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NASBLANASBLA

Staged Collisions Staged Collisions ProjectProject

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NASBLA Staged NASBLA Staged Collisions ProjectCollisions Project

byby

CAPT. James E. GetzCAPT. James E. GetzIllinois Conservation Police (Ret.)Illinois Conservation Police (Ret.)

Project CoordinatorProject Coordinator

Presented at the annual NASBLA Presented at the annual NASBLA conferenceconference

September 9, 2008September 9, 2008

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The primary The primary purpose for this purpose for this

project is to answer project is to answer that age-old that age-old question…question…

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NASBLA Boating Accident NASBLA Boating Accident Investigation TrainingInvestigation Training

1987: U.L. introduces “Intermediate” 1987: U.L. introduces “Intermediate” coursecourse

1989: UL conducts staged collisions1989: UL conducts staged collisions 1997: UL introduces “Advanced” course1997: UL introduces “Advanced” course 1999: UL conducts staged collisions1999: UL conducts staged collisions 2000: NASBLA re-engineers the program2000: NASBLA re-engineers the program

Comprehensive: all facetsComprehensive: all facets Advanced: primarily collision reconstructionAdvanced: primarily collision reconstruction

2007: NASBLA conducts staged 2007: NASBLA conducts staged collisions..collisions..

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1989 & 1999 Staged 1989 & 1999 Staged CollisionsCollisions

One moving vessel & one stationary One moving vessel & one stationary vesselvessel

Photographic & video Photographic & video documentation documentation

Collision vessels used in training law Collision vessels used in training law enforcement officersenforcement officers

G-force data acquisition G-force data acquisition 1999 collisions only1999 collisions only Analysis not funded..Analysis not funded..

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NASBLA Staged Collisions NASBLA Staged Collisions ProjectProject

Two moving vesselsTwo moving vessels Photographic & video Photographic & video

documentation documentation GPS & ECU documentation GPS & ECU documentation Collision vessels to be used in Collision vessels to be used in

training law enforcement officerstraining law enforcement officers G-force data acquisition & G-force data acquisition &

analysis..analysis..

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NASBLA Staged CollisionsNASBLA Staged CollisionsContinuing Project PartnersContinuing Project Partners

USCGUSCG VA DGIFVA DGIF MSWP MSWP TN WRA TN WRA Boat-USBoat-US

Miles BeamMiles Beam Todd & Todd &

Assoc.Assoc. DRE, Inc.DRE, Inc. NSWCCDNSWCCD U VA / CAB..U VA / CAB..

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Boat Donations Were Boat Donations Were Solicited Solicited

New and used boatsNew and used boats Engines must be in good running Engines must be in good running

conditioncondition Trailers must be road-worthyTrailers must be road-worthy

Requests for donation went out to:Requests for donation went out to: NASBLA member agenciesNASBLA member agencies Bombardier, Brunswick, Genmar, & Bombardier, Brunswick, Genmar, &

YamahaYamaha Boat-US Foundation for Boating SafetyBoat-US Foundation for Boating Safety

Mercury Marine offered outboard engines.. Mercury Marine offered outboard engines..

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Donated BoatsDonated Boats Industry – 1 boat and 2 enginesIndustry – 1 boat and 2 engines

Triumph Boats – New center consoleTriumph Boats – New center console Mercury Marine - Test enginesMercury Marine - Test engines

U.S. Coast Guard – 3 boatsU.S. Coast Guard – 3 boats 2 test boats2 test boats 1 new boat1 new boat

NASBLA members – 5 boatsNASBLA members – 5 boats Used patrol boats (FL, VA, DC) Used patrol boats (FL, VA, DC)

Boat-US members – 12 boatsBoat-US members – 12 boats ReallyReally used boats used boats

Dick Snyder – 1 boat..Dick Snyder – 1 boat..

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All boats are All boats are outfitted with outfitted with

remote remote controlled controlled steering & steering & throttle.throttle.

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Photo documentation of Photo documentation of existing damage precedes existing damage precedes

each collision.each collision.

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Each Vessel is IdentifiedEach Vessel is Identified

Collision Collision datedate

Vessel #Vessel #

Collision #Collision #

Vessel Vessel Description Description

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and photographed…and photographed…extensivelyextensively

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Existing damage was Existing damage was documented,documented,

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and documented.and documented.

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Longitudinal CG is Longitudinal CG is determineddetermined

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GPS instrumentation is GPS instrumentation is installed on each vesselinstalled on each vessel

1 – MaxQGPS (5 1 – MaxQGPS (5 Hz)Hz)

2 – Garmin GPS (1 2 – Garmin GPS (1 Hz)Hz)

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Data instrumentation is Data instrumentation is installed on the deck of installed on the deck of each boat to measure…each boat to measure…

RollRoll PitchPitch YawYaw G-forcesG-forces

at the boat’s at the boat’s CG.CG.

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We We experimenexperimented with ted with

camcordercamcorders on some s on some

of the of the boats.boats.

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We We attempteattempte

d to d to provide provide adequatadequat

e e protectioprotection for our n for our

boat boat operatoroperators, but s, but that that

didn’t didn’t work.work.

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So, other So, other volunteers volunteers

were were solicited as solicited as

boat boat operators.operators.

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The daily The daily routine routine starts.starts.

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Final preparations are Final preparations are made made

for a day on the water.for a day on the water.

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Everyone had specific Everyone had specific assignmentsassignments

Chris Chris Moore was Moore was in charge in charge of drinksof drinks

He was a He was a good good provider!provider!

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The still The still and movie and movie cameras cameras

are ready, are ready,

and the high speed cameras

are ready.

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Test runs Test runs are are

conductedconducted……

and the boats are staged.

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We aim for We aim for

the mark…the mark…

and marvel at

the results.

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After the collision…After the collision…instrumentation is instrumentation is

removed,removed,

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On-site On-site photos are photos are

taken,taken,

and the boats are

towed back to

the trailers

for transport.

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Back on shore, the collision Back on shore, the collision damage damage

is documented…is documented…

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and documented…and documented…

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and documented…

and documented.

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At the end of each day, a final At the end of each day, a final review is conducted by the review is conducted by the

forensic team…forensic team…

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And our boat operators rest for And our boat operators rest for their next assignment.their next assignment.

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The EndThe End

NOT!NOT!

The second round of staged The second round of staged collisions is scheduled for collisions is scheduled for

this fall.this fall.

This is only the beginning!This is only the beginning!

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Next, we are going Next, we are going to test some long-to test some long-standing theoriesstanding theories

Such as one of the most Such as one of the most perplexing questions…perplexing questions…

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What happens when you What happens when you swallow bubble gum?swallow bubble gum?

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Questions?Questions?