Engineering Ethics Essay
Read the paper, Artificial Intelligence Ethics in the Project Management and Civil Engineering Domains by Bob Prieto
(2019) and then write a short essay analyzing one ethical issue it raises. Your essay will be graded based on ethical
reasoning (ABET Student Outcome 4) and effective communication (ABET Student Outcome 3).
1. Identify the Ethical Concern (2 points). Maximum Length: ~100 words (one short paragraph)
1. Select the Ethical Concern (1 pt):
o Choose a specific ethical issue from Prieto’s 2019 paper relevant to contemporary engineering practice.
Examples include:
Using AI with biased training data.
Lack of transparency or accountability in AI-driven project decisions.
Potential safety risks or environmental impacts if AI-based design has incomplete or faulty data.
2. Context (1 pt):
o Clearly state how your chosen issue impacts engineering solutions in one of the following contexts:
Global
Economical
Environmental
Societal
2. Summarize the Ethical Issue (3 points)
Maximum Length: ~150 words (one or two paragraphs)
Write a concise summary of the scenario from the paper (or a scenario inspired by the paper).
Include key facts:
o What is the nature of the AI system or algorithm?
o What part of civil engineering or project management does it affect?
o What is the ethical dilemma (e.g., data bias, lack of validation/verification, incomplete AI ethics
considerations)?
Explain why the issue is ethically significant and how it applies to contemporary engineering practice in your
chosen context (Global, Economical, Environmental, or Societal).
3. Apply the NSPE Code of Ethics (6 points)
Maximum Length: ~300 words (2-3 paragraphs)
Refer to the NSPE Code of Ethics (as discussed in lectures and posted in your reference folder).
Identify at least three specific Rules of Practice (e.g., Section II.1.a, II.3.a, etc.) that apply to your chosen AI
ethical issue.
For each rule:
1. Quote the exact wording (e.g., “Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the
public…”).
2. Provide a brief explanation (2–3 sentences) of why this rule applies in your case.
Example:
Section II.1.a – “Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public.”
Reasoning: Prieto’s paper raises concerns that AI-optimized designs could be skewed toward cost-savings and neglect public
safety, which would violate the code’s mandate to protect public welfare.
4. Identify the Stakeholders (2 points). Maximum Length: ~100 words (one paragraph)
1. List Stakeholders (1 pt):
o Who is directly impacted by this AI usage? (e.g., project managers, civil engineers, local communities, AI
tool developers, regulatory agencies)
o Who is indirectly impacted? (e.g., future users of the civil infrastructure, the environment, and agencies
funding the project)
2. Rank the Stakeholders (1 pt):
o Place the stakeholders in order of impact—those most affected to least affected.
o Briefly justify your ranking (e.g., “Local residents might face water contamination risks if the AI system
fails, which places them high on the impact list”).
5. Propose an Ethical Action or Evaluate a Chosen Resolution (2 points). Maximum Length: ~200 words
(two paragraphs)
Option A: Propose an action you believe engineers and project managers should take to address or mitigate the
ethical issue.
o Defend this action with persuasive reasoning (e.g., “Mandate an external audit of the AI’s training data and
require full transparency reports before deployment.”).
Option B: If Prieto’s paper or a related real-world case already provides a solution or recommended practice,
o Describe that solution, and
o Explain whether you agree or disagree with it (and why).
6. Effective Communication (5 points)
Your short essay will also be assessed on clarity and organization. Strive for:
1. Strong, succinct thesis early in the essay.
2. Logical structure: Introduction → Body → Conclusion.
3. Topic sentences that clearly lead each paragraph.
4. Relevant details that support your arguments.
5. Concluding sentence for each paragraph to tie ideas together.
6. Smooth transitions between sections.
Submission Instructions
Format: Upload a PDF file to Blackboard.
File Name: [Link]
Length: Aim for 1–2 pages of carefully written text (excluding references).
AI Declaration: Copy the following AI declaration into your assignment and fill in the necessary details.
AI Declaration Statement
I, [Your Name], ID: [Your ID], from the Department of [Your Department], declare the following regarding my use of AI
tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Grammarly, etc.) in preparing this assignment:
AI Usage:
o Yes / No (circle one)
If “Yes,” briefly describe how AI was used (e.g., grammar checks, paraphrasing, etc.):
I understand that no penalty applies to the declared use of AI; however, any content deemed vague, overly general, or not
clearly tied to this assignment may receive zero credit as per the grading policy.
Signature: _______________________ Date: _______________