Articles by Michael J. Tuttman

Accurately estimating construction costs requires a thorough understanding of project specific criteria, including the scope of work, project plans, applicable specifications, scheduling, project phasing, site-specific restraints, and construction methods. Based on the complexity of the process and the value of construction projects, these estimates are frequently disputed.

In this article, Civil Engineer Michael Tuttman discusses the key criteria considered when forensically investigating a construction cost dispute.

Residential and commercial development can permanently affect the flow of stormwater, potentially negatively impacting local waterways and neighboring properties. Activities during the construction of these projects can also temporarily affect stormwater flow conditions. In this article, Civil Engineer, Michael Tuttman discusses construction standards relevant to erosion and stormwater control measures.

In cities with streetcars, trolleys, trams, or other light rail systems (or remnants of abandoned rail systems), the tracks embedded in roadways are a known hazard for bicyclists, potentially resulting in wheel entrapments or loss of control. This article discusses some of the issues typically considered in relevant forensic investigations, including the anatomy of embedded rails, available safeguard options, and other methods used to notify cyclists and promote public safety.

In this article, Civil Engineer, Highway & Bridge Engineering Expert, Michael Tuttman, P.E. discusses the unique challenges involved in performing construction projects in a busy metropolitan area with a complex infrastructure. New York City and the surrounding Metropolitan area include more than 6,000 miles of roadways that interconnect via an overlapping system of bridges and tunnels. The engineers at Robson Forensic regularly provide expert witness investigations involving construction claims and injuries.

In this article, Civil Engineer and construction expert Michael J. Tuttman explores how the essential questions of “Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How” are as important for construction projects as they are for newspaper stories. They are needed to establish the scope of the work involved, and to estimate its cost. When the unexpected happens, resulting in a construction claim, you also have to know how to deal with the “How About.”

In this article Civil Engineer Michael Tuttman discusses the locating and protection of underground utility facilities, provides an overview of the various safety measures used while excavating in the vicinity of utilities, and reviews the potential responsibility for damage to property and loss of life.