‘Natural Disasters — What are the Civil Engineers Responsibilities?”

“Natural Disasters — What are the Civil Engineer’s Responsibilities?” The following is intended to stimulate, but should in no way limit, the discussion: In the built environment, there has been and will continue to be ongoing development in areas that are prone to natural disasters. From floods and storms to earthquakes and forest fires, natural disasters are costly both in terms of human suffering and financial resources. Despite the risks associate with building in such areas, demand for public and private development in them continues to grow. As stewards of the built environment, what responsibility do civil engineers have in this continued growth? Consider the following ethical questions. What are the ethical responsibilities for planning future civil engineering projects in natural disaster prone areas? What are the potential ethical issues in determining design codes, recommendations and parameters to prevent damage in natural disasters? What are the ethical issues involved when attempting to predict natural disaster frequency or return periods? What are the ethical obligations of civil engineers when advising clients engaged in development in natural disaster prone areas?