David T. Biggs Presents Two Lectures on World Trade Center Disaster

Troy, NY (PRWEB) October 25, 2003 -- Ryan-Biggs Associates, P.C., consulting firm specializing in structural engineering, announced today that David Biggs, President, recently presented two lectures focused on the World Trade Center Disaster on September 11, 2001. As the featured speaker during both events, Mr. Biggs discussed his participation in the investigation of the World Trade Center disaster, specifically focusing on the structural damage to the towers and the surrounding buildings.

   Following the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York and Washington, DC, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) deployed a team of structural, civil, and fire protection engineers to study the disasters. David Biggs was one of 18 engineers from the U.S. and Canada assigned to the World Trade Center. The team made an assessment of the tower collapses and the consequent damage to the surrounding buildings. A report, which forms the framework for subsequent government studies of the disaster, was released to Congress in May 2002.

   The first presentation took place on September 17, 2003, during the Masonry Expo in Greenbelt, MD, a trade show and seminar series for architects, engineers, and masonry contractors in Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, DC. Titled Masonry Aspects of the World Trade Center Disaster," the presentation highlighted the performance of the masonry of the surrounding buildings. Mr. Biggs personal experiences as part of the team and photographs of Ground Zero following September 11 were presented.

   The second presentation was given to the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, on September 25, 2003. The lecture, attended by students, faculty, media, and individuals from the community, was titled The World Trade Center and Pentagon Disasters of September 11, 2001." Misconceptions about the towers, some of the lessons learned, and recommendations for further study were discussed through personal experiences working with the FEMA team. He also presented results from the disaster investigation of the Pentagon building. After the lecture, Mr. Biggs conducted a live cable television interview to eastern Canada.

   At the request of the Masonry Institute and the University of Western Ontario, the intent of the seminars was to educate engineers, students, and community members as to why the towers collapsed," said David Biggs. Being able to identify the specific structural causes teaches us how to improve the design of future buildings of all sizes."
   
   A native of Troy, New York, Mr. Biggs has 30 years of experience as a structural engineer in private practice. He holds civil engineering degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and has taught as an adjunct professor at the university. His numerous accomplishments include serving as national director of the American Society of Civil Engineers and as part of the national committee to develop standards for masonry construction in the United States. Mr. Biggs has also authored papers focusing on masonry design and restoration and is a frequent lecturer at universities, professional seminars, and conferences in the United States and overseas.

About Ryan-Biggs Associates, P.C.
Ryan-Biggs Associates, P.C., is a consulting engineering firm specializing in structural engineering. Since 1973, they have been providing design services from their main office in Troy, New York, and branch offices in Skaneateles, New York, and West Chester, Pennsylvania. For more information, visit the companys Web site at www.ryanbiggs.com.

###