Jason Averill, Fire Protection Engine

Building and Fire Research Labo

National Institute of Standards and Tec

U.S. Department of Commerce

jason.averill@nist.gov

Federal Building and Fire Safety Inves

of the World Trade Center Disast

Project 7 – Occupant Behavior, E

Emergency Communicati

December 2, 2003
Introduction Introduction

• One of the largest evacuation studies ever c• Multidisciplinary approach is bridging knowle

expertise in a new and innovative way

• Coordinated with other WTC studies in orde

respondent burden:

• Columbia University• Centers for Disease Control and Prevent
Purpose Purpose

To document egress by gathering and anal

information about:

• evacuation systems, emergency commu

human factors, and 

• occupant location, evacuation experienc

observed building conditions, and 

• interaction between occupants, first resp

the buildings.
Desired Outcomes Desired Outcomes

• Enhanced evacuation systems• Enhanced safety of occupants

Make all buildings safe

for occupants and first respo
First Person Data Collection First Person Data Collection

• Essex IRB Approval – Complete• NIST Institutional Review Approval – Comple• Interviewer Training – Complete• First Interviews – Under way• Targeted Completion Date – January 2004
Interviewer Training Interviewer Training

• Investigation Overview• Action-Cue-Goal Training• Cognitive Interview Techniques• Computer Application• The World Trade Center and September 11t• Occupant Behavior, Egress and Emergency • Human Subjects Protocols• Dealing with Stress• Practice, Practice, Practice• Group Debrief
Occupant Identification for Face Occupant Identification for Face

-to

Interviews Interviews

• Volunteers Solicited at Public Update in New 

September 17, 2003

1 (877) 221-7828 Occupants and Victims’ Fam1 (888) 804-7581 Anonymous tip linehttps://wtc.nist.gov/family Victims’ Familie

• 260 Volunteers, 167 Meet Study Criteria, Inc

Family Members (As of November 17, 2003)

• Snowball Sampling, Badge List, Published A

Telephone Interviews Will Complete Occupa
Analysis of Published Accounts Analysis of Published Accounts

• 726 Accounts from Books, Newspapers, Tel

Magazines, Emails, Websites, and other sou

• 465 Individual People, 435 Occupants Inside • 33 Coding Variables - Consistent with Subse

Qualitative Data Analysis Plan

• Work Performed by NFPA Under Contract to 
Limitations of Published Accounts Limitations of Published Accounts

• Questions to Respondents are Unk• Not Generalizable Outside the Pop• Missing Data

This is one of many sources of data to the NIST-led Investigation
Analysis of Published Accounts Analysis of Published Accounts

ID # Building Floor Sex 1st cu

1 conc conc f smok2 1 78 m swayi3 1 91 m roar of engine, impact - bldg s

interior wall and ceiling 

4 1 91 f roar of engine; saw 5 2 21 m loud boom; colleagues said t

T1

Example of Data Matrix Cod

Includes Name and Source
Interim Findings from Analysis of 

Interim Findings from Analysis of 

Results Results

• Of the 96 people from Tower 2 who reported 

announcement to ‘stay or return to their office(69 people) decided to disregard and continuevacuation.

• Of the 27 people reporting a disability and 47 

an injury, all were supported in their evacuatcoworkers.

• Many people (143 in Tower 1 and 26 in Towe

mentioned being reassured and feeling safe meeting firefighters in the building.
Interim Findings from Analysis of 

Interim Findings from Analysis of 

Results Results

Obstructions Encountered during Evacuatio

Tower 1, N=153 Tower 2, N=5

Crowds/injured in stairs 46% (71) 46% (27) Smoke 32% (49) 37% (22) Debris 24% (36) 36% (21) No power 13% (20) 14% (8) Trapped 12% (19) 10% (6) Door jammed/locked 13% (20) 3% (2) Fire 7% (11) 14% (8) 
Completed Document Collection Completed Document Collection

• Published Accounts• 9-1-1 Emergency Call Records• OSHA Filings by Survivors and Famil• Communications Tapes from FDNY a

Authority

• Design and Procedural Records for E

Evacuation

• Photographic and Video Evidence
Evacuation Modeling of the WTC T

Evacuation Modeling of the WTC T

3 Classes of Models

• Movement (M): simulates movement of oc• Partial Behavioral (PB): simulates movem

behavior by including delay times, smoke occupants, occupant characteristics, etc.

• Behavioral (B): simulates movement and 

decisions and activities

3 Models Chosen

• EVACNET4 (M)• EXIT89 (PB)• buildingEXODUS (B)

Modeling efforts are under way
Status of Project 7 Status of Project 7

• First Person Data Collection Under Way• Further Analysis of Published and Other 

Underway

• Egress Modeling Under Way