View DetailsNSPE Ethics Case: Providing Incomplete Self Serving Advice
Engineer A provides construction services in the community of City B and is a licensed professional engineer in State C where City B is located. City B is a large metropolitan area and all forms of co...
View DetailsNSPE Ethics Case: Independence Peer Reviewer
wner is developing a site with two mirror-image towers to be built two years apart. As the first tower is built, several significant design errors are discovered in the plans and design of Engineer A....
View DetailsNSPE Ethics Case: Impaired Engineering
Test case Summary Engineer A owns a consulting engineering firm specializing in civil engineering and surveying services associated with land development. Business has been very successful, so much s...
View DetailsNSPE Ethics Case: Professional Responsibility If Appropriate Authority Fails Act
Engineer B, a resident of City M and a consulting engineer with ABC Engineers, was retained to evaluate changing the Metropolitan Water Commission’s (MWC) public water source serving City M from remot...
View DetailsNSPE Ethics Case: Review Other Engineer S Work
Client A is a city which receives consulting engineering services from a selected private firm. The contract runs for 3 years. Engineer B is currently hired under these contract terms and is in the fi...
View DetailsNSPE Ethics Case: Sharing Built Drawings
Engineer D is a fire protection engineer in the public sector and works for a state agency. The agency advertises for bids on major building renovation projects; the bid documents made no reference to...
View DetailsNSPE Ethics Case: Unlicensed Practice Nonengineers Engineer Job Titles
Engineer A, a consulting engineer, presents signed and sealed design contract documents to the State Agency manager, “Transportation Engineer” B, who personally reviews those documents for final appro...
View DetailsNSPE Ethics Case: Public Welfare What Cost
A consultant recently determined the existing water main in Shadyvale is generally in good condition but extremely old. Further, the water main is no longer large enough for all the properties served....
View DetailsNSPE Ethics Case: Internal Plan Reviews Vsthird Party Peer Reviews Duties
Engineer B is a design engineer from Firm X and has only completed a 30% design. However, Engineer B has requested the project manager to assign someone to perform a higher 60% design review to justif...
View DetailsNSPE Ethics Case: Conflict Interest Designbuild Project
Engineer D is the Engineer of Record (EOR) as part of a design-build team led by Contractor W. Under the terms of an Agency funding grant, the project is required to have an independent peer review o...
View DetailsNSPE Ethics Case: Offer Free Or Reduced Fee Services
A small city has been notified by the State’s environmental agency that its water system is not compliant with drinking water standards and the city must resolve its non-compliant issues. The city dec...
View DetailsNSPE Ethics Case: Public Health Safety Welfare Climate Change Induced Conditions
Engineer A is a consulting engineer representing Client B, a developer who is proposing to develop a health care facility that requires a significant upgrade to the property’s access road that crosses...
View DetailsNSPE Ethics Case: Equipment Design Certification Plan Stamping
Engineer M works as a building manager for a public entity and is aware that a new piece of equipment being installed in the facility has a requirement for a design release (a document filed with the ...
View DetailsNSPE Ethics Case: Gifts Mining Safety Boots
Engineer A works for an insurance company, and part of his work involves visits to remote mining sites to assess compliance with best practices as outlined by the company as well as compliance with co...
View DetailsNSPE Ethics Case: Public Health Safety Welfare Drinking Water Quality
Engineer A is a professional engineer who serves as the superintendent and chief engineer for the Metropolitan Water Commission (MWC). In order to reduce municipal expenditures and lower water rates, ...
View DetailsResponsible Charge and Sealing Drawings
Responsible Charge and Sealing Drawings This article addresses the ethical responsibilities of professional engineers regarding responsible charge and the sealing of engineering drawings. Key topi...
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