NIST WTC Investigation: Access to All Essential Data Obtained

[Bolo Boffin]

http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/releases/progress_investigate.htm

This was back in December 2, 2003, but somehow we failed to notice it around here.

The Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has obtained access to all of the essential information needed for its two-year federal building and fire safety investigation into the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster of Sept. 11, 2001, NIST Director Arden Bement Jr. today announced. NIST’s success in gaining this information from a variety of organizations and agencies is included in an update report presented at the third meeting of the National Construction Safety Team (NCST) Advisory Committee. This panel of experts advises the NIST Director on investigations conducted under the NCST Act.


Details about NIST’s access to the information needed for the WTC investigation, as well as the status of the investigation’s progress since an interim technical report was issued in May 2003, may be found in a 41-page document (.pdf) available online at http://wtc.nist.gov.


“Since our interim technical report in May, the WTC investigation has achieved a number of milestones critical to its successful completion next fall,” Bement said. “These accomplishments bring us even closer to achieving the desired outcome for our overall response to the WTC disaster: improvements in the way people design, construct, maintain and use buildings, especially high-rise buildings.”

Hmmm, doesn't sound like they're leaning toward the controlled demolition hypothesis, does it? Don't worry. They're holding a public meeting on the investigation February 12. Maybe you can attend and persuade them of the error of their ways then.

[aquart]

1. Controlled demolition is disinformation.

And it allows BushCo to get away scotfree.

Thanks.

[Bolo Boffin]

2. No problem

The PDF lists everything they've been provided with so far, and it's quite an extensive list. I don't see how anyone can offer an reasonable hypothesis on the collapses without taking the scope of this information into account. Comparing the slight number of pictures we've been able to scratch up just doesn't even compare.

[demodewd]

3. And..

And where does inquiry start? Based on the premise that the collapses were directly due to plane crashes and subsequent fires? Just curious.

[Bolo Boffin]

5. Yes, squarely on the facts...

...they didn't request any tin foil whatsoever when acquiring their information. Funny how that works.

[demodewd]

6. What facts?

Squarely on what facts...or shall I say givens...that the buildings were brought down due to the insuing fires as a result of the crashes?

[Bolo Boffin]

7. I invite you to visit the NIST website, ...

...to read the wealth of information that they have gathered, and to learn what a true investigation into the events of 9/11 looks like.

They can best answer your questions, demodewd, and they want to. Please, have at it.

On edit: as I noted, they are taking papers for a public hearing on the WTC collapses dated February 12. If there's some vital information you feel they might be overlooking, perhaps you should get your ducks in a row and fax them your conclusions.

[TrogL]

8. How very revealing of how you think

that you naturally assume that they would start with a conclusion.

[demodewd]

9. Well...

Well why not...that's been the spirit of the inquiry so far.

[ex_jew]

4. Glad to know someone is happy !

I personally am still steaming because they won't release the fire department tapes to the public - something about affecting Moussaoui's right to a fair trial !

One thing I do notice about their project is that it only intends to account for the collapses, but says nothing about subterranean fires that continued for many weeks afterwards.

[DeadBroke]

10. available

There were tapes, and transcripts of the tapes, openly available and sold for many months after 9/11 from fire buffs that frequent firefighting websites: Firehouse, FirefightersForums, American Firefighter, etc. (FYI: FDNY, all 5 boro commands, have been webcasted for several years). As for 9/11, tapes can still be bought, but it takes time to locate. Transcripts are a little easier. They have firefighter names redacted. PS, A forum member at Firehouse.com posted photos of FDNY members climbing stairwells on 9/11 but they pulled the post in respect for their families.

[Bolo Boffin]

11. Here's a little tidbit from the PDF file.

Report pages 12-13 (28-29 in the PDF files):

COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF PHOTOGRAPHIC AND VIDEO IMAGES

Photographic and video images of damage and fires in the WTC towers and WTC 7 are critical for guiding the Investigation on the initial conditions for modeling the fires, the rates of fire spread through the buildings, and the floors on which the structural collapse may have begun.

