When I was studying architecture and civil engineering at the University of Malta, a lecturer once remarked that “A perit is someone who knows a little about everything and a lot about nothing…” Although perhaps this quote is harsh on the profession, it does slightly summarise the profession in Malta.
Periti in Malta are expected to know (and are often asked about) issues affecting construction, ranging from road works to interiors to civil engineering issues. The same issue often affects other professions and, sometimes, this can result in misleading advice.
Throughout the last decades, various periti in this country specialised in various fields to allow them to offer clients a more focused and detailed service on particular aspects in the industry. When studying advanced structural engineering abroad, for example, students are taught to focus on all engineering aspects above the foundations. All topics relating to structures are covered and include earthquake design, long span bridges, tall buildings, and so on, but do not include any foundation design.
The complex topic of foundation engineering is tackled by students studying advanced geo-technical engineering. This is a particularly complex topic and, besides geology, includes advanced studies on the stresses of soil, complex foundation design and the ability to construct various types of buildings in all types of strata, ranging from fractured rock to weak clay.
In London, for example, many buildings have been built on clay sub-strata, and it is only due to the advancements made in geo-technical engineering that this has been possible.
When the sub-strata is weak or the building design is complex, specialised engineers are often engaged
In Malta, although the design of traditional buildings does not usually need the input of specialised engineers, when the sub-stratum is weak or, rather, the building design is complex (such as a tall building) specialised engineers are often engaged.
A situation that often involves specialised structural engineers is the design of large concrete transfer slabs in apartment blocks situated above garages that, in turn, support residential blocks. Their analysis and design can be quite complex and developers often ask for specialised designs to construct more efficient structures.
Lately, various reports referred to situations when professionals (who are not specialised engineers) commented on matters that, perhaps, might be beyond their main degree of specialisation. As the public is not aware of the remit of a particular profession, this might lead to misleading and confusing information that might also give rise to panic.
A case in point was the recent report concerning a medium-sized building in Sliema. Photos appeared to show fractured rock beneath the building and led to various people labelling the building unsafe. However, unless involved in the geo-technical (and structural) design of the building, it would be presumptuous of anyone to comment on the building, as one would need to know the methodology used, the depth of foundations, the location of the foundations, etc.
As it turned out, the foundations were actually situated far from the fractured rock and the building was, in fact, well built and very safe indeed.
Another case in point is the publicity given to the type of rock beneath a proposed tower in Sliema. Some reports have included discussions about how difficult it is to build a tower on such strata.
A geo-technical engineer would beg to differ, as, due to their specialisation, they are taught that there are various methodologies that would allow them to construct perfectly stable foundations on such rock. This concept would be similar to someone remarking that a tall building cannot be built in an earthquake zone.
Structural engineers are taught all the ways to design such buildings and to minimise any risks.
david@davidgrima.com
David Grima specialised in structural engineering.