A background in hard science is critical for student job hunting success in the increasingly crowded field of
forensic science.
Fig. 1: Relative vibration limits for a number of building uses.
The northern elevation features extensive glazing, which opens up visually and physically to a landscaped quad.
Natural plantings will be used throughout the landscaped portion of the project in order to alleviate unnecessary
use of water. Image: TVA Architects
;;
Adam Denmark, AIA, LEED AP BD+C,
and Steve Hackman, AIA, LEED AP
SmithGroupJJR
The forensic field is attracting new graduates from forensic science ducation programs every year and
the number of individuals necessary to
meet anticipated demand in the industry is
expected to grow at a faster rate than other
professions, according to the Bureau of
Labor Statistics. However, many students
attempting to enter the field lack the balanced
academic background that crime laboratories
increasingly demand. This viewpoint was
underscored at a forensic education roundtable
discussion attended by an international panel
of forensic laboratory leaders and hosted by
SmithGroupJJR, an integrated architecture,
engineering and planning firm. During that
conversation, consensus was reached that
job seekers must have a far more diverse
yet balanced education, and that there are
both benefits and challenges to expanded
partnerships between education providers and
forensic facilities.
Ethan Brush
Acentech
Many laboratory research activities require environments with extremely minimal vibration.
Unacceptably high vibrations in a sensitive
lab area can place severe limits on the
measurements and investigations that
can be done. Exposure of ultra-sensitive
equipment to ground motions coming from
outside the building, personnel activities
or the extensive support machinery often
found in high technology facilities can
lead to the inability of a lab to function as
intended. For this reason, much attention
is given to controlling site vibrations in
the design and maintenance of sensitive
laboratory facilities.
The levels of vibration that can negatively
affect a building vary greatly. The chart below
Forensic grads require hard science, soft skills
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Vibration control for sensitive laboratories