| Technology Profile
What’s in an ideal crash
investigation toolbox?
21-24 APR 2020 AMSTERDAM
LASER TECHNOLOGY INC.
Stand: 12.708
Left: Laser
measurments are
a fast and accurate
way to record the
details of a crash
scene. In use
here is a Crash
Mapping Kit using
LTI TruPulse 200X
and LaserSoft
QuickMap 3D for
Android tablets
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January/February 2020 Traffic Technology International
www.TrafficTechnologyToday.com
079
Accurately documenting
crash-site evidence even
under ideal conditions can
be tedious and time-consuming.
Investigators can also face
additional challenges including
variable weather, complex terrain
and busy roadways. The trusted
pen, paper and tape measure,
laser mapping devices, and even
the most comprehensive, elaborate
3D scanning technologies are
various approaches to
investigations, all have their
place, depending on budget and
scene type. With so many
options, how do investigators
choose the right tools?
Michael Stogsdill, accredited
by the Accreditation
Commission for Accident
Reconstruction (ACTAR), has
been investigating automobile
collisions since 2000 and has
mapped scenes in poor weather,
on dangerous roads and across
difficult terrain. “The technology
available today has made the job
significantly easier,” he says. “If
you have the money and
resources, it could be worth
investing a little more in your
crash documentation toolbox.”
However, there’s no point
rushing to buy new technology
without the right knowlege.“One
of the biggest things to remember
is you have to know the basics
before you move on to more
advanced technology,” cautions
Rich Maxwell, who spent 27
years in law enforcement, is a
certified crash reconstructionist
who has investigated thousands
of motor vehicle crashes.
“Technology does fail
sometimes, and you might have
to go back to the tape measure
and do everything by hand.”
Reliable but limited
The humble tape measure has
been a tried and trusted
companion for investigators over
the years, but it has its limitations.
| Need to know
Options for documenting
crash scenes
> Pen, paper and tape
measure
> Laser mapping
> 3D scanning
> Photogrammetry
> Drone-based
photogrammetry
“When budgets are tight,
there aren’t many other options
available to law enforcement.
That’s not to say it can’t be done,
but the documentation becomes
tedious,” says Stogsdill. “The
‘total station’ is the standard
these days, if you can afford it.
These units provide precise
ground point measurements,
make great diagrams and work
well with other diagramming
software. But total stations
weren’t really designed for
police officers; they were meant
for land surveying and mapping.”
“Total stations cost a lot
when you consider how limited
they are,” says Maxwell.
LTI (Laser Technology Inc.)
lasers can perform a similar
captures 2D photos of a crash
scene and creates a 3D point
cloud from those photographs
with the aid of software.
“Validation is something you
have to consider with drones,”
says Maxwell. “The question
becomes: are measurements
accurate? If you have your own
ground-based measurements,
you can confirm them.”
Stogsdill stocks his field
mapping kit with a combination
of LTI lasers and software
because they’re versatile,
affordable, accurate and easy to
use and they save time and can
increase safety on dangerous
roadways. “It’s common today
to use a combination of
equipment to document a
scene,” he notes.
LTI is a leader in the design
and manufacturing of laserbased
speed and distance
measurement instruments
including laser rangefinders,
speed guns and sensors.
function enabling investigators
to choose only the points they
want to capture. “LTI lasers
are incredibly versatile – they
can be used for mapping and
crash scene investigation and
also for speed enforcement,
depending on the model. You
also can add to them and
upgrade as needed, and they’re
still not bulky,” says Maxwell.
Other useful tools
Investigators also use
photographic evidence to
measure a scene using software
to extrapolate measurements
(photogrammetry). “But
I wouldn’t solely rely on it,”
says Maxwell. “It’s a supportive
technology and another tool
in the toolbox.”
The 3D scanner, on the other
hand, can scan millions of
points to create detailed images
of the area. These devices often
are cost-prohibitive and create
extremely large files. Each scan
takes time because of the
amount of detail. When you
merge these point clouds, you
need to have the processing
power to support them.
An alternative cost-effective
and time-efficient solution is
photogrammetry using an
unmanned aerial device. This
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