Upcoming Webinar -- Anatomy of a Failure: Engineering a Collapse Investigation

Last May, eight hundred WJE employees gathered at our corporate headquarters campus for the final day of our all-company conference. Inside our structural laboratory, staff were greeted by a two-story, steel-framed structure dubbed the “Building in a Building.” Designed as a hands-on learning opportunity, the full-scale building mockup was constructed with more than a hundred intentional defects demonstrating the structural and enclosure-related issues we encounter on real projects. At the close of the conference, after all staff had thoroughly explored the Building in a Building, we load-tested the structure to failure.

Then, the real fun began.

Over two days, seven members of our failure investigation practice group worked together, using the skills they’ve developed from past projects, to investigate the structure’s failure—which (spoiler) did not go exactly as planned. And a film crew captured it all so we can all learn from their experience.

Join us for a for a one-hour deep-dive inside a “typical” failure investigation. The webinar will begin with a documentary-style video following the team’s progress—from design, construction, and collapse through the initial site safety assessment to field documentation using a variety of cutting-edge technologies. The video will be followed by a live panel discussion and Q&A with the project team.

This is a great opportunity for students, educators, and other interested parties to delve into the failure investigation process and mindset—complete with all the practical constraints, unexpected challenges, and key decision-making points that engineers encounter on real-life projects.

By the end of the webinar, you will be able to:

• List typical steps an engineering team takes during a collapse investigation

• Plan for safe access on a job site prior to arrival, including identifying potential hazards, using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), and determining which areas are safe for immediate access

• Identify available technologies—such as drones and photogrammetry—for safely documenting the condition of a partially collapsed building when shoring is deemed unsafe or otherwise not feasible

• Describe strategies and available technologies for team collaboration and communication during on-site investigations

webinar DETAILS

Anatomy of a Failure: Engineering a Collapse Investigation
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Eastern Time

Register