Testing photogrammetry-based techniques for three-dimensional
surface documentation in forensic pathology

J 2015

Testing photogrammetry-based techniques for three-dimensional surface documentation in forensic pathology

URBANOVÁ, Petra, Petr HEJNA and Mikoláš JURDA

Basic information

Original name

Testing photogrammetry-based techniques for three-dimensional surface documentation in forensic pathology

Authors

URBANOVÁ, Petra (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Petr HEJNA (203 Czech Republic) and Mikoláš JURDA (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Forensic Science International, Irsko, Elsevier Sequoia, 2015, 0379-0738

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

30000 3. Medical and Health Sciences

Country of publisher

Ireland

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Impact factor

Impact factor: 1.950

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/15:00082599

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.03.005

UT WoS

000352441700012

Keywords (in Czech)

Postmortem dokumentace; optické skenování; fotogrammetrie; srovnání 3D sítí

Keywords in English

Postmortem documentation; Optical surface scanning; Photogrammetry; Point cloud comparison

Abstract

V originále

Three-dimensional surface technologies particularly close range photogrammetry and optical surface scanning have recently advanced into affordable, flexible and accurate techniques. Forensic postmortem investigation as performed on a daily basis, however, has not yet fully benefited from their potentials. In the present paper, we tested two approaches to 3D external body documentation – digital camera-based photogrammetry combined with commercial Agisoft PhotoScan1 software and stereophotogrammetry- based Vectra H11, a portable handheld surface scanner. In order to conduct the study three human subjects were selected, a living person, a 25-year-old female, and two forensic cases admitted for postmortem examination at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Hradec Kra´ love´ , Czech Republic (both 63-year-old males), one dead to traumatic, self-inflicted, injuries (suicide by hanging), the other diagnosed with the heart failure. All three cases were photographed in 3608 manner with a Nikon 7000 digital camera and simultaneously documented with the handheld scanner. In addition to having recorded the pre-autopsy phase of the forensic cases, both techniques were employed in various stages of autopsy. The sets of collected digital images (approximately 100 per case) were further processed to generate point clouds and 3D meshes. Final 3D models (a pair per individual) were counted for numbers of points and polygons, then assessed visually and compared quantitatively using ICP alignment algorithm and a cloud point comparison technique based on closest point to point distances. Both techniques were proven to be easy to handle and equally laborious. While collecting the images at autopsy took around 20 min, the post-processing was much more time-demanding and required up to 10 h of computation time. Moreover, for the full-body scanning the post-processing of the handheld scanner required rather time-consuming manual image alignment. In all instances the applied approaches produced high-resolution photorealistic, real sized or easy to calibrate 3D surface models. Both methods equally failed when the scanned body surface was covered with body hair or reflective moist areas. Still, it can be concluded that single camera close range photogrammetry and optical surface scanning using Vectra H1 scanner represent relatively low-cost solutions which were shown to be beneficial for postmortem body documentation in forensic pathology.

Citovat

URBANOVÁ, Petra, Petr HEJNA and Mikoláš JURDA. Testing photogrammetry-based techniques for three-dimensional surface documentation in forensic pathology. Forensic Science International. Irsko: Elsevier Sequoia, 2015, vol. 250, May, p. 77-86. ISSN 0379-0738. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.03.005.

@article{1231824,
   author = {Urbanová, Petra and Hejna, Petr and Jurda, Mikoláš},
   article_location = {Irsko},
   article_number = {May},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.03.005},
   keywords = {Postmortem documentation; Optical surface scanning; Photogrammetry; Point cloud comparison},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0379-0738},
   journal = {Forensic Science International},
   note = {Opraven obor publikace},
   title = {Testing photogrammetry-based techniques for three-dimensional surface documentation in forensic pathology},
   volume = {250},
   year = {2015}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1231824
AU  - Urbanová, Petra - Hejna, Petr - Jurda, Mikoláš
PY  - 2015
TI  - Testing photogrammetry-based techniques for three-dimensional surface documentation in forensic pathology
JF  - Forensic Science International
VL  - 250
IS  - May
SP  - 77-86
EP  - 77-86
PB  - Elsevier Sequoia
SN  - 03790738
N1  - Opraven obor publikace
KW  - Postmortem documentation
KW  - Optical surface scanning
KW  - Photogrammetry
KW  - Point cloud comparison
N2  - Three-dimensional surface technologies particularly close range photogrammetry and optical surface scanning have recently advanced into affordable, flexible and accurate techniques. Forensic postmortem investigation as performed on a daily basis, however, has not yet fully benefited from their potentials. In the present paper, we tested two approaches to 3D external body documentation – digital camera-based photogrammetry combined with commercial Agisoft PhotoScan1 software and stereophotogrammetry- based Vectra H11, a portable handheld surface scanner. In order to conduct the study three human subjects were selected, a living person, a 25-year-old female, and two forensic cases admitted for postmortem examination at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Hradec Kra´ love´ , Czech Republic (both 63-year-old males), one dead to traumatic, self-inflicted, injuries (suicide by hanging), the other diagnosed with the heart failure. All three cases were photographed in 3608 manner with a Nikon 7000 digital camera and simultaneously documented with the handheld scanner. In addition to having recorded the pre-autopsy phase of the forensic cases, both techniques were employed in various stages of autopsy. The sets of collected digital images (approximately 100 per case) were further processed to generate point clouds and 3D meshes. Final 3D models (a pair per individual) were counted for numbers of points and polygons, then assessed visually and compared quantitatively using ICP alignment algorithm and a cloud point comparison technique based on closest point to point distances. Both techniques were proven to be easy to handle and equally laborious. While collecting the images at autopsy took around 20 min, the post-processing was much more time-demanding and required up to 10 h of computation time. Moreover, for the full-body scanning the post-processing of the handheld scanner required rather time-consuming manual image alignment. In all instances the applied approaches produced high-resolution photorealistic, real sized or easy to calibrate 3D surface models. Both methods equally failed when the scanned body surface was covered with body hair or reflective moist areas. Still, it can be concluded that single camera close range photogrammetry and optical surface scanning using Vectra H1 scanner represent relatively low-cost solutions which were shown to be beneficial for postmortem body documentation in forensic pathology.
ER  -

URBANOVÁ, Petra, Petr HEJNA and Mikoláš JURDA. Testing photogrammetry-based techniques for three-dimensional surface documentation in forensic pathology. \textit{Forensic Science International}. Irsko: Elsevier Sequoia, 2015, vol.~250, May, p.~77-86. ISSN~0379-0738. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.03.005.

Detailed Information on Publication Record