1st Edition
Crime Scene Documentation Preserving the Evidence and the Growing Role of 3D Laser Scanning
PART I Introduction: The Importance of
Crime Scene Documentation and
the Drive to 3D Scene Visualization
Chapter 1 A Brief History of Forensic Science: How Archimedes and
Ja c k t he Rippe r Shaped Modern Forensics
Chapter 2 Crime Scene Documentation has
Challenges, But Technology Tools are
Meeting Them
Chapter 3 Preparing for Crime Scene Documentation
Chapter 4 The To ta l Stat i on: Still a Stalwart Documentation Tool
Chapter 5 The Value of Photogrammetry Takes on
New Importance as Tool for 3D Crime
Scene Capture
PART II Getting the Most Out of
3D Laser Scanning: A Look
at Some Unique Applications
Chapter 6 How 3D Laser Scanning Systems are
Changing Crime Scene Documentation
Chapter 7 Setting Up The Scanner, Working With
Point Clouds, and Building 2D/3D Models
Chapter 8 The Essentials of Getting Trained on the
Use of a Laser Scanner
Chapter 9 Bringing Crime Scene Reconstructions
into Court
Chapter 10 360° Imaging Systems as a Way to
Document Crime Scenes
Chapter 11 Rugged Tablets: A Newer Way to
Capture Scenes; An Alternative to 3D
Laser Scanning
Chapter 12 How Drones Give Scene Reconstruction
New Perspectives, Crucial
Interrelationships of Evidence
Chapter 13 Laser Scanning a Strong Fit for
Reconstructing Active Incident Scenes;
Useful for Autopsies, Powerful Training
Tool
Chapter 14 Risk Assessment, Security Planning
Critical for Future Active Incidents;
How Technology can AID
Chapter 15 Scene Perspectives at the Core of
Reconstructing Officer-Involved
Shootings; Video Evidence a Big Factor
Chapter 16 Scanning for Bloodstain Pattern
Analysis Helps Identify Vital Clues at
Crime Scenes
Chapter 17 Vehicle Collision Damage "Autopsies"
Yield Crucial Details with 3D Laser
Technology
Chapter 18 Scanning for Height Approximation
Proves Invaluable in Helping to Target
Prime Suspects
Chapter 19 Integrating Technology Tools
Help Solve Crime /Crash Scene
Reconstruction Challenges, Clarify
Probable Events
Biography
Robert Galvin has 43 years of experience in public relations, newspaper reporting and writing, and trade press writing. During the last 15 years, Mr. Galvin has concentrated on the law enforcement, public safety and forensic science sectors for writing and publication of trade press articles tied to crime scene investigations and scene documentation. Since 2007, he has focused his writing specifically on articles about crime and vehicle crash scene documentation, methodology and particularly the technology advancements that have occurred. Mr. Galvin has worked with vendors offering software and technology products that enable law enforcement agencies and crash/crime scene reconstructionists to record evidence, data, and contents at vehicle crash scenes and crime scenes. These vendors offer specific solutions, including: total station (an electronic instrument that measures sloping distance of object to instrument, horizontal and vertical angles—originally for land surveying, but now used for measuring vehicle crash and crime scenes), 2D/3D diagramming software, and 3D laser scanners. In addition to working with several companies as a public relations specialist and manager, Mr. Galvin built and managed his own public relations/writing services consulting firm which was operated from 1989 to 2018. In those years during which his articles about crash and crime scene documentation were published, Mr. Galvin interviewed a multitude of law enforcement, public safety, forensic and crime investigation professionals, including: crime scene investigators, crime detectives, snipers, S.W.A.T. Operators, criminalists, arson investigators, police chiefs, sheriff's deputies who investigate crime scenes, vehicle crash and crime scene reconstructionists, and forensic experts.
"Overall, this book explains the emerging technology of 3D laser scanning as a critical tool for scene documentation … (it) serves as an invaluable resource for CSIs interested in new technologies to document a scene, to map evidence, and to reconstruct scenes." —Forensic Science Review, Vol. 34:1, January 2022
