This document discusses using advanced surveying technology called total stations to map fire and explosion incident scenes. Total stations use lasers and electronic distance measurement to quickly collect spatial data on room dimensions, equipment locations, burn patterns, and victim positions. This precision data can then be imported into modeling software to reconstruct fire and smoke patterns or create 2D and 3D representations of the scene. The document will provide an overview of total stations, present a case study, discuss legal considerations, and demonstrate how this technology assists investigators in building comprehensive case scenarios.
Original Description:
Description of Forensic Mapping for Fires and Explosions
Original Title
Advanced Surveying Technology for Forensic Mapping of Fire and Explosion Incident Scenes
This document discusses using advanced surveying technology called total stations to map fire and explosion incident scenes. Total stations use lasers and electronic distance measurement to quickly collect spatial data on room dimensions, equipment locations, burn patterns, and victim positions. This precision data can then be imported into modeling software to reconstruct fire and smoke patterns or create 2D and 3D representations of the scene. The document will provide an overview of total stations, present a case study, discuss legal considerations, and demonstrate how this technology assists investigators in building comprehensive case scenarios.
This document discusses using advanced surveying technology called total stations to map fire and explosion incident scenes. Total stations use lasers and electronic distance measurement to quickly collect spatial data on room dimensions, equipment locations, burn patterns, and victim positions. This precision data can then be imported into modeling software to reconstruct fire and smoke patterns or create 2D and 3D representations of the scene. The document will provide an overview of total stations, present a case study, discuss legal considerations, and demonstrate how this technology assists investigators in building comprehensive case scenarios.
ADVANCED SURVEYING TECHNOLOGY FOR FORENSIC MAPPING
OF FIRE AND EXPLOSION INCIDENT SCENES
Brian C. Dunagan, CSP, CFEI Incident Free Operations, Inc., USA
ABSTRACT Total stations (electronic surveying equipment) have been frequently utilized by traffic accident investigators and reconstruction specialists for more 20 years to dramatically reduce the time and labor required to document and map vehicle accident scenes while allowing collection of data that can be directly imported into modeling and mapping software. This technology also has other forensic applications and can readily be utilized to assist investigators in systematically and accurately mapping fire and explosion incident scenes.
Total stations include all of the advantages of theodolites and virtually eliminate the need for measuring tapes in investigations by virtue of electronic distance measuring (EDM). The instrument transmits an infrared laser beam which is reflected back from an object or a mirrored prism and the time it takes for the beam to travel is converted by an on-board computer into units of spatial measure. Distances, angles, elevations, and other information so gathered can then be stored in a data collector linked to the total station. Once a scene has been processed, the point geometry data collected can be imported into software designed to convert the measurements into computer based fire and smoke models for reconstruction analyses or to construct 2D or 3D graphical representations of the scene. Examples of precision data that can be collected: Equipment and furniture positions Room and compartment dimensions Heat and smoke stratification levels Material deflections from overpressures and direct physical impacts Burn patterns Extent of spills Victim positions and movements Measurements not readily attainable by normal means (high vertical distances, over water, etc.) This paper summarizes the methodologies and equipment for utilizing total stations for the forensic mapping of fire and explosion scenes. First, an overview of total stations and associated equipment such as prisms and data collectors will be presented. Second, a case example using forensic mapping of a fire scene utilizing the methodology will be explored. Third, the constraints and the legal considerations of the technology will be discussed. Finally, it will be demonstrated that the use of these techniques can assist the savvy investigator in building a compelling case scenario that builds on and complements the other evidence collected while satisfying the ever increasing standards for reliable and accurate documentation of scenes.