The ASCE Code of Ethics

Abstract

Welcome to ASCE’s Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics, as you will come to understand, is the foundation of the application of the civil engineering profession to the client and the public at large. Civil engineering is technical by nature, often involving complex concepts, evaluation, calculation, and design to implement a project. The other side of civil engineering is our interface with people, including the public, clients, reviewing agencies, and all the other people we impact with our work. This interface is where ethics comes into play. This presentation of ASCE’s Code of Ethics discusses what a code of ethics is and how it applies to one’s professional and personal life. A series of questions is presented that explores the essence of ethics and how it relates to our lives. The questions are intended to be diverse and to explore many aspects of ethics, but are by no means allinclusive. In fact, they are really just a starting point for your personal journey to understanding and applying ethics to everyday life. The format of this document starts with the question and answer portion. It is intended for those new to ethics as well as those who have been learning and applying ethics all their lives. The questions are intended to be thought provoking, with purposely short and concise responses. Each of these questions could be the source of extensive discussion. The intent is to expose the reader to the breadth of ethics, the importance of ethics, and to start the process of a serious and in-depth reflection and evaluation of ethics and how it applies to all aspects of life, both private and professional. Once the reader has the opportunity to explore and understand some basic concepts of ethics, the second part of the document focuses specifically on ASCE’s Code of Ethics. The ASCE Code of Ethics is comprised of fundamental principles and fundamental canons. The third part of the document discusses the application of the fundamental principles and fundamental canons to current engineering practice. This part is made up of the “Guidelines to Practice,” which are more like laws derived from the fundamental principles and fundamental canons. They provide specific examples of how each canon is applied to assist members with implementation of the Code of Ethics and how they form the basis of evaluation for disciplinary action for those who violate the Code of Ethics. Bear in mind that the guidelines are clarifications and discussions of specific issues, and are not in any way intended to be all-inclusive. They are mere