4N6XPRT Systems Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do you obtain your measurements for vehicles in the Expert AutoStats database?
We default to published values for Length, Width, Wheelbase, and Height. The curb weight is an average of the published weights from multiple sources and years. For the “detail” dimensions (bumper height, hood height, etc) the following methods have/are used.
Prior to 2013 all of the vehicles were measured using a metal tape measure and a wooden carpenter ruler.
Between 2013 and 2022 The vast majority of the vehicles were measured with a process called PHOTOGRAMMETRY, where a series of photographs are taken of the vehicle, the photographs are oriented and assembled in relationship to each other so that three dimensional measurements can be taken from the photograph “project”. These dimensions were then entered into the database.
Starting in 2022, a program called Recon-3D has been used to “scan” a vehicle producing a “Point Cloud” from which three dimensional measurements for specific data points can be obtained.
2. How Frequently are your programs updated, and is there a cost?
The Expert AutoStats, Expert VIN DeCoder, and 4N6XPRT StifCalcs programs are updated once per year. If the programs are updated every year, the cost for the update is currently in the range of $260+S&H (USD)IF the programs are not updated each year, the cost for an update will be more than the 1 year update.
3. What kind of software do you offer?
We offer software designed to assist in traffic accident reconstruction, including vehicle dimension databases, crush analysis, and scene documentation tools.
4. Who uses your software?
Our tools are primarily used by law enforcement agencies, forensic engineers, accident reconstructionists, insurance investigators, and legal professionals. They have also been used by design engineers and traffic engineers for parking lot and parking device design.
5. What does 4N6XPRT stand for?
4N6XPRT stands for “Forensics Expert,” reflecting our focus on tools for accident reconstruction and investigation professionals.
6. What is the 4N6XPRT StifCalcs program used for?
StifCalcs allows the user to research the NHTSA crash tests and prepare “stiffness values” based upon those tests. The StifCalcs program also contains a module which allows the user to calculate various values such as KE Equivalent Speed, delta-v, and Closing Speed for two vehicles involved in a crash through a process called “force balance”.
7. How accurate is the vehicle data in your Expert AutoStats software?
The Expert AutoStats data is a mixture of published data, measured data, and calculations. Our data is sourced from reliable databases including NHTSA and manufacturer specifications. We update regularly to maintain accuracy.
8. Do you offer training or support for your software?
Yes, we definitely offer support. We provide documentation, user guides, and technical support to help you get the most out of your software. We do not offer specific training on our software, in part because we have tried to gear our software with a short small learning curve. Retrieval of data from our software is relatively simple. Where training comes in is how to use the data after you have it, and there are many classes and courses in Vehicle Accident Investigation and Reconstruction from which you can get that training. To put it another way, we have tried to design our software so that a secretary or paralegal with minimal (very minimal) training could obtain data from the software that the Investigator or Reconstructionist could use and rely upon.
9. Can I use your software in court cases?
Yes, our software is designed with litigation support in mind and has been used in numerous court-admissible accident reconstructions, both on the private side by both the Defense and the Plaintiff Experts, and in Criminal cases by both the Law Enforcement and Defense Experts. A summary list of owners for the Expert AutoStats and 4N6XPRT StifCalcs programs can be downloaded by clicking on the appropriate links. (I would set up the links on the two programs. These should be links to files OUTSIDE OF WORDPRESS!!! The files already exist on the web site and ideally would change every year shortly after the update comes out. Link for AutoStats summary here – http://www.4n6xprt.com/ASOwnerCount.pdf Link for Stifcalcs summary here – http://www.4n6xprt.com/SCOwnerCount.pdf)
10. What platforms does your software run on?
Our applications are designed for the Microsoft windows platform. Our two most popular program – Expert AutoStats and 4N6XPRT StifCalcs will run on Windows 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems. Our programs have been run on Macs using various Windows emulation programs as well. We recommend checking each product page for specific system requirements.
11. How often is your Expert AutoStats database updated?
Our vehicle specifications database is updated yearly, typically between April 1-May 15, with the latest available information, including new model years and fills in data holes from past years when the information is available. The updates also include any program improvements which may have been incorporated into the AutoStats program.
12. How often is your 4N6XPRFT StifCalcs database updated?
Our crash test database is updated yearly, typically between October 1-December 31, with the latest available information. The updates also include any program improvements which may have been incorporated into the StifCalcs program.
13. How do I purchase or request a demo?
We currently do not have demo’s for our programs that work on the Windows 64-bit operating systems. However, sample printouts from our programs can be found in the various conference data packets on our web site accessed from this page https://www.4n6xprt.com/output/ among others. Retrieval of the information from the programs is often as simple as identifying the appropriate vehicle model year, make and model, then picking from the available models available in the specific database.
14. Can point clouds be used for crush analysis in accident reconstruction?
Yes, point clouds generated from 3D laser scanning or photogrammetry can be extremely useful in crush analysis, and is what our Point Cloud models are specifically intended to be used for. Using our (pre-crash) point cloud models in conjunction with point clouds created from scans of your damaged vehicles allows for highly accurate measurements of vehicle deformation, which can then be imported into reconstruction software to calculate impact severity, energy absorption, and more. Point cloud data provides a detailed, 3D visualization of damage that enhances accuracy over traditional manual measurements and supports more precise forensic assessments.
15. How do I get Point Clouds from you? Is this a program we buy or what?
Point clouds are available for download from our web site. You go to the shopping cart, review what we have available, pay, and then download. It truly is that simple.
16. Where does the information in the Expert AutoStats program come from?
The information in Expert AutoStats is a combination of published information, measured information from actual vehicles, and calculated information. The dimensional and weight information for Length, Width, Wheelbase, Height, curb weight, and Gross Vehicle Weight come from published sources. The remainder of the exterior dimensions – height of the front and rear bumpers, hood height, base of windshield height, bumper to hood, bumper to base of windshield, etc. are measured by our staff from actual vehicles. The interior dimensions, turning circle, acceleration times and braking distance come from published sources. The Center of Gravity position, moments of inertia, and acceleration rates are calculated from the measured and published data.
17. Where does the information in the 4N6XPRT StifCalcs program come from and how is it used??
The crash test information in 4N6XPRT StifCalcs comes from the NHTSA C rash Test database. Using that information we allow the user to obtain calculated Stiffness data for specific vehicles that have been tested, as well as create a “CLASS” of vehicle that “resembles” the subject vehicle in their crash based on things like weight, wheelbase, length, body style, year range, etc. These stiffness values are then used in other software to calculate things like pre-impact speed for the vehicles involved in a collision. The StifCalcs program also allows for the user to complete a FORCE BALANCE calculation where things like delta-v, Closing Speed, and Kinetic Energy Speed to cause crush are calculated for the crush in a specific collision.