What Structural Engineering Business and Professional Practices Should SEAOC Address Now, Based Upon the Original Concerns and Visions of the Founders?

摘要

About seventy-two years ago, the founders of the SEAOSC and SEAONC had certain concerns as to the practice of structural engineering of that era AND a vision of improving the state-of-the-art practice to a more professional level. Their mutual concerns resulted in the formation of the SEAOC in 1932. This paper presents an overview of the original concerns and visions based upon a review of "Connections" ― The EERI Oral History Series, and informal discussions with various retired and practicing structural engineers in order to identify some specific areas of practice wherein our profession and society as a whole could benefit if SEAOC became truly PRO-ACTIVE. These unmet needs are more difficult to address than earthquake and structural engineering education or earthquake hazard mitigation! Why? Because they are "people problems", not technical problems. They involve personal and professional conduct, moral and ethical conduct, and society as a whole. Principal items of concern are: 1. Canon or Code of Ethics 2. Guidelines of Professional Conduct 3. Professional Conduct in Legal Proceedings 4. Legal System: Friend or Foe? 5. California Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (BORPELS) 6. Mentoring The views expressed herein are my own personal ones for which I alone am responsible. The suggested courses of action may be viewed by some as radical, impractical, unrealistic―so be it! If there is a will, there is a way!