Structural Forensic Engineering
DISCLAIMER
Before purchasing, review the rules of your licensing or certifying entity. It is your responsibility to confirm this course meets your CE requirements. See the credit tab on the course page for details.
What’s Included: Full webinar recording, written course materials, expert instruction, a mandatory quiz, and a certificate upon completion.
Deliverability Timeline: All courses are generally available within 1-2 weeks after the live presentation.
CE Credits: AIA and/or LA/CES accreditation is available by request for courses recorded prior to March 11, 2026. All courses after that date include those accreditations by default, if applicable. With these accreditations, our courses qualify for credit in nearly all states for engineers, surveyors, architects, and landscape architects.
Learn more about the on-demand format in our FAQ or contact us at (715) 835-5900 or customerservice@halfmoonseminars.org
Agenda
Registration: 8:00 – 8:30 am
Morning Session: 8:30 am – 12:15 pm
Lunch (On your own): 12:15 – 1:15 pm
Afternoon Session: 1:15 – 5:30 pm
Introductions & Backgrounds
Examining the Role of Forensic Engineering
Definition of forensics and structural failure
Causes and consequences of structural failures
Importance of good designImpact of codes and standards
Legal and economic impacts of failures
Results and consequences of forensic engineering
Understanding the Forensic Engineering Process
Documenting the failure
Conducting investigation and research
Test protocols and tests
Determining causation and responsibility
Learning from failure
Preparing and Reviewing Forensic Engineering Reports
Identifying the report’s purpose and its audience
Examining content
Organizing the report
Evaluating sample reports
Understanding Causes of Structural Failures
Design errors
Construction errors
Excessive loadings
Material deficiencies, deterioration, and degradation
Testing for material Issues
Forensic Examination of Structures
Investigation of steel structures
Investigation of wood structures
Investigation of concrete structures
Investigation of masonry and building facades
Using Forensic Engineering Information in Litigation
Presenting forensic engineering information as an expert witness
Offering testimony as an expert witness
Credits
Professional Engineers
7.0 PDHs*
Architects
7.0 HSW CEHs
7.0 AIA LU|HSW
Contractors
Non-Credit Continuing Ed.
* Continuing education not mandatory in RI
Continuing Education Credit Information
This seminar is open to the public and offers 7.0 HSW continuing education hours to architects and 7.0 PDHs for professional engineers in all states with continuing education requirements. Rhode Island engineers do not have a continuing education requirement. Educators and courses for architects are not subject to preapproval in Rhode Island.
This seminar is approved by the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System for 7.0 LU|HSW (Sponsor No. J885). Only full attendance can be reported to the AIA/CES. Visit www.halfmoonseminars.org for complete AIA/CES information under this course listing.
HalfMoon Education is an approved continuing education sponsor for engineers in Florida, Indiana (License No. CE21700059), Maryland, New Jersey (Approval No. 24GP00000700), North Carolina, and North Dakota. HalfMoon Education is deemed an approved continuing education sponsor for New York engineers and architects.
This course offers a continuing education opportunity to construction contractors. It has not been approved by any state contractor licensing entity for mandatory continuing education credit.
Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the seminar for most individuals who complete the entire event. Attendance certificates not available at the seminar will be mailed to participants within fifteen business days.
Speakers
Victor Popp, PE, MS, CSL
Principal, VPopp Inc.Mr. Popp is a licensed professional engineer in New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Colorado. He also holds an unrestricted construction supervisor and home inspector license (in Massachusetts). Mr. Popp provides expert technical consulting services based on over three decades of broad-based mechanical and structural engineering experience. He has developed state-of-the-art custom machinery, structures and systems, and he has performed engineering management and consulting services for a wide variety of clients, applications, and industries. These include the consumer, aerospace, materials, testing, biomedical, automotive, and construction markets. Mr. Popp has experience in state-of-the-art design and manufacturing, in production and research and development environments. He has also performed forensic and failure analysis investigations of material and product failures as well as structural engineering analysis. Mr. Popp holds a masters of science degree in Administrative Studies from Boston College, a bachelor of science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, and a certificate in Engineering Management Development from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He has also completed other PhD and Master’s level engineering course work including bio-mechanical engineering, CAD, thermodynamics, and numerical analysis at UMASS and at Northeastern University. As a result of his extensive professional experience and education, Mr. Popp has been an invited presenter at the University of Fair Haven’s Graduate School of Forensic Engineering and at the National Academy of Forensic Engineers Annual Convention.
AIA Info
AIA Provider Statement:
HalfMoon Education Inc. is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider Number J885. All registered AIA/CES Providers must comply with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs. Any questions or concerns about this provider of learning program may be sent to AIA/CES (cesupport@aia.org or (800) AIA 3837, Option 3).
This learning program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.
AIA continuing education credit has been reviewed and approved by AIA/CES. Learners must complete the entire learning program to receive continuing education credit. AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.
Course Title: Structural Forensic Engineering
Delivery Method: Live
Course Description:
This 7.0 hour live lecture presentation covers designing and constructing to prevent failures, the causes of structural failures, the forensic examination of structures, the forensic engineering process,and the use of forensic engineering information.
Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1:
Learners will be able to describe common causes of structural failures, including design errors, defective construction, material deficiencies, excessive loading, and deterioration and degradation.
Learning Objective 2:
Learners will be able to describe the forensic engineering process for failures and explain how this information is used.
Learning Objective 3:
Learners will be able to understand the design professional standard of care, explain the importance of codes and standards, and comply with professional duties to design structures without enduring failures.
Learning Objective 4:
Learners will be able to describe the forensic engineering examination of of failures in steel, wood, concrete, and masonry structures.
LUs: 7.0 LU Type: LU|HSWs.
Prerequisites: Familiarity with structural engineering.
Advance Preparation: None
Program Level: Intermediate
Course Expiration Date: 08/10/2021
Complaint Resolution Policy:
Complaints regarding this course can be emailed to doug@halfmoonseminars.org or by calling (715) 835-5900. A HalfMoon Education representative will respond within 72 hours to resolve the complaint, which will include, but not limited to, access to another CE activity at no or reduced cost or a full or partial refund. Each instance will be resolved on a case-by-case situation.