For their experiment, the researchers chose the Artec Eva structured-light 3D scanner to compare accuracy, speed, and ease of use to current documentation methods. The objective of the experiment was to compare conventional forensic methods to 3D imaging technology. Putting 3D scanning technology to the test Add environmental factors to the picture, like the setting of the body’s discovery and weather, and color can act as a timestamp which could be the key piece in the puzzle.
Artec studio scanner disconnects skin#
More generally, skin discoloration can reflect the body’s stage of decomposition. For example, the degree of coloring of bodily trauma, including bruises and wounds, may convey the severity of the injury and its progression. In fact, color can shed light on the varying condition of the body, providing investigators with a richer spectrum of forensic data. High-quality color capture can reveal much beyond the identity of the victim vis-à-vis body modifications. According to the study, “The 3D model of a body presents injuries in a manner that is not only spatially and logically easier to comprehend, but allows viewers to have a clearer understanding of the location and size of injuries relative to other areas of the body.”Ī 3D scanner that captures accurate color is also a tremendous benefit to forensic pathologists. The necessity of geometric information to criminal investigation explains the reliance of pathologists on rulers and tape measures as a panacea to a problem that current 3D scanning technology can easily address. “A limitation to the traditional approach is that multiple photographs are necessary to give the viewer a sufficient understanding of the location and size of the injury relative to the entire body,” the authors explained in the paper that was published in the January 2017 issue of the Journal of the Association for Crime Scene Reconstruction. However, as the research underlines, the images cameras generate-regardless of their resolution, technical specifications, and overall visual quality-lack crucial data that only spatial relations between objects can offer. Over decades, little has changed in imaging autopsies: cameras remain the go-to device.
Artec studio scanner disconnects manual#
A recent study at the University of Toronto in Mississauga, Canada sought to compare photographs and manual measurements with a three-dimensional scanner in the documentation of injuries and bullet trajectories during an autopsy.įorensic pathologists typically document autopsies with the aid of photography, paired with manual measurements using rulers and tape measures. Utilizing the best tools available for documentation of autopsies is critical to any investigation.
In assisting law enforcement agencies and courts, forensic pathologists play crucial roles in gathering and examining materials that are used to build criminal cases. Originally published: Fall 2017 Issue (Volume 15, Number 3) Written by Janujah Sivanandan & Eugene Liscioįigure 1-Artec Eva being used to scan a live subject. 3D Scanning Technology for Faster Autopsy Documentation