Description

A parking garage floor collapses. A masonry facade sheds bricks onto a busy sidewalk. A wood framed building settles unevenly for years before anyone asks why. 

When a structure fails, someone must find out exactly what went wrong, document it correctly, and be ready to explain it clearly if the case ends up in front of a judge or jury. 

This is the work of the structural forensic engineer. 

It’s part investigation, part science, and part high-stakes communication. Get the process wrong, misread the evidence, or misstep on the witness stand, and the consequences reach well beyond one project. They can affect careers, reputations, and the outcome of litigation. 

So if you’ve ever wondered how a real forensic investigation unfolds, from documenting the failure to determining causation to standing up under cross examination, this training is for you. 

Join James D’Aloisio, P.E., LEED AP, principal with Klepper, Hahn & Hyatt, as he draws on more than 30 years of experience and over 150 structural forensic investigations to walk you through the full forensic engineering process, from historic failure case studies to the ethical obligations that come with the job. 

You’ll leave with a practical framework for investigating structural failures across steel, wood, concrete, and masonry construction, a clear understanding of your ethical obligations under the NSPE Code of Ethics, and the confidence to serve as a credible expert witness when a case demands it. 

Don’t wait for a failure to force you to learn this on the fly. 

Register now!

Agenda

Webinar instructions will be emailed 24-48 business hours before the date of the webinar.
Please log into the webinar 10-15 minutes before start time.


Day 1: Tuesday, February 2, 2027
9:00 am – 12:30 pm CST

Day 2: Wednesday, February 3, 2027
9:00 am – 12:50 pm CST


Agenda:
Presented by James D’Aloisio, P.E., LEED AP

 

Day 1 – 9:00 am -12:30 pm CST 

Designing and Constructing to Prevent Failures 

  • Structural design vs. forensic engineering 
  • Brief review of ICC codes 
  • Common and uncommon structural systems 

Causes of Structural Failures 

  • Lessons learned from historic failures 
  • Design errors, defective construction, and material deficiencies 
  • Excessive loadings and improper usage or modification 
  • Deterioration and degradation 

Understanding the Forensic Engineering Process 

  • Documenting the failure 
  • Conducting investigation and research 

 

Day 2 – 9:00-12:50 pm CST 

Understanding the Forensic Engineering Process (continued) 

  • Test protocols and testings 
  • Determining causation and responsibility 
  • Learning from failures 

Forensic Examination of Structures 

  • Investigation of steel, wood, concrete, and masonry structures 
  • Investigation of building facades and foundations 
  • Load testing and instrumentation 

Using Forensic Engineering Information 

  • The forensic engineering report 
  • Post-failure conflicts and disputes 
  • Arbitration, mediation, and litigation 
  • The forensic engineer as expert witness 

Ethical Issues in Structural Forensic Engineering 

  • NSPE Code of Ethics and forensic engineering 
  • Ethical dilemmas 

 

Webinar Instructions 
 
All attendees must log-on through their own email – attendees may not watch together if they wish to earn continuing education credit. HalfMoon Education Inc. must be able to prove attendance if either the attendee or HalfMoon Education Inc. is audited.

Certificates of completion can be downloaded in PDF form upon passing a short quiz. A link to the quiz will be sent to each qualifying attendee immediately after the webinar. The certificate can be downloaded from the Results page of the quiz upon scoring 80% or higher.

Webinars are presented via GoToWebinar, an easy-to-use application that can be run on most systems and tablets. Instructions and login information will be provided in an email sent close to the date of the webinar. It is highly recommended that you download, install and test the application before the webinar begins by clicking on the link in the email.

