Enhancing forensic investigation through the use of modern three-dimensional (3D) imaging technologies for crime scene reconstruction

Abstract

Recent advances in the capabilities and accessibility of powerful 3D imaging technologies have seen an increasingly widespread adoption of these systems as a tool for the investigation of serious crime. The need for precise and accurate mapping of crime scenes has led to the adaptation of laser scanning technology from the mining and surveying industries for use in a forensic context. Entire crime scenes are now able to be captured and reconstructed with millimetre detail, and revolutionary new systems are allowing these datasets to be explored by investigators and jurors without complex equipment or expertise. Numerous useful analyses, such as determining bullet trajectories, mapping bloodstain evidence and comparing complex weapons with impressions, are now able to be conducted within this 3D space, revealing new information through the reconstruction of complex crime scenes that may not have been possible through conventional methods. As a relatively recent forensic field, there are several considerations for organizations implementing 3D imaging systems for crime scene reconstruction, to ensure the validity of this material and subsequent acceptance in court. Best practice guidelines and oversight organizations are being developed across international jurisdictions to help guide and facilitate the growth of 3D reconstruction as a forensic tool.