A powerful tool for investigations and preplanning
3D laser scanning for forensics, public safety, and homeland security. A powerful tool for investigations and preplanning.
Applications
What is it?
The ScanStation 2 is a versatile and very accurate 3D laser scanning system which uses a high-speed laser and a built-in digital camera to rapidly photograph and measure a scene exactly the way in which the first responder encountered it. Suitable for use indoors or out, from bright sunlight to total darkness, the ability of the ScanStation 2 to measure up to 300 meters (over 900 feet) makes it an ideal tool for law enforcement and public safety officials to document and archive complex environments.
What kind of information does it collect?
Both photographic and measurement data. The photo captured is a high-resolution “full-dome” spherical photo of the scene which users can navigate and zoom into. The measurement data captured by the scanner is called a “point cloud” and investigators can use this information to easily determine any desired dimension at any time, even years after the event. No more missing measurements after the scene has been released. If you can see it, you can scan it.
This is an example of actual staged Leica laser scanner data with true color from the ScanStation 2's internal high-resolution digital camera automatically mapped onto the "point cloud". This simulated scene was photographed and scanned in just a few minutes. No post-processing was required. This is the raw data which can be viewed almost immediately at the scene.
Why is laser scanning considered a better method for measuring a crime scene?
There are several reasons. One is that the laser is completely objective about what will get measured at a scene. Everything within its field of view (line of sight) will be measured and nothing will be overlooked. If the scanner can “see” it, it will get measured in vivid 3D. The resulting point cloud can be used to create animated “fly-thoughs” of the scene showing who could see what from where. When using pocket tapes or other manual measurement methods the crime scene technician(s) will make many individual measurements to what they think is important at the time. As the investigation progresses, different elements within the scene may take on greater importance. Those elements may or may not have been measured manually when the scene was documented. Leica laser scanning provides a way to “go back” to the scene exactly as it looked when scan for further spatial analysis and measurement.
In March of 2007 Leica Geosystems participated in a forensic mapping exercise at an outdoor mock crime scene staged by members of the Albuquerque Police Department and City of Sugar Land, TX, Police Department. Diagrams can be downloaded below...
