Forensic engineering is a branch of forensic science involving the study of failure or compromising stress in a electrical, civil, or mechanical system within its operational lifetime, and within the parameters and specifications defined at the time of its design and construction.

Forensic electrical engineering pertains to that failure or compromising stress in an electrical or electronic system within its operational lifetime, and within the parameters and specifications defined at the time of its design and construction.

Unfortunately some failure or compromising stress situations also involve serious injury or death to some person using the system, in which case the situation becomes a case for the coroner.

In less onerous situations where the situation involves property only, the situation may involve reparations and/ or recovery of costs, revenues, or some other financial relief.

In summary forensic electrical engineering may be defined as the Investigation into failure of electrical and/or electronic systems resulting in loss of life or injury to persons or property.

Nufer and Associates are forensic electrical/ electronic engineers.

A forensic job commences with investigations into the reasons why a failure occurred. This involves the collection of forensic evidence either from the site or from samples returned to the lab as a consequence of study and review of how the item failed. This requires dissection/ dismantling of the systems down to their fundamental components, testing (if still possible) followed by forensic analysis to reveal the failure mode/s.

Since systems are generally interdependent on the various components, failure or compromised performance can generally be traced back to fundamental items which have failed due to operation outside the normal specification.

The general outcome is then for this problem to escalate out of control, to result in failure of the overall system.

NUFER & Associates provides clients with expert witness & forensic services as a result of its forensic investigations and report. This based on over 35 years of industry experience as a sworn police officer and professional electrical engineer.

NUFER & Associates works in association with legal representatives to the benefit of the court to objectively establish the truth, and will not be partial to any party.

Scope of NAA's Expert Witness/ Forensic Engineering Services

• Electrical Systems, AC/ DC Battery/ Mains Power Systems;
• Electronic Systems, Transducers, Sensors & Actuators;
• Electromagnetic Radiation (50Hz to Microwave);
• RF, Telemetry, Wireless, & Radio Telecommunications;
• Navigation Systems & Radio Frequency Identification (RFID);
• Intelligent Transport System Electronics.

Since all systems cannot be defined in this small space please contact us for more information on our real scope of coverage on the numbers given below.

Various reasons why it might be necessary to engage forensic consultancy services comprise:

• Insurance fraud;
• Equipment failure leading to injury or death;
• Independent design review;
• Contractor management & sign-off;
• Inexplicable works or performance failure;
• Materials & component failure;
• Standards non-compliance;
• Fit-for-purpose investigation.

Features of Consultancy:

• 3rd Party Independence, objectivity & impartiality;
• Specialised engineering analysis;
• Thorough investigation, & review;
• Remedial advice & salvage of investment;
• Escalation & strategy for subsequent legal redress.

Deliverables

• Detailed reporting of investigative outcomes;
• Expert Witness;
• Engineering based scenario development; &
• Technology management advice.

Examples of past forensic services have included the following.

• Intermittent failure in operation of satellite ground station equipment;
• Unreliability of underground personnel RFID tracking systems;
• Interference in cellular mobile phone site antenna systems;
• Intermittent/ gross failure of marine electrical/ control equipment;
• Gross failure of marine electrical power leading to steerage/ throttle failure;
• Deterioration & failure of RF microwave broadcasting equipment;
• HERF posed by local RADAR equipment;
• HERP posed by buried/ elevated HV electrical cables & substations.

RFID - Radio Frequency IDentification
HERF - Hazard of Electromagnetic Radiation to Fuel
HERP - Hazard of Electromagnetic Radiation to Personnel
HV - High Voltage

Expanded Scope

In situations where NAA do not have direct knowledge it may co-opt the assistance of fellow industry professionals to provide the necessary overall expert advice appropriate to the situation being investigated.

Geographic Coverage

NAA's services span all geographical areas of the world and include most industry sectors.

Contact Details

To discuss your forensic engineering requirements, or for more information please contact Kerry Nufer on:

Phone: 61 (0)7 3273 1793,
Facsimile: 61 (0)7 3273 5493
Mobile: 61 (0) 428 645 046 (Principal Engineer), or
Email consult@nufer.com.au.