| If you think that the high tech crime solving | | | | evidence that was overlooked or considered |
| techniques on shows like CSI are science fiction, | | | | unimportant when an accident or crime scene |
| think again. While a quick walk through a rural | | | | was initially investigated. |
| police department might not reveal much science | | | | In addition to providing "portraits" of accident and |
| at work, police departments and sheriff's offices | | | | crime scenes, laser scanning also allows |
| in urban areas are becoming increasingly savvy to | | | | investigators to create animations that show what |
| how new technology can help solve crimes, an | | | | might have happened at a crime or accident |
| example of which can be seen in the use of laser | | | | scene. For example, by scanning bullet holes, |
| surveying-also referred to as laser scanning and | | | | investigators can determine bullet trajectory and |
| high-definition surveying-to examine accident and | | | | begin animating a scene based on what they |
| crime scenes. Laser scanning is traditionally | | | | know about how bullets, gradually altering the |
| associated with the engineering, manufacturing and | | | | animation as they plug new evidence into the |
| construction industries. But the same benefit that | | | | animation criteria. In addition to providing |
| it brings to engineering, manufacturing and | | | | investigators with a conceptual visual record of an |
| construction projects-the precise recording and | | | | accident or a crime, laser scanning animations can |
| storage of all spatial data, no matter how | | | | also serve as valuable tools for showing a jury |
| minute-it brings to accident and crime | | | | what happened during an accident or a crime. |
| investigations. | | | | Instead of listing off a series of measurements |
| Traditionally, accident and crime scene | | | | and explaining how they relate to the action of an |
| investigators use a camera and a notebook to | | | | accident or a crime, attorneys can play a laser |
| record crucial physical data. But when | | | | scanning animation and follow it up with well-drawn |
| investigators process a scene by making a | | | | conclusions. |
| traditional 2D diagram, they make subjective | | | | Some police departments choose outsource out |
| decisions about what should be recorded and | | | | their laser scanning needs, while others opt to |
| what should not. While accident scene evidence | | | | purchase their own scanning equipment and |
| such as skid marks and crime scene evidence like | | | | create a laser scanning department. In either |
| blood spatter will always be recorded; as | | | | case, laser scanning offers investigators the |
| investigations proceed, they sometimes reach a | | | | information that they need I a timely fashion. |
| juncture where the noted evidence fails to make | | | | Unlike older surveying methods that use analogue |
| sense in relation to the crime scene. Because laser | | | | and GPS technology, high-definition surveying can |
| scanners record all physical aspects of an accident | | | | produce surveying results in as little as one |
| or crime scene into computer files that can be | | | | surveying session, which is almost always the |
| referred to as necessary, they can yield invaluable | | | | case with accident and crime scenes. |