A toolbox for the rapid prototyping of crime scene reconstructions in virtual reality

Identification parade in immersive virtual reality - A technical setup

Virtual Reality (VR) has sparked interest within the forensic community, where it is currently used for training purposes and in variety of forensic scenarios. In combination with efficient and user friendly full body 3-Dimensional (3D) documentation methods, VR visualisations present a viable tool for suspect witness identification. The well-known procedure of placing several persons in a room with a one-way-mirror, along with a witness on the other side of the mirror has practical disadvantages. The primary concern implicates the witness(s) and person(s) of interest coming face-to-face prior to the line-up, combined with finding sufficient persons to include within the line-up. Although image identification using printed paper partially resolved this problem, features such as body stature also marks an issue for the recognition and identification process. To test whether VR provides the technical capabilities to perform an identification parade, a total of 15 subjects were 3D documented using the multi-camera device "Photobox". From this group, one of the documented persons then interrupted a lecture, where consequently, the students were asked afterwards to identify the same person in VR and paper identification sets. It was found that the participating students were able to identify the "suspect" in both datasets. The results imply that VR technology allow users to identify persons. However, as this is a preliminary study the similarity problem was not analysed in this paper and requires further investigation to demonstrate the robustness of this approach.

The forensic holodeck - Recommendations after 8 years of experience for additional equipment to document VR applications

The forensic holodeck was first introduced in 2013, using the first upcoming commercially available virtual reality gaming headsets to visualize forensic 3D reconstructions. Following the publication of this development virtual reality was introduced in case work in a variety of different ways. After 8 years of using virtual reality in a professional forensic capacity this professional practice report will show, which equipment is necessary in addition to a virtual reality setup. This mostly includes audio-visual and broadcasting technology for complete documentation of the application of virtual reality, but also some other IT equipment, which should be available for as low as 20'000 US$. Guidelines, hints and tips regarding equipment acquisition, setup and use will be provided and discussed.

Explosion-related deaths: An overview on forensic evaluation and implications

Purpose

Explosion-related deaths are uncommon events which require expertise and confidence so that an appropriate death investigation can be performed. The present study aims to provide a detailed forensic analysis of the issues and implications arising in the event of an explosion.

Methods

A retrospective review of casualty data was conducted on electronic literature databases. Cases concerning deadly explosions registered at the Milan Institute of Legal Medicine were examined and analyzed altogether.

Results

Explosions may involve closed or open systems. A security assessment of the site is always necessary. Alterations of the site due to rescue procedures can occur; thus, on-site forensic investigation should be adapted to the environment. Then, a study protocol based on autopsy procedures is presented. Application of the postmortem radiology enforces forensic procedures both for the analysis of blast injuries and skeleton fractures, and for identification purposes. Blast injuries typically cause lacerations of the lungs, intestine and major vessels; moreover, hyoid fractures can be documented. Histopathology may help to define blast injuries effectively. Forensic chemistry, toxicology and ballistics provide useful investigative evidence as well as anthropology and genetics. Different forensic topics regarding explosions are discussed through five possible scenarios that forensic pathologists may come across. Scenarios include self-inflicted explosion deaths, domestic explosions, work-related explosions, terrorist events, and explosions caused by accidents involving heavy vehicles.

Conclusion

The scenarios presented offer a useful instrument to avoid misinterpretations and evaluation errors. Procedural notes and technical aspects are provided to the readers, with an insight on collaboration with other forensic experts.

A review of visualization techniques of post-mortem computed tomography data for forensic death investigations

Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) is a standard image modality used in forensic death investigations. Case- and audience-specific visualizations are vital for identifying relevant findings and communicating them appropriately. Different data types and visualization methods exist in 2D and 3D, and all of these types have specific applications. 2D visualizations are more suited for the radiological assessment of PMCT data because they allow the depiction of subtle details. 3D visualizations are better suited for creating visualizations for medical laypersons, such as state attorneys, because they maintain the anatomical context. Visualizations can be refined by using additional techniques, such as annotation or layering. Specialized methods such as 3D printing and virtual and augmented reality often require data conversion. The resulting data can also be used to combine PMCT data with other 3D data such as crime scene laser scans to create crime scene reconstructions. Knowledge of these techniques is essential for the successful handling of PMCT data in a forensic setting. In this review, we present an overview of current visualization techniques for PMCT.