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Assessment of the Results of External Independent Reviews for U.S. Department of Energy Projects


Peer review is an essential component of the practice of engineering and other scientific and technical undertakings. A peer review is a documented critical assessment of a technical work product conducted by a qualified individual or group that is independent of those who performed the work but individually or collectively equivalent in technical expertise to them (NRC, 1997). Peer reviews are conducted to ensure that activities are technically adequate, competently performed, and properly documented; to validate assumptions, calculations, and extrapolations; and to assess alternative interpretations, methodologies, acceptance criteria, and other aspects of the work products and the documentation that supports them. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of the Interior, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration routinely use peer review for large engineering projects. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) promotes peer review as an additional factor that can increase confidence in the design of an engineering project and assure its quality (ASCE, 2004). ASCE describes peer review as an activity that should be used (1) when a project is critical to the public health, safety, and welfare; (2) where reliability of performance under emergency conditions is critical; (3) when the project uses innovative materials or techniques; (4) when it lacks redundancy in design; or (5) where the project’s construction sequencing is unique. ASCE recommends that reviews address a defined scope, as set forth by the initiating party, and that project peer review take place throughout the design process. Such reviews should be performed by independent teams or individuals not associated with the original design team.
0-309-10640-0
NONE
Management
English
2007
1-75
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