MSC to Host CDR User Training Classes in December 2012 (CDR Version 8.0 & Newly Covered Vehicles)

Kelly Messerschmidt
Technical Communications Manager
MSC

Messerschmidt Safety Consultants (MSC) will host the CDR Systems Operators Class and the CDR Analysis and Applications Class on December 3 – 7, 2012, at The Accelerator at Southern Miss, which is located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The classes will be taught by instructors Brad Muir and Jon Northrup, of Crash Data Specialists LLC. Muir and Northrup will be using the latest version of the Bosch Crash Data Retrieval (CDR) System, version 8.0.

The CDR System allows users to image important vehicle crash data present in the Airbag Control Modules (ACMs) of most late model production vehicles from manufacturers including Chrysler, Fiat, Ford, GM (Chevy, Olds, Buick, Pontiac, Saturn, Cadillac, GMC, Holden, & Opal), Honda/Acura, Isuzu, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan/Infiniti, Saab, Sterling, Suzuki, and Toyota/Lexus/Scion.

Learn more about the vehicle coverage in CDR Software v8.0.

The CDR Systems Operators Class is an eight-hour class that covers the basics of operation, including how to determine if the subject vehicle is supported by CDR, how to select the appropriate connection method to safely image crash data, and how to create reports and save the imaged data for later use. This class serves as the prerequisite for the 32-hour CDR Analysis and Applications Class, which Crash Data Specialists will be teaching Tuesday through Friday (December 4 – 7, 2012).

The CDR Analysis and Applications Class teaches users how to understand the function of the Event Data Recorder (EDR) information present in some ACMs. In this class, users perform line-by-line data analyses, learn how to apply the data to the crash, and receive instruction on delta-v, closing speed analysis, and a variety of additional topics.

Register for the CDR classes online, or register by calling MSC's office at 205.444.0071.

View a printable flyer (pdf).

Bruce Gazdick's "Practical Applications of CDR Technology" Class Taught at MSC

Bruce Gazdick's Power Distribution Center (PDC) tool

William Messerschmidt
Principal Technical Analyst
MSC

On June 18th, Messerschmidt Safety Consultants (MSC) hosted "Practical Applications of CDR Technology," at our Pelham, Alabama office. The course was taught by Mr. Bruce Gazdick of L & L Investigations and was attended by the staff of MSC, as well as local law enforcement officers from Hoover and Pelham, AL Police Departments.

It was a great privilege for us at MSC to have Bruce Gazdick teach this fantastic class at our Pelham, AL office. Bruce is a former Jacksonville, Florida Deputy Sheriff who handles products liability investigations nationwide with ESIS and EAA. Bruce also works as an instructor for the Institute of Police Technology and Management, where he teaches "Event Data Recorder Use in Traffic Accident Reconstruction," along with Mr. Richard Ruth and Mr. Bill Wright.

Bruce designed and developed the Power Distribution Center (PDC), which is a tool that facilitates accessing Event Recorder data in heavily damaged passenger vehicles. The eight-hour course, which included lecture, Q&A, and hands-on training focused on using the PDC and preserving diagnostic fault data in airbag modules.

We'd like to thank all of those who attended--and especially our instructor Bruce Gazdick--for an excellent day of training!

Kevin Jones Attends the CDR Data Analyst Certification Course

Kevin Jones of MSC is taking the Crash Data Retrieval (CDR) Data Analyst Certification course in Las Vegas, Nevada, during February 14-18, 2011. His training this week adds to the extensive training and experience he has in using and applying CDR data, which he gained during his work as a Crash Investigator for a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) contractor. Contact Kevin Jones to learn more about his experience and skills.

The main focus of the 2011 CDR Data Analyst Certification course is reading and understanding a Bosch CDR System report and then applying it to a situationally complete accident reconstruction. The course is extensive, and it even includes participants being exposed to data that are not currently available using the Bosch CDR System. For more information on CDR courses, as well as other courses the Collision Safety Institute offers, such as CRUSH, view CSI's course listings online.

Rec-Tec Stays on the Cutting Edge

Less than one week after NHTSA announced a new Final Rule that will likely increase the number of air disc brake systems on US highways, Rec-Tec Professional Accident Reconstruction software released an upgrade that allows for fairly simple analysis of truck stopping distance with air disc brakes.

But don't be fooled by the promptness with which Mr. Bonnett has released his latest improvement: the new "Disc/S-Cam III Air Brake" module was being researched and designed for over a year. Both government and private sector engineers & investigators (including MSC) had their opportunity to evaluate it or contribute to it, and on 01 August 09, Rec-Tec released the product.

Even more impressive is the fact that this new module has the capability to analyze heavy truck ABS systems. It allows the user to input the locations of ABS sensors and tell it which axles are linked by which sensors. By selecting the "Automatic ABS Computations" button, the program will vary air pressure as it determines a wheel (or series of connected wheels) is reaching lock-up.

At this point, Rec-Tec is no longer simply a "plug and chug" calculator with some built-in formulas. It's an increasingly robust simulation program, especially in the Heavy Truck Module series.