NIST has collected such materials in a variety of ways, including direct contacts with individuals and organizations, public appeals, transfer of material from other organizations, and video recordings from broadcast television. Many individuals contacted NIST based on news coverage of earlier updates and provided a large number of important photographs and videos. NIST very much appreciates the public response and the reporting that made it possible.

NIST has assembled the collected visual material into a searchable computerized database. The database now contains 6,194 photographs representing more than 185 photographers and 5,726 digitized video clips from 150 hours of videotape representing more than 20 individuals, news organizations, and documentaries. The collection has been catalogued, cross-referenced, and expanded through the end of November 2003.

Wow. I don't think Anablep had a twentieth of what NIST has. Does anyone else have a collection that rivaled even hers?

By the way, as of December 2, 2003, they are still soliciting photos of the south side of WTC 7.

[Abe Linkman]

12. Where's the Beef?

Steel beef, that is. What about THAT evidence?

[Bolo Boffin]

13. Changing the subject again, Abe?

What is it with you and changing the subject? It's not condusive to a good discussion to keep jumping around from subject to subject. Don't you understand that?

I assure you that your answers are to be found in the PDF file, which will only take a moment to download. Perhaps I shall transcribe another part of the PDF tomorrow, or the next day. Until then, you'd get the answers you seek quicker by downloading the file and reading it yourself.

Now back to the subject of this branch of the thread, the photographic and video record. Do you have anything close to the wealth of material that NIST has on this subject?

[Abe Linkman]

15. Can't eat photos of beef, can't analyze photos of steel

What about the beef, bolo? The NIST has a conclusion in mind (you know about that kind of thing), and it ain't to find out what the truth is.
Like the Warren Commission (as if I needed to remind YOU).

[RH]

17. So you

have actually handled the steel then have you?

[Bolo Boffin]

18. Unnecessary slander

The NIST is examining all the evidence scientifically, with great oversight. If you would read the PDF file, you would see this.

Why won't you read the PDF file? What are you afraid of?

[slaveplanet]

14. this is the THE subject

and here's the answer...It was conviently removed....in a very rapid fashion

[NecessaryOnslaught]

16. They have the steel

"NIST has in its possesion about 236 pieces of WTC steel, representing roughly 1/4 to 1/2 % of the 200,000 tons of steel used in the WTC towers."

Recyclin' Rudy didnt get rid of it all you know, but where'd all that molten steel go?

[Bolo Boffin]

19. Welcome to the thread I started

...where I decide what the subject is.

And this subject is off the subject.

[Bolo Boffin]

20. Goals, Objectives, and Organization of the NIST Investigation

From the preface of the December report pdf:

Goals of the WTC Investigation

• To investigate the building construction, the materials used, and the technical conditions that contributed to the outcome of the WTC disaster.
• To serve as the basis for:
? Improvements in the way buildings are designed, constructed, maintained, and used
? Improved tools and guidance for industry and safety officials ? Recommended revisions to current codes, standards, and practices
? Improved public safety

Objectives of the WTC Investigation

The objectives of the NIST-led Investigation of the WTC disaster are to:

1. Determine why and how WTC 1 and WTC 2 collapsed following the initial impacts of the aircraft and why and how WTC 7 collapsed
2. Determine why the numbers of injuries and fatalities were so high or low depending on location, including technical aspects of fire protection, occupant behavior, evacuation, and emergency response
3. Determine what procedures and practices were used in the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of WTC 1, 2, and 7
4. Identify, as specifically as possible, areas in current national building and fire model codes, standards, and practices that warrant revision

Organization of the WTC Investigation

The Investigation includes eight interdependent projects that, in combination, meet the objectives. A detailed description of each of these eight projects is available at http://wtc.nist.gov.

The purpose of each project is summarized in Table P–1, and the key interdependencies among the projects are illustrated in Figure P–1.

Federal building and fire safety investigation of the WTC disaster.

1. Analysis of Building and Fire Codes and Practices: Document and analyze the code provisions, procedures, and practices used in the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the structural, passive fire protection, and emergency access and evacuation systems of the WTC 1, 2, and 7.

2. Baseline Structural Performance and Aircraft Impact Damage Analysis: Analyze the baseline performance of WTC 1 and 2 under design, service, and abnormal loads, and aircraft impact damage on the structural, fire protection, and egress systems.