GoToWebinar App requirements:  
Windows 10 or higher, macOS 11 or higher, Linux, Google Chrome OS

Web Browser: 
Google Chrome (most recent 3 versions) 
Microsoft Edge (most recent 3 versions)

Internet connection: 1 Mbps or better

Hardware: 2GB of RAM (minimum), 4GB or more of RAM (recommended)

For more information, visit the Support section at www.gotowebinar.com

Credits

Engineers
7.0 PDHs

Architects
7.0 HSW CE Hours

AIA - American Institute of Architects
7.0 HSW LUs

ICC - International Code Council
0.7 CEUs (Building)

This webinar is open to the public and is designed to qualify for 7.0 PDHs for professional engineers and 7.0 HSW continuing education hours for licensed architects in all states that allow this learning method. Please refer to specific state rules to determine eligibility. 

HalfMoon Education is an approved continuing education sponsor for engineers in Florida (Provider License No: CEA362), Indiana (License No. CE21700059), Maryland, and New Jersey (Approval No. 24GP00049300). HalfMoon Education is deemed an approved continuing education sponsor for New York engineers and architects via its registration with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System. Other states do not preapprove continuing education providers or courses. 

The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System has approved this course for 7.0 HSW LUs (Sponsor No. J885). Only full participation is reportable to the AIA/CES.

The International Code Council has approved this event for .7 CEUs in the specialty area of Building (Preferred Provider No. 1232).

Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the webinar for those who attend the entire course and score a minimum 80% on the quiz that follows the course (multiple attempts allowed). 

  

On-Demand Credits 

The credits listed above apply only to the live webinar. This course in an on-demand format may not qualify for the same credit in some states. Please refer to specific board rules to determine if an asynchronous, on-demand course is appropriate. The following credits will be included in the on-demand format: 

7.0 HSW LUs (AIA)

Speakers

James A. D’Aloisio, P.E. LEED AP

Principal with Klepper, Hahn & Hyatt in Syracuse, New York

Mr. D’Aloisio is a principal with Klepper, Hahn & Hyatt, a structural engineering, landscape architecture, and building envelope services firm in East Syracuse, New York. A graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, he is a registered professional engineer in New York. He is a member and past president (1997-1998) of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Syracuse Section, and a member of the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), the American Concrete Institute (ACI), the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), and the Structural Engineers Association of New York State (SEAoNY). 

Mr. D’Aloisio has served on ASCE/SEI’s Frost-Protected Shallow Foundations Committee, the Structural Condition Assessment of Existing Buildings Committee, and the SEI Sustainability Committee. Mr. D’Aloisio received the Order of the Engineer at Syracuse University in 1997. 

His 30-plus years of experience as a consulting structural engineer has primarily involved the design of new building structures, additions, and modifications, and analyses, assessments, and investigations of structures and facades. Mr. D’Aloisio has performed structural condition reviews of over 15 million square feet of buildings, and he has performed over 150 structural forensic investigations. He has presented over 300 times. 

 

LinkedIn

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 of Buildings: How to Identify the Causes of Structural Failures

Delivery Method: Live Online 

Course Description: This seven-hour course examines the strategies used to prevent structural failures in the design and construction of buildings, explains the causes of structural failure and the forensic engineering process, reviews investigations of various structures, and provides guidance on the use of forensic engineering information and how to navigate ethical issues in structural engineering.

Learning Objectives: 

Learning Objective 1: Learners will be able to identify the causes of structural failures, including design errors, defective construction, material deficiencies, excessive loading, improper usage or modification, deterioration and degradation, or a combination of causes.

Learning Objective 2: Learners will be able to discuss the forensic engineering process, including the conducting of an investigation and research, test protocols and measurements, determination of causation and responsibility, and learning from failure.

Learning Objective 3: Learners will be able to review the investigations of various types of structures, including steel, wood and concrete.

Learning Objective 4: Learners will be able to discuss how to examine a forensic engineering report and how the information contained in it is used in mediation, arbitration and litigation.

LUs: 7.0

LU Type: LU|HSWs 

Prerequisites: None

Advance Preparation: None 

Program Level: Intermediate 

Course Expiration Date:  10/05/2029

Complaint Resolution Policy: 

Complaints regarding this course can be emailed to lchapman@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.