ARTICLES AND TECHNICAL NOTES
Practical observations on civil engineering issues.
This page features concise articles and technical notes for attorneys, owners, developers, municipalities, agencies, and contractors navigating civil-site, drainage, infrastructure, and dispute-related questions.
The goal is not to replace project-specific engineering advice. It is to explain recurring issues clearly, identify useful questions, and help readers recognize when a focused technical review may be appropriate.
Articles
Why a 1-Hour Thunderstorm Can Cause More Flooding in Columbia Than a Day of Rain
August 7, 2026 · 7-minute read
Why rainfall intensity, timing, drainage paths, and downstream conditions can produce serious local flooding even when 24-hour rainfall totals seem modest.
Flood conditions along a river corridor in Columbia, South Carolina.
Defining the "Standard of Care": How Expert Witnesses Evaluate Professional Engineering Negligence
August 2, 2026 · 7-minute read
Professional negligence claims rarely turn on whether an engineering design was perfect. This article explains how experts evaluate the applicable standard of care, distinguish code compliance from reasonable professional judgment, reconstruct the project context, and separate a potential departure from technical causation.
Why Stormwater Facilities Fail: Design, Construction, Maintenance, or Changed Conditions?
July 26, 2026 · 8-minute read
Stormwater failures rarely fit neatly into one category. This article explains how design assumptions, field execution, deferred maintenance, and changes to the surrounding watershed can interact—and outlines the evidence used to distinguish among them.
What Counsel Should Gather Before an Initial Civil Engineering Case Review
July 19, 2026 · 5-minute read
Civil engineering disputes may involve design, construction, maintenance, changed site conditions, or a combination of those factors. This practical guide identifies the plans, surveys, photographs, rainfall data, construction records, maintenance documents, and other information counsel should gather before requesting an initial engineering review.
Important Note
Articles and resources are general educational information. They do not provide engineering advice for a specific project or matter, establish a professional relationship, or substitute for review of the relevant plans, records, site conditions, and governing requirements.
Suggest a Topic
Questions that arise repeatedly in projects and disputes often make the most useful articles. To suggest a topic or discuss a specific matter, contact me.
Email: travis@travisbasnett.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/travis-basnett