3. Mechanical and Metallurgical Analysis of Structural Steel: Determine and analyze the mechanical and metallurgical properties and quality of steel, weldments, and connections from steel recovered from WTC 1, 2, and 7.

4. Investigation of Active Fire-Protection Systems: Investigate the performance of the active fire protection systems in WTC 1, 2, and 7 and their role in fire control, emergency response, and fate of occupants and responders.

5. Reconstruction of Thermal and Tenability Environment: Reconstruct the time-evolving temperature, thermal environment, and smoke movement in WTC 1, 2, and 7 for use in evaluating the structural performance of the buildings and behavior and fate of occupants and responders.

6. Structural Fire Response and Collapse Analysis:Analyze the response of the WTC towers to fires with and without aircraft damage, the response of WTC 7 in fires, the performance of open-web steel joists, and determine the most probable structural collapse sequence for WTC 1, 2, and 7.

7. Occupant Behavior, Egress, and Emergency Communications: Analyze the behavior and fate of occupants and responders, both those who survived and those who did not, and the performance of the evacuation system.

8. Fire Service Technologies and Guidelines: Building on work done by the Fire Department of New York and McKinsey & Company, document what happened during the response by the fire services to the WTC attacks until the collapse of WTC 7; identify issues that need to be addressed in changes to practice, standards, and codes; identify alternative practices and/or technologies that may address these issues; and identify research and development needs that advance the safety of the fire service in responding to massive fires in tall buildings.

These people, as I, do not have all the answers they need. They want to know how and why the buildings fell so that they can find any errors in building code and construction that can prevent future loss of life and property. They seek detailed, scientific answers on how the WTC was supposed to react under these extraordinary conditions, and how it actually did react. They're focusing on the sprinkler system and how the fires spread in the three buildings. They want to know any problems in evacuation procedures so as to maximize the saving of life in the future. They want to see exactly how the fire department reacted and what in the future might be learned from this event.

In short, this investigation is examining the entire physical event along with the human reaction to this event so that we can learn how to build better buildings and to respond more efficiently to catastrophic events. To achieve these goals and objectives, the investigation must have an accurate picture of how the buildings fell.

And they are the best qualified and informed to draw this picture.

[Bolo Boffin]

21. Analyzing The Most Probable Structural Collapse Sequence

One last excerpt from the NIST's latest public update:

ANALYZING THE MOST PROBABLE STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE SEQUENCE

There are several leading hypotheses—postulated publicly by experts—for the structural collapse sequence from the time of aircraft impact to the collapse of each WTC tower. Similarly, hypotheses have been postulated for the collapse of the 47-story WTC 7 building. NIST is analyzing these and other possible structural collapse sequences as part of its investigation. Further work is needed to ensure that the results of any analysis can adequately explain the observations contained in photographs, videos, and irst-person accounts of the events.

NIST has developed and adopted a comprehensive approach to identify the most probable of technically possible collapse sequences, from aircraft impact to collapse initiation. The approach accounts for variability in modeling, input parameters, analysis, and observed events within and between each analysis. The approach—which combines mathematical modeling and statistical and probabilistic methods—integrates multiple disciplines and can be used to discern which parameters significantly influence the results and determine the most probable sequence of events leading to the initiation of structural collapse.

The objectives of the failure analysis are to answer the following questions:

• What is the most probable collapse sequence?
• What confidence levels are associated with the most probable collapse sequence?
• What is the probability of other possible collapse sequences?
• What parameters have the strongest influence on the most probable collapse sequence?

The extent to which (or whether) confidence levels can be estimated will not be evident until the later stages of the Investigation.

This integrated approach enables the evaluation and comparison of plausible collapse hypotheses, which are based on probable damage states, fire paths, and structural response, to determine the most probable sequence of events.

As you can see, the NIST investigation is not focusing on a single explanation for the collapse of the WTC buildings. They are evaluating several theories against the evidence to find the most probable. This is how scientists work. This is how an investigation is done.

And when a particular theory (such as controlled demolition) fails to account for what evidence there is, and has no evidence of its own to back it up, rational investigators abandon that theory.