kharealumnicaltechedu article nytimescom sent kharealumnicaltechedu another reminder moral writ intellectual property ought limited real property private money paid bits expropriation may fairer ip realp rohit kharealumnicaltechedu vast detail towers collapse may sealed september 30 2002 james glanz eric lipton almost certainly sophisticated complete understanding exactly twin towers world trade center fell compiled part largely secret proceeding federal court lower manhattan amassed initial stages complicated insurance lawsuit involving trade center confidential material contains data expert analysis developed nations respected engineering minds includes computer calculations produced series threedimensional images crumpled insides towers planes hit helping identify sequence failures led collapses immense body documentary evidence like maps debris piles rare photos videos also accumulated collection far outstrips government analysts able put together struggle answer scientifically complex emotionally charged questions surrounding deadly failures buildings everyone structural engineers relatives victims fear closely held information includes analysis possible answers families engineers around world craved may remain buried sealed files even destroyed bound confidentiality agreements clients experts disclose findings publicly wait case play restrictions typical discovery phase litigation stands judge case agreed certain material remain secret time approved standard legal arrangements lawsuit settled trial could cause crucial material generated competing sides withheld obviously favor releasing information cant told said matthys levy engineer founding partner weidlinger associates consultant case author buildings fall structures fail norton 2nd edition 2002 lets say understand mechanics whole process collapse mr levy said monica gabrielle lost husband richard south tower fell member skyscraper safety campaign said information disclosed answers going share would devastated mrs gabrielle said moral obligation lawsuit generated information involves larry silverstein whose companies lease trade center property consortium insurance companies mr silverstein maintains jetliner hit towers constituted separate terrorist attack entitling 7 billion rather half amount insurance companies say sides prepared arguments spent hundreds thousands dollars acquiring expert opinion exactly happened towers dean davison spokesman industrial risk insurers hartford one insurance companies suit said findings confidentiality agreements keeping public domain today conceded differing opinions among 20 insurers side case could complicate release material company whose consultants alone produced 1700 pages analysis thousands diagrams photographs mr davison said every attempt would made give material eventually public authorities investigative teams still analysis relies information like blueprints building records sources like port authority new york new jersey built owned trade center supports mr silverstein suit mr davison said uncertain differing origins material would influence companys ability release information statement port authority said access documents would decided casebycase basis consistent applicable law policy adding would cooperate federal investigations fate research particularly critical resolve unanswered questions towers fell given dissatisfaction first major inquiry buildings collapse investigation led federal emergency management agency plagued resources lack access crucial information like building plans infighting among experts officials new federal investigation intended remedy failings begun national institute standards technology nist agency studied many building disasters officials nist said could take years make final determinations recommendations buildings process acknowledge might speeded access analysis done consultants lawsuit gerald mckelvey spokesman mr silverstein said real estate executives heavily financed investigative work decline comment say silverstein cooperating fully nist investigation spokesman agency confirmed discussions mr silverstein material said transfer taken place shortage money expertise investigations sides legal case produced startling body science theory relevant trade center disaster skyscrapers well work available investigators said ramon gilsanz structural engineer managing partner gilsanz murray steficek member earlier inquiry could used build better buildings future legal experts say confidentiality arrangements like one governing material lead variety outcomes full partial disclosure destruction information cases litigants paid reports may make public may ask sealed forever unusual one party another try keep documents secret one reason another legitimate said lee levine first amendment lawyer levine sullivan koch washington mr levine said presumed value information court might look favorably requests make public uncertainty fate material unnerving many people especially experts believe complete review evidence piecemeal disclosures litigants eager protect interests could lead advance federal investigation trade center important get presented published subjected scrutiny said dr john osteraas director civil engineering practice exponent failure analysis menlo park calif consultant case general engineering community sort scope investigation behind scenes vast measure mr levy colleagues weidlinger associates hired silverstein properties called upon powerful computer programs originally developed pentagon classified research create model sept 11 attack beginning end result compilation threedimensional images severed exterior columns smashed floor damaged core towers beginning impacts proceeding moments collapse images mr levy allowed release helped pinpoint structural failures fema investigators access computer modeling fema team unfettered access trade center site evidence weeks immediately attacks constraints hampered engineers lzathorntontomasetti brought site emergency work beginning afternoon sept 11 daniel cuoco company president consultant silverstein properties case said assembled detailed maps blazing debris ground zero models perhaps contain clues towers fell though fema team could determine things actually fell mr cuoco said weve indicated specific locations mr cuoco said could reveal additional details findings would mr osteraas discuss details computer calculations company done spread fires large buildings like twin towers mr osteraas also compiled extensive archive photographs videos towers day believes available investigators investigation limited computers documentary evidence months experiments wind tunnels united states canada examining aerodynamics fed flames day stressed weakening structures jack cermak president cermak peterka peterson fort collins colo retained insurance companies previously performed windtunnel studies original design twin towers nearly 40 years ago legal case dr cermak said weve done probably detailed measurements original design data acquired valuable understanding wind buildings interact dr cermak said information may valuable litigation said adding think ive told httpwwwnytimescom20020930nyregion30towehtmlex1034388663ei1en0d3143a997e5e2e1 advertise information advertising email newsletters creative advertising opportunities new york times web please contact onlinesalesnytimescom visit online media kit httpwwwnytimescomadinfo general information nytimescom write helpnytimescom copyright 2002 new york times company mon 30 sep 2002 082423 0400 edt nytimescom article vast detail towers collapse may sealed