3D-FORENSICS · Mobile high-resolution 3D-Scanner and 3D data analysis for forensic evidence

Crime is a major factor in reducing the level of civil security. The percentage of solved crime is less than 70% in more than half of the EU countries in some it is less than 50%. A very important part of crime investigation is the capturing and analysis of forensic evidence. A promising forensic approach is 3D-reconstruction of evidence and its analysis but existing systems suffer from low accuracy, flexibility and resolution.A mobile high resolution 3D-scanning system and automatic 3D-data analysis software will be developed for use at crime scenes. The system will enhance state-of-the-art 3D-laser-scanning devices with much more detailed forensic evidence data acquisition (e.g. of foot prints or traces on bodies) and the software will relieve forensic experts of time-consuming data-processing by hand. A further objective is the realisation of methods to guarantee the integrity of 3D-analysis within the chain of custody from the crime scene to court. The data derived from the system will be accurate, safe from manipulation, convincing and meaningful in order to achieve judicial acceptance. The application of the new mobile 3D-scanner and analysis methods will lead to more effective and successful work by forensic experts with the potential to considerably increase crime detection rates.The project includes the development, realisation and test of two prototypes as well as the dissemination and exploitation of the results. Five of the partners are SMEs so the project will demonstrate a more active role for SMEs in the development of new innovative technology in the area of security. One of the SMEs is also an end user. A further public end user is included in the project and an applied research institute supports the SMEs’ development. The users of the developed technology are potentially every crime scene investigation unit and/or forensic crime expert in the world so there is a clear potential and intention by the SMEs to exploit the results commercially.