What does the term "engineering ethics" refer to?

The term "engineering ethics" fundamentally refers to the moral implications and responsibilities that engineers encounter in their professional practices. This includes considerations such as public safety, environmental impacts, sustainability, and ensuring that their work adheres to certain ethical standards and professional conduct. Engineers are tasked with making decisions that may significantly affect society, and thus, they must navigate complex ethical dilemmas that arise from their work.

In contrast, the other options touch upon aspects that are relevant to engineering but do not encapsulate the concept of ethics. Technical specifications relate to the detailed requirements and standards for projects, while financial aspects focus on budgeting and economic evaluation. A calculation method pertains to the quantitative techniques employed to arrive at engineering solutions, but none of these options involve the ethical dimensions that engineers must consider in their decision-making processes.