- People
- Associates
- Sharlene Wauters
Sharlene Wauters B. Eng., P.Eng.
Our Associates perform on-site investigations to determine origin and cause of complex losses. Their process: examine and collect evidence, take on-site photos, interview witnesses, conduct testing in our lab and analyze data to produce technical reports that are clear and concise.
EXPERT SUMMARY
Ms. Wauters is a Senior Associate with the Collision Reconstruction and Transportation teams at -30- Forensic Engineering. Ms. Wauters has investigated and reconstructed over 1200 cases since commencing her forensic career in 2006. She is well-versed in all aspects of collision reconstruction. While working on cases in Canada and the United States, Ms. Wauters has reconstructed collisions involving passenger and commercial vehicles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. In addition, she is adept in assessments of winter maintenance issues, as well as analyzing pedestrian slips and trips resulting in falls. Ms. Wauters is a licensed Professional Engineer in the provinces of British Columbia and Ontario. She has been qualified as an expert witness in the field of mechanical engineering in British Columbia Supreme Court (Civil and Criminal), including providing evidence regarding collision dynamics, collision avoidance, pedestrian trip and fall analysis, and human factors.
SPECIALIZED PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES
- Collision reconstruction involving automobiles, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, cyclists, pedestrian impacts, and recreational vehicles
- Vehicle dynamics modelling and simulation
- Collision scene examinations
- Collision avoidance assessments
- Airbag Control Module (ACM) data retrieval and analysis
- Restraint system usage and effectiveness assessments
- Visibility assessments
- Mapping of GPS and Automatic Vehicle Locating (AVL) data
- Winter maintenance assessments for private and public roadways, highways, parking lots, plazas, shopping malls, business parks, apartment complexes, condominium access roads, sidewalks, and private walkways
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering, with Honours, Toronto Metropolitan University (Formerly known as Ryerson University), Toronto, Ontario, 2006
ADDITIONAL COURSES
Fundamental of Anti-Icing and Liquids, Snow and Ice Management Association (SIMA), 2023
Snow & Ice Management Association, SIMA: Advanced Snow Manager (ASM) designation; completion of the Advanced Snow Management program; including Core Principles, Ice Management, Plowing Operations & Sidewalk Operations, 2023
PC Crash: Super Scenes, 2022
PC Crash: Working with Video, 2022
Snow School – a comprehensive overview of the latest winter maintenance practices, equipment and materials. Ontario Good Roads Association (OGRA), 2018
PC Crash: Expert Skills Workshop, 2012
Optics, Lighting and Visibility for the Forensic Investigator. Instructors: James Sobek and Kevin Johnson, 2009
Human Factors for Traffic Crash Reconstruction. Instructor: Jeffrey W. Muttart, 2008
PC‐Crash: Essentials Training, 2008
Crash Data Retrieval (CDR) System – Technician and Data Analyst Certification, 2008
Forensic DNA Techniques for the Investigator, Center for Forensic and Security Technology Studies, BCIT, 2006
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
30 Forensic Engineering
Senior Associate – Collision Reconstruction and Transportation
2023 – Present, Vancouver, BC
- Oversee technical investigations to reconstruct collisions involving passenger and commercial vehicles, cyclists, motorcycles, pedestrians, and recreational vehicles
- Conduct winter maintenance assessments, including evaluating the adequacy of operations, taking into account the prevailing weather, surface conditions, and relevant industry standards
Forensic Dynamics Inc.
Forensic Engineer
2010 – 2023, Kamloops, BC
- Investigation and analysis of vehicle collisions, including speed analysis, collision sequencing, time-distance analysis, and opportunity for collision avoidance
- Investigation of winter maintenance issues, including assessment of the prevailing weather, evaluation of surface conditions, the efficacy of anti-icing and de-icing chemicals, and comparison of operations to industry standards
- Airbag Control Module data retrieval and analysis
- Visibility assessments including sight line analysis, re-enactments, and night visibility studies
- Investigation of slip and fall and trip and fall incidents
- Reconstruction of physical evidence including roadway evidence and vehicle damage profiles using photogrammetry software
- Video analysis to determine vehicle speed and positioning, sequence of events, as well as traffic signal phase
Forensic Engineer, E.I.T.
2006 – 2010, Kamloops, BC
- Collision reconstruction
- Vehicle examinations
- Site examinations, collision scene assessments, and diagramming
- DNA evidence collection
Celestica Inc.
Operations Engineer, Industrial Internship Program
2004 – 2005, North York, Ontario
- Planned and applied continuous improvements in lean manufacturing environment
- Assisted in implementation of web-interface statistical process control
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES AND ASSOCIATIONS
- Engineers & Geoscientists British Columbia (EGBC), Member
- Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), Member
- National Association of Professional Accident Reconstruction Specialists, Inc. (NAPARS), Member
CONFERENCES AND OTHER EXPERIENCE
- WATAI Fall Conference, 2021
- NAPARS Virtual Annual Joint Conference, including Investigation of Rollover Crashes, GoPro GPS Data Analysis, Perception Response Time (PRT) in Different Crash Types, and Analysis of ECM Data in New Freightliners, 2020
- Vehicle skid testing experiments on asphalt and ice with the RCMP, 2007
PUBLICATIONS AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Speaking Engagements
- “Collision Reconstruction Software,” Presenter at Crashteams’ Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV, 2010
NEWS / INSIGHTS / EVENTS