11.12.06
Pepcon Explosion
In 1991, Z-Axis produced the trial graphics for the insurance companies’ case against Pacific Engineering Construction Company, PEPCON, following the 1988 explosion of their chemical manufacturing facility south of Las Vegas. Z-Axis also contributed to the forensic investigation by using photogrammetric techniques to pinpoint the locations of the numerous explosions that were captured on video of the event.
These 3D models and animations were produced using an early Bosch FGS 4000 graphics computer as well as with WaveFront software running on Tektronix XD88 computers.
As is our usual practice in this podcast series, the video we’ve built for you consists of excerpts from the original animations, with our own new explanatory voiceover. We do this because the animations used in trial are often quite long — sometimes hours — and usually have no audio track to tell you what’s going on. When they’re presented in court, of course, these animations are accompanied by the live testimony of an expert witness. We also think that you might find some explanation useful in understanding the animations and their significance both to the trial and to the history of animation in court.
