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However,
for NADC-member Protec Documentation Services Inc. of
Mount Laurel, New Jersey, performing work on blasting
projects around the world - and "implosion"
projects specifically - has become a fairly routine
way of life. The 20 year-old firm specializes in vibration
monitoring and prediction, structure surveys and photographic
documentation, all of which provide a perfect match
for explosive demolition work. Add to the mix a crew
of young, ambitious and experienced vibration technicians
who excel at photography and thrive on traveling, and
the result is a team of battle-tested demolition consultants
ready to mobilize anywhere in the world at a moment's
notice.
Given
this heady charge, it is easy to assume there would
be a tinge of arrogance or swagger in their step. There
is not. Although they work within an industry that often
commands a disproportionate amount of hype and media
attention, the team is surprisingly low profile, to
a point where most people beyond the blaster and general
contractor don't even realize they're on the jobsite.
Yet the team is responsible for capturing some of the
most dynamic images ever recorded, and in the process
continues to play an invaluable role in chronicling
the history of one of the most visually compelling demolition
"art forms" in existence.
The
following is an account of a recent weekend with the
Protec team, which included the participation of nine
NADC members in the explosive demolition of 15 structures
spread throughout The Netherlands, England, Canada and
the United States.
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