What are the arguments for and against Voluntary Service by engineering professionals?
Should engineering professionals offer engineering services to the needy, without charging fee or at reduced fee?
Voluntarism of this kind is already encouraged in Medicine, Law and Education.
But ABET code states “Engineers shall not undertake or agree to perform any engineering service on a free basis” and other codes also insist that engineers are obligated to adequate compensations (which means full fee)
Engineers find it difficult to donate their services individually compared to doctors and lawyers since their output is on a shared basis
But, as suggested by Robert Baum, engineers can volunteer their services in the following areas, in groups, either free or at cheaper than normal fee.
Environmental impact studies that is harmful to a community
Health issues of polluted water and soil
Minimal needs of elderly and minorities like running water, sewage systems, electric power and inexpensive transportation.