Assignment

When researchers encounter a gap of knowledge in a given area, they try to focus on the problem by asking questions such as: How can this problem be characterized? What factors are involved? How can these factors be defined in a way that they can be measured? What does the previous research say about it? Is it possible to establish causal relationships between certain factors and the phenomena under investigation?

For the purposes of this assignment, review the findings of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) investigation of the World Trade Center disaster. Go to the following website to find out more about each of the individual research projects addressing the WTC problem.

The primary objectives of the NIST-led technical investigation of the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster were to

1. Determine why and how WTC 1 and 2 collapsed following the initial impacts of the aircraft and why and how WTC 7 collapsed;

2. Determine why the injuries and fatalities were so high or low depending on location, including all 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; and

4. Identify, as specifically as possible, areas in building and fire codes, standards, and practices that are still in use and warrant revision.

You will discover that the basic research focuses on some critical areas:

• Analysis of Building and Fire Codes and Practices
• Baseline Structural Performance and Aircraft Impact Damage Analysis
• Mechanical and Metallurgical Analysis of Structural Steel
• Investigation of Active Fire Protection Systems
• Improved Building Evacuation
• Improved Emergency Response
• Education and Training Programs

Consider the objectives and expected outcomes of the research that were incorporated by the Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL) in NIST study. These are broad research questions that must then be refined into more narrowly defined problems/approaches. Nongovernmental organizations, such as the American Institute of Architects, National Fire Protection Association, and the Factory Mutual Research Corporation, etc., also address these research problems from different perspectives. Investigate their websites as well, and as you do think about their approaches and if there is bias towards their specialty.

Now that you have reviewed the research, choose one of the critical subareas listed above (i.e. Analysis of Fire Codes) and post a commentary on the proposed objectives, question, and approach undertaken by NIST and by one other organization in looking at this subarea. Be as specific as you can, but do not get bogged down searching for information at this point. The purpose of the exercise is to get you thinking about these points. You will be learning how to evaluate, analyze, and design research problems and approaches as you work your way through the course.