GOT CURIOSITY, HUMILITY, AND HONESTY? - ON BEING AN EFFECTIVE INVESTIGATOR OF GEO-FAILURES

Geologists and geotechnical engineers are increasingly interested in the alternative careers of litigation support and failure investigation. Television has spawned fantasies in which the forensic detectives and technicians are able to solve the most difficult and entertaining mysteries in an hour or so. (Occasionally, geology even has cameo roles in the shows.)

Litigation support and failure investigations seem like lucrative and easy work, but too often attracts unsuited professionals. The stars of the TV shows are often personable, quirky, clever and wise. Certainly these qualities are nice to have, but they are not sufficient for the effective investigator of geo-failures or the expert witness. The desirable suite of personal qualities required of the ideal investigator, seeking to determine the unknown causes of failures, and/or to provide expert services in litigations, includes -

Curiosity: You are inspired to find out what you don't know. Intuitive: You are driven to seek knowledge in odd places. Humility: You know what you don't know. Qualified: You know more than most of your peers. Honesty: You admit what you don't know. Dedication: You persevere until you know. Lucid: You clearly communicate what you do know/don't know.

Generally, these qualities are most evident in professionals with broad geological/engineering backgrounds, and who have been exposed to professional challenges and failures. But as presented in example case histories, failure investigations have been poorly performed by practitioners who lacked several of the essential personal qualities.