Professional Practice and Ethics

Year: IV Semester: VII

Course Objectives:

a. To provide students with fundamental concepts of initiating professional practices and ethics.
b. To introduce the ethical and legal environment in which Geomatic engineering work is practiced.

Course Contents:

1. Ethics and Professionalism (6 hours)

1.1 Professional Ethics
1.2 Importance of Ethics
1.3 Ethical Principles
1.4 Code of Conduct for Surveying
1.5 Preparing the Firm and Staff

2. Perspective on Morals, Ethics and Professionalism (9 hours)

2.1 Introduction
2.2 Codes of Ethics and Guidelines for Professional Survey Practice
2.3 Promotion of Ethics in Surveying
2.4 Relationship of Survey Profession to Basic Science and Technology
2.5 Patriotism

3. Roles of Professional Associations (6 hours)

3.1 Regulation of Professional Practice
3.2 Licensing
3.3 Guidance for Training New Entrants
3.4 Advice to Engineering Colleges
3.5 Maintaining Professional Competence
3.6 Providing Technical Expertise to Legislators
3.7 Ensuring Public Safety and Welfare

4. Legal Aspects of Professional Surveying in Nepal (9 hours)

4.1 Nepalese Legal System and Surveying Practice
4.2 Provisions for Private Practice and Employee Engineers
4.3 Public Procurement Act 2063 and Rules 2064
4.4 Tendering
4.5 Contract Documents
4.6 Liability and Negligence
4.7 Relationship with Foreign Firms in Nepal

5. Roles and Practice of Professional Surveying in Other Countries (4 hours)

5.1 Asian Countries
5.2 USSR and Eastern Europe
5.3 Western Europe
5.4 North America

6. Planning of the Survey Project (10 hours)

6.1 Planning and Aerial Photography
6.2 Field Control
6.3 Photogrammetric Works
6.4 Cartography
6.5 Reproduction/GIS
6.6 Distribution and Reporting

7. Studies Involving Professional Ethical Issues (6 hours)

7.1 Intellectual Property Rights
7.2 Personal Privacy and Computerized Databases
7.3 Industrialization vs Environmental Protection
7.4 Risk/Benefit in Public Transportation
7.5 Engineers and the Military
7.6 Science and Technology in Medicine
7.7 Surveyors in International Development

Exercises:

• Exercises related to Chapter 6 (Planning of the Survey Project)

Recommended Readings:

1. Arnold M. Ruskin and W. Eugene Estes, Project Management, Marcel Decker Publishers, 1982.
2. FIG Publication No.17, Statement of Ethical Principles and Model Code of Professional Conduct
3. FIG Publication No.29, Business Matters for Professionals, 2002.
4. Carson Morrison and Philip Hughes, Professional Engineering Practice - Ethical Aspects, McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd., Toronto, 1982.
5. Textbook of Engineering Professional Practice, by Er. S.K. Shrestha, et al.

Examination Scheme

Model Questions

Very Short Questions [4×2 = 8]

1. Define liability and negligence.
2. Write short notes on Commission 1 of FIG.
3. Review personal privacy and large computerized databases.
4. Describe the legal provisions for the publication of maps in Nepal.

Short Questions [8×4 = 32]

5. Describe the ethical principles in surveying.
6. Explain how to prepare a firm and staff based on ethical principles.
7. Explain the roles of professional associations in survey works.
8. How do survey works ensure public safety and general welfare?
9. Describe the status of foreign firms working in Nepal.
10. Explain risk and benefit considerations in public transportation.
11. Describe methods and stages of approving national and international bids for construction works.
12. Explain the roles and practice of professional surveying in the USA or Canada.

Long Questions [2×10 = 20]

13. Define morals and ethics. Describe codes of ethics and guidelines for professional survey practice.
14. Describe the working procedure for planning aerial photography.
    OR
    Describe briefly the contents of the Public Procurement Act 2063.