ASCE Foundation Evaluations – Structural Inspections

Our firm proudly practices both CIVIL ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING.  We also practice forensic engineering and testify in the Texas courts when called to do so.  We are experienced, seasoned professionals.  At any given time, we are providing expert testimony, designing commercial building facilities, and providing civil and structural consulting services to our customers.

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Texas Section, provides guidance for three foundation evaluation types: Level A, B and C Residential Foundation Evaluations (inspections).  Each need the combined skills of a civil engineer, a structural engineer, and various civil engineering sub-specialties such as geotechnical engineering, earth science, coastal engineering, surveying, and construction engineering.  The one-dimensional practice of structural engineering may not be adequate to satisfy the education, training, and experience requirements to complete a level A, B, or C foundation evaluations, inspections, or assessments.

Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline covering the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment. Civil engineering includes works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings. Civil engineering is the oldest non-military oriented engineering discipline. In fact Civil engineering was defined to distinguish non-military engineering from military engineering.

Civil engineering is traditionally broken into several sub-disciplines including environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, Geophysics, Geodesy, Control engineering, structural engineering, biomechanics, nanotechnology, transportation engineering, earth science, atmospheric sciences, forensic engineering, municipal or urban engineering, water resources engineering, materials engineering, Control Engineering, coastal engineering, surveying, and construction engineering. Civil engineering takes place on all levels: in the public sector from municipal through to national governments, and in the private sector from individual homeowners through to international companies.

Conversely, structural engineering is usually considered a specialty within civil engineering, but it can also be studied in its own right. It is a field of engineering dealing with the analysis and design of structures that support or resist loads. Structural engineers are most commonly involved in the design of buildings and large non-building structures.  They can also be involved in the design of machinery, medical equipment, vehicles, or any item where structural integrity affects the item’s function or safety.  Structural engineers must make sure their designs satisfy given design criteria, predicated on safety (e.g. structures must not collapse without due warning) or serviceability and performance (e.g. building sway must not cause discomfort to the occupants). Structural engineering theory is based upon physical laws and empirical knowledge of the structural performance of different materials and geometries. An engineering design uses a number of simple structural elements to build up structural systems that can be very complex. Structural engineers are responsible for making creative and efficient use of funds, structural elements, and materials to meet these goals.

 ASCE Foundation Evaluations – Structural Inspections  ASCE Foundation Evaluations – Structural Inspections  ASCE Foundation Evaluations – Structural Inspections