Crime scene investigators spend an average of eight to ten hours to process a crime scene. Too often, these professionals wind up spending thirty-five hours per scene collecting evidence.
Crime scene investigators continue to feel pressure to collect evidence quickly. Numerous bodies come and go, onlookers gather around the building, and contamination of a crime scene happens fast.
Using modern technology to map crime scenes
Melanie Basich discusses a new tool crime scene investigators are turning too to help map and document a crime scene quicker and more efficiently in her article “Capturing Crime Scene Images” in Police Magazine.
In a technology driven market, it may come as a surprise that many departments still use old-school mapping methods. Tape measures and photographs document and map crime scenes as departments resist upgrading to a 3D scanner, drone or any other mapping device.
Crash and crime mapping with Laser Tech (LTI) laser rangefinders is one of the simplest methods that maintains primary source accuracy while integrating into other datasets with ease.
3D scanners come with a hefty price tag, extensive training, and sometimes collects too much information that now needs to be sorted and evaluated. Drones are becoming a popular choice among mappers, but just like 3D scanners, require a large upfront cost.
Not only are drones costly, but many require an additional purchase of a software mapping package. Additionally, departments need a certified remote pilot and who has passed the FAA Airman Knowledge Test. In some cases, depending what operations class you want to fly in, you may need special FAA airspace approval.
Total stations are becoming a popular choice among Crime Scene Investigators. With the point-and-shoot feature, it gives investigators the documentation they need without post processing a million points. Laser Technology, Inc. (LTI), Incident Mapping Kits were designed for just that but is offered at a much lower price point and is smaller in size. They allow investigators to quickly survey a scene and receive highly-accurate and repeatable results.
Read more about an LTI Incident Mapping Kit in Police Magazine and read more about Laser Tech’s crash mapping tools for more information.
Contact us today for more information on LTI mapping devices and software, or to schedule a practical demonstration.
Contact Us