3d Laser Scanners For Crime Scenes

[PiSquare]

I saw the last few seconds of a news clip today in which a reporter gave an exciting summary of agents with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation now having access to 3D laser scanners to help them record and construct complex crime scenes. The scanner rotates 360 degrees to capture the crime scene from all angles and perspectives.

 

This technology sounds promising and I do believe it could lead to more accurate depictions of crime scenes and the elimination of impossible scenarios as provided by accused persons and/or witnesses who would want to deceive the jury. But, I still need to get my mind around the claim that the 3D scanner will be "revolutionary to the CSI sector". In all of this the scanner is still a tool that is only as good as the prosecutor or defence's case. 

[CraigD]

I saw the last few seconds of a news clip today in which a reporter gave an exciting summary of agents with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation now having access to 3D laser scanners to help them record and construct complex crime scenes.

I found this 27 Jan news story, which shows one of maker Faro’s 3d scanner in use by the Roswell NM police.

 

According to the video, the system costs them only $86,000, a cost I imagine it will recoup quickly by saving time compared to manual measuring and documenting procedures.

The scanner rotates 360 degrees to capture the crime scene from all angles and perspectives.

Sorta.

 

Since all it essentially is is a rangefinder and color meter (or something that allows it to capture a color image), a system like this can’t see anything hidden from the position where its set up, though it does some clever tricks to avoid glaring visual relics of this – look at the “shadows” shown in the news video.

 

This technology sounds promising and I do believe it could lead to more accurate depictions of crime scenes and the elimination of impossible scenarios as provided by accused persons and/or witnesses who would want to deceive the jury.

Not just that, it allows investigators to find details they might otherwise have missed, by moving virtually through a scene, with no time limits imposed by the need to restore the scene to its original state (eg: haul away crashed cars).

 

But, I still need to get my mind around the claim that the 3D scanner will be "revolutionary to the CSI sector". In all of this the scanner is still a tool that is only as good as the prosecutor or defence's case.

I think it’s “revolutionary” in a way similar to how cameras were. It’s just a tool, but by all appearances, a better tool – faster and easier to use to do more than the technology it replaces.

 

The only downside to this technology vs the photographs and hand-recorded measurements and sketches it replaces I can think of is that, because it allows scenes to be quickly captured and then virtually visited via a computer, investigators may spend more time with the computer and less on actual physical scenes. Since cameras and scanners collect only visual information, this has the potential to “blind” them to other sensor data, such as smell, which can be critical to solving investigative puzzles.

[Noire]

The scanner obviously can't pick up things hidden under or in a low cabinet or behind close doors, so that is one downfall. I imagine they could probably recreate the scene with a 3D printer to bring to court.   I think it is amazing how science manages to come up with new things.  When you think they can't possibly think of anything else out comes a new gadget to make life simpler. 

[PiSquare]

In an informal discussion on 3D technology earlier today, someone in my group mentioned another function of a 3D scanner. Apparently bodies can be scanned to detect possible causes of death which is especially useful in a crime situation. It is probably not the same 3D laser scanner used to capture a crime scene, but rather a similar device specifically designed for scanning human and animal bodies. Interesting concept for sure (if this is indeed true).

Edited July 25, 2014 by PiSquare

[Noire]

Sounds kind of like a Star Trek device that they used to scan their people's health,  PiSquare,  It will be wonderful when they come up with a pocket held MRI or ultrasound that you run over a body and it immediately gives you a reading.