Digital technologies as a modern tool of forensic construction and technical expertise

Abstract

Digitalisation is embracing more and more activities, including such an integral part of it as judicial proceedings. The effectiveness of judicial proceedings largely depends on forensic activities, the results of which provide evidence in criminal, administrative and civil proceedings. The structure and peculiarities of information support of forensic construction and technical expertise are determined by the goals and objectives of this or that type of expertise. The need for digital transformation of information support is very significant for experts working in any area of forensic expertise, but for construction experts this problem is the most acute. This is due to the very significant scope of forensic activities in this area. The list of issues dealt with by the construction forensic expert is comparable to the scope of those issues dealt with in the construction and operation of construction projects. It is impossible to conduct forensic construction investigations without constant use of scientific, normative-technical and methodological sources both modern and previously published. All these facts determined the necessity of formation and development of the system of information support of this activity which meets the requirements of the present time. The article presents the basic principles, the observance of which ensures the efficiency and effectiveness of this system. The list of the specified principles includes: a principle of necessity of the information, a principle of obligatory knowledge of a degree of reliability of the information, principles of its completeness and a variety, principles of urgency and simplicity, a principle of flexibility of information system, a principle of ordering (distribution) of databases, a principle of minimization of number of search actions, a principle of integration of information system and a principle of protection of the information against unauthorized access. The authors also consider in detail in relation to the problems of forensic construction and technical expertise the principles of information system functioning, which include: the principle of combination of stability of information sources and operative systematic replenishment of new information, the principle of operative information supply, the principle of adequacy of information response to experts' enquiries, the principle of advance of information «supply» of information «demand». The structureand content of funds of primary and secondary sources of information support of forensic construction-technical expert examination is alsopresented, as well as the prospects of development of information support system of this type of forensic activities with the use of digital technologies, based on the fact that the results of its functioning must meet the requirements of modern legal proceedings.