Anil Aggrawal's Internet Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology

Volume 1, Number 2, July - December 2000

Interview with Friedrich H. Lux

(Dr Friedrich H. Lux is a forensic tire examiner who is known the world over for his famous cases involving examination of tire tracks in criminal cases. His forensic tire examination testimonies have been intrumental in solving several cases.

Dr Friedrich H. Lux

Naturally we at the "Anil Aggrawal's Internet Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology" wanted to know more about him. We approached him for an online interview and he graciously agreed. The interview was conducted for well over two months. Some excerpts.. ..)

Qu. 1. Can you tell us about your career? Your educational background?

Ans. I have studied Industrial Engineering at the technical college in Moedling, Austria. Then I made my masters degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University of Vienna, Austria.

In 1985 I started to work with Semperit Tire Company (now Continental) as a project manager in tire research and development. Beside my industrial job I made my doctors degree in mechanical engineering in the field of using fuzzy logic in expert systems. After 10 years experience in the industry I founded my company "Tire Global Information" and I started to teach technical subjects at the technical college in Moedling. In 1996 I became a certified expert in tread pattern identification at the courts of Austria.

Qu. 2. When were you born? How were you attracted to the examination of tyres in which you are in now? Any interesting experiences?

Ans. I was born at 4^th January 1959 in Wr. Neustadt, Austria.

In 1995 I had a presentation at "The Tire Society" in Akron, Ohio of my project: "Light Weight Tire Concept". There I met Peter McDonald who is the specialist for tread pattern identification in North America. I was so impressed by him and his work so I wanted to do a similar job for Europe and Asia.

"Tread Assistant 1999" by Lux. Click on the picture to go to its review.

Qu. 3. Any fascinating experiences in courts?

Ans. I am in cooperation with a lot of police departments in Europe and Asia. If there is any problem in identification of tread pattern, I try to help them in their work.

Qu. 4. Could you tell us about your family? Did you inherit the love of tyres from your parents? How many children do you have? Would you be happy if they took up the examination of tyres as a profession? What are they doing now anyway?

Ans. I am married to Gundula, a teacher in History and Geographics and we have one daughter Stefanie, born in 1983, who is studying at the Technical University of Vienna. My wife is working with me in our company and she is the specialist for car types and its measurements (wheel base, front and rear track, rim sizes, .)

Qu. 5. What do you love most (besides your professional work and making CDs of course)?

Ans. I love to stay with my family and we are spending a lot of time together to work in our house and garden. We like to travel to other countries, far away from tourist routes, by ourselves, to learn much about of the people and their living there. We had been to Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Mexico, China, Dubai, ..

Qu. 6. Your favorite dish, book, movie, star, person?

Ans. My favorite dish is grilled beef. My favorite book is "Deadly Decisions" by Kathy Reichs. My favorite movie is "Modern Times" with Charly Chaplin. My favorite star is Harrison Ford and finally my favorite persons are my wife and my daughter.

Qu. 7. What do you dislike most?

Ans. Unfairness, violence and war.

"....In 1985 I started to work with Semperit Tire Company (now Continental) as a project manager in tire research and development. Beside my industrial job I made my doctors degree in mechanical engineering in the field of using fuzzy logic in expert systems. After 10 years experience in the industry I founded my company "Tire Global Information" and I started to teach technical subjects at the technical college in Moedling. In 1996 I became a certified expert in tread pattern identification at the courts of Austria. ...."

Qu. 8. What do you consider as your biggest achievement in life?

Ans. To be a good husband, to give my daughter a good education.

Qu. 9. If you were able to choose your profession again, what would it be, and why?

Ans. I am very happy with my present jobs. If I like to change my profession in the future, I will do that, because you only live once.

Qu. 10. Have you ever traveled to India, or to Indian subcontinent? Would you like to visit, if such an opportunity arose?

Ans. We have never been to India before, but I would like to visit it in the future. In cooperation with a children's Organization we are paying for the education of a poor child in Valparai, India. Maybe we will visit him in the future.

Qu. 11. What has been your biggest failure/disappointment?

Ans. Nobody is perfect - therefore failures are necessary to learn.

Qu. 12. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be, and why?

Ans. To improve the communication with other people.

Dr. Lux's Superlatives First Award : Nomination for the Austrian Design Award First Book : Tire Book, 1997 Greatest Love of my life : my wife I am superstitious about : Friday, 13th I hate : lying My best case : tire track identification for The Netherlands My biggest assets : knowledge, health My biggest fear : illness My Birthday : 4 January 1959 My favorite possession : our house My favorite quote and/or one-liner : "cogito ergo sum" My greatest extravagance : my oldtimer, Mercedes 180a from 1959 My greatest necessity : give justice to everyone My greatest regret : injustice My Hero : everyone who saved live of someone else My idea of perfect happiness : satisfaction with your life My most overrated virtue : honor My passion : Working around the house My spice : red pepper My strength : knowing what I want My wildest fantasy : not here, that's private Place Of Birth : Wr. Neustadt, Austria Real Name : Friedrich H. Lux Thing closest to my heart : my family What touches me most : humanity

Qu. 13. Which living person do your admire most? Which person in entire history? Why?

Ans. Amont the living persons, I admire my wife most. Among historic persons, Thomas A. Edison. Don't ask me why!

Qu. 14. What is your life's mantra?

Ans. Satisfaction with your life and healthy.

Qu. 15. In one line, how would you best describe yourself?

Ans. Tolerant, quite, easy to get along with.

Qu. 16. Any awards (The question of first award is asked as a box item)?

Ans. Nomination for the Austrian design award in 1994 for my light weight tire.

Qu. 17. If you were marooned on a desert island, who/what would you like to be marooned with and why?

Ans. My wife, a lot of tools and many books to read.

Qu. 18. What do you do first thing in the morning?

Ans. Drinking a cup of coffee is necessary for me to wake up in the morning.

Qu. 19. And the last thing at night?

Ans. Giving a kiss to my wife.

Qu. 20. What do you do in your spare time? Your hobbies, interests?

Ans. I have an old car, a Mercedes 180a from 1959. I like to drive it at good weather conditions just for fun. I am working a lot in and outside the house. In the evening we like to meet friends, going to concerts, theaters and to have dinner in a good restaurant.

Qu. 21. Are you religious? If yes, how do you reconcile religion with science, which is your profession?

Ans. I am not very religious, but the basics as "do not lie", "do not kill" should be a rule for everyone.

Qu. 22. If a youngster of about 12-13 years wanted to take up tyre examination as a career, how should he proceed?

Ans. You should have a basic knowledge in tire produce and construction. Therefore you have do pass a technical education and then some years experience in a tire production factory.

Qu. 23. Your favorite authors/books?

Ans. Kathy Reichs, author of forensic based criminal books.

Qu. 24. Any message for our readers?

Ans. If you want to do something different, change it now. You only have one life and it is too short to do the wrong thing.

 Dr Friedrich H. Lux can be approached via E-mail at lux@tgi.co.at. The review of his software Tread Assistant 1999 appears in this issue of this journal. Readers wanting to visit this review may want to click here.

 N.B. It is essential to read this journal - and especially this interview as it contains several tables and high resolution graphics - under a screen resolution of 1600 x 1200 dpi or more. If the resolution is less than this, you may see broken or overlapping tables/graphics, graphics overlying text or other anomalies. It is strongly advised to switch over to this resolution to read this journal - and especially this interview. These pages are viewed best in Netscape Navigator 4.7 and above.

-Anil Aggrawal

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