Engineering as Social Experimentation

Case Study - Titanic

Sea trials are designed to prove capabilities of equipment, crew and procedures during both normal and abnormal conditions Titanic was fitted and sent for sea trials.(8 hrs of sea trials) One life boat drill was conducted- how to evacuate the ship in an emergency Several members of the crew would not report on board until the day of departure. Incident April 14,1912 Royal Mail Steamer Titanic steamed ahead at almost full speed in darkness struck an Iceberg at 11.40 pm. Mistake Ignored Six Iceberg Danger warnings from other ships,lacked sufficient no of boats Nearly 1522 of the 2228 passengers on board were lost. Since its no moon day the reflection of light from the surface of the berg was not noticed.(Indicators were Absent)
http://www-iwse.eng.ohio-state.edu/ISEFaculty/sommerich/ise671/titanic-case-study.pdf

Swedens worst Bridge Collapse

http://www.archbridges.cn/ccjc2011/paper/22.pdf Failures due to change in Flood Velocities, Erosion and type of piling like sheet piling to make it stronger.

Experiment
Engg Project is viewed as an Experiment New Engg Design- Rough Design (Preliminary Tests)-Base for detailed designs Production stage Tests are run until a finished product evolve Engg Design Process- Iterative, Trial Modification Feedback Change and Testing

Similarities to Standard Experiment

Project Partial Ignorance Uncertainty Abstract Model, Characteristic of Materials used No Luxury in checking all before commencing their work First Engg Talent Despite Partial knowledge of project (nature of soil, materials..) the project should up successfully

Similarities to Standard Experiment

Secondly the final outcome UNCERTAIN Reservoir, Aircraft, Nuclear Reactor Thirdly effective engg- Knowledge gained about products before and after they leave the factory. Improving current products and creating better ones Gaining new Knowledge Monitoring Periodic observations-success and side effects

Similarities to Standard Experiment

consider product efficiency, cost effectiveness, safety, environmental impact Not only in-house also client use should be monitored

Learning From the Past

Titanic Lacked sufficient number of Lifeboats Swedens Worst Bridge Collapse,1980 1966 Bridge in Wales 1979- Nuclear Reactor Accident Fontenelle Dam- Massive Leaks-Partial Collapse

Contrasts with standard experiments

Engineering differs from std experimentation Experiment Control Std Experiment selection at random Product clients belong to different group buy it. Difficult to take samples Control Group dont receive spl treatment can be considered historical data Engineering as a Social Experimentation

 Engineering as a Social Experimentation original purpose is not experimental in nature Engg as Natural Experiment Engineering can be viewed as natural experiments using human subjects because it involves diversity of systems

Informed Consent
Experiment on human beings Human beings affected by technology IC- Main Elements Knowledge (all information shld be given to make reasonable decision ) and Voluntariness ( Without Forcing / Fraud ) Valid Consent involves - Voluntary - Consent was based on information from a rational person - consenter was competent not too young / ill to process the information and make rational decisions - Information that rational person need should be in understandable form - subject consent should specify likes, concerns and exposure to risk

Knowledge Gained
Engg Activity Experiment Prepare ourselves for Unexpected Outcomes Best Outcome- literally Right Unexpected Outcome search for new Knowledge