wts

          WTS           

          WTS, Inc. is a real forensic investigation outfit. Let me confess here that this place is the model that I named CxSI for these stories and relocated to Columbus, Ohio. It is a medium sized forensic services firm in Indianapolis, Indiana founded by Jack Wolf, Ph.D. It has a variety of technical people, including a group for fire investigations and others for the creation of computer graphic animations, photogrammetry and image processing. The work creating computer animation on an Apple II computer with a monochrome display was pioneering. Today such work is commonplace, in computer gaming with fast action vivid colors. Image processing work was also ahead of its time – challenged only by the expensive things the government did to make poor photos clearer using mathematical enhancements. Photogrammetry – an uncommon word – describes another computer mathematical process that analyzes several photos to extract real-world dimensions. This is valuable to determining the extent of crash deformation of a car body when the car itself is no longer available. Another use will produce a scale drawing of tire marks and other evidence seen in a group of photos. 

         I was an independent forensic engineer in South Bend until I joined Jack Wolf in 1985. I continued to specialize in the auto-safety fields I still pursue. My reputation resulted in growth of business nationally for the firm which had been essentially servicing local insurance companies. I eventually became Vice President.

         I investigated serious motor vehicle collisions and testified for lawyers representing plaintiffs and insurance companies alike. My specialty as an expert witness was vehicle crashworthiness and occupant restraint systems just as it had been while I was independent. Joining WTS was good for many reasons. They had a good group of technicians who are able to make good photos, drawings and computer animations. I could consult with fellows having other disciplines such as physics, materials engineering, fire investigations and highway engineering.

         I stayed with Wolf though December 1994. Office complexity and politics grew more intense as the group increased business and employees. WTS attempted to establish satellite offices outside Indiana. When I reached age 65, in January 1995, I was able to leave the company health plan and be covered by Medicare. Now I had another chance to be my own boss and move where I wanted to be. Having Social Security made it easy to leave the WTS fringe benefits.

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