Using drone-mounted cameras for on-site body documentation: 3D
mapping and active survey

J 2017

Using drone-mounted cameras for on-site body documentation: 3D mapping and active survey

URBANOVÁ, Petra, Mikoláš JURDA, Tomáš VOJTÍŠEK and Jan KRAJSA

Basic information

Original name

Using drone-mounted cameras for on-site body documentation: 3D mapping and active survey

Authors

URBANOVÁ, Petra (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Mikoláš JURDA (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Tomáš VOJTÍŠEK (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution) and Jan KRAJSA (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Forensic Science International, CLARE,Ireland, Elsevier, 2017, 0379-0738

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

30501 Forensic science

Country of publisher

Ireland

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Impact factor

Impact factor: 1.974

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/17:00098174

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.10.027

UT WoS

000417055800013

Keywords in English

Forensic scene documentation;Drones;Aerial photography;Photogrammetry;3D scene mapping;Real-time survey

Abstract

V originále

Recent advances in unmanned aerial technology have substantially lowered the cost associated with aerial imagery. As a result, forensic practitioners are today presented with easy low-cost access to aerial photographs at remote locations. The present paper aims to explore boundaries in which the low-end drone technology can operate as professional crime scene equipment, and to test the prospects of aerial 3D modeling in the forensic context. The study was based on recent forensic cases of falls from height admitted for postmortem examinations. Three mock outdoor forensic scenes featuring a dummy, skeletal remains and artificial blood were constructed at an abandoned quarry and subsequently documented using a commercial DJI Phantom 2 drone equipped with a GoPro HERO 4 digital camera. In two of the experiments, the purpose was to conduct aerial and ground-view photography and to process the acquired images with a photogrammetry protocol (using Agisoft PhotoScan® 1.2.6) in order to generate 3D textured models. The third experiment tested the employment of drone-based video recordings in mapping scattered body parts. The results show that drone-based aerial photography is capable of producing high-quality images, which are appropriate for building accurate large-scale 3D models of a forensic scene. If, however, high-resolution top-down three-dimensional scene documentation featuring details on a corpse or other physical evidence is required, we recommend building a multi-resolution model by processing aerial and ground-view imagery separately. The video survey showed that using an overview recording for seeking out scattered body parts was efficient. In contrast, the less easy-to-spot evidence, such as bloodstains, was detected only after having been marked properly with crime scene equipment.

Citovat

URBANOVÁ, Petra, Mikoláš JURDA, Tomáš VOJTÍŠEK and Jan KRAJSA. Using drone-mounted cameras for on-site body documentation: 3D mapping and active survey. Forensic Science International. CLARE,Ireland: Elsevier, 2017, vol. 281, December, p. 52-62. ISSN 0379-0738. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.10.027.

@article{1394829,
   author = {Urbanová, Petra and Jurda, Mikoláš and Vojtíšek, Tomáš and Krajsa, Jan},
   article_location = {CLARE,Ireland},
   article_number = {December},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.10.027},
   keywords = {Forensic scene documentation;Drones;Aerial photography;Photogrammetry;3D scene mapping;Real-time survey},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0379-0738},
   journal = {Forensic Science International},
   title = {Using drone-mounted cameras for on-site body documentation: 3D mapping and active survey},
   volume = {281},
   year = {2017}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1394829
AU  - Urbanová, Petra - Jurda, Mikoláš - Vojtíšek, Tomáš - Krajsa, Jan
PY  - 2017
TI  - Using drone-mounted cameras for on-site body documentation: 3D mapping and active survey
JF  - Forensic Science International
VL  - 281
IS  - December
SP  - 52-62
EP  - 52-62
PB  - Elsevier
SN  - 03790738
KW  - Forensic scene documentation;Drones;Aerial photography;Photogrammetry;3D scene mapping;Real-time survey
N2  - Recent advances in unmanned aerial technology have substantially lowered the cost associated with aerial imagery. As a result, forensic practitioners are today presented with easy low-cost access to aerial photographs at remote locations. The present paper aims to explore boundaries in which the low-end drone technology can operate as professional crime scene equipment, and to test the prospects of aerial 3D modeling in the forensic context. The study was based on recent forensic cases of falls from height admitted for postmortem examinations. Three mock outdoor forensic scenes featuring a dummy, skeletal remains and artificial blood were constructed at an abandoned quarry and subsequently documented using a commercial DJI Phantom 2 drone equipped with a GoPro HERO 4 digital camera. In two of the experiments, the purpose was to conduct aerial and ground-view photography and to process the acquired images with a photogrammetry protocol (using Agisoft PhotoScan® 1.2.6) in order to generate 3D textured models. The third experiment tested the employment of drone-based video recordings in mapping scattered body parts. The results show that drone-based aerial photography is capable of producing high-quality images, which are appropriate for building accurate large-scale 3D models of a forensic scene. If, however, high-resolution top-down three-dimensional scene documentation featuring details on a corpse or other physical evidence is required, we recommend building a multi-resolution model by processing aerial and ground-view imagery separately. The video survey showed that using an overview recording for seeking out scattered body parts was efficient. In contrast, the less easy-to-spot evidence, such as bloodstains, was detected only after having been marked properly with crime scene equipment.
ER  -

URBANOVÁ, Petra, Mikoláš JURDA, Tomáš VOJTÍŠEK and Jan KRAJSA. Using drone-mounted cameras for on-site body documentation: 3D mapping and active survey. \textit{Forensic Science International}. CLARE,Ireland: Elsevier, 2017, vol.~281, December, p.~52-62. ISSN~0379-0738. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.10.027.

Detailed Information on Publication Record