Using FORENSIC MAPPING SYSTEM  techniques to enhance FIRE SCIENCE skills with VistaFX!

A critically important component of any major Fire Investigation conducted by Public Safety agencies, is to document witnessed events, locations of egress and ingress of structures, burn patterns & ignition locations, mass victim locations, and other facts.

The on-scene trained Fire Investigator, among other duties, measures and records, when possible, certain relevant findings and evidence as noted above.  In recent years, the use of ‘reflectorless’ electronic Total Stations, a Windows-based data collection platform, and software possessing advanced 3D animation capabilities (all components of a Forensic Mapping System) has emerged as a viable tool in the Science of Fire Scene Analysis, Interpretation, and training. 

As seen above, a ‘reflectorless’ Sokkia brand Total Station and TDS Recon EvidenceRecorder(EvR) is being used to practice for the inevitable use of this modern technology.

Public Safety officers / fire fighters are trained in its highly specialized, topic specific, narrowly focused 40-hour training class.   

The Sokkia ‘reflectorless’ Total Station (model LEA530r3) has an additional feature that has proven invaluable and perfectly compllments the already existing ‘reflectorless’ capability.  And that is the “red-aiming dot” that is aligned from the manufacturer, with the Instruments aiming “cross-hair”.  This allows the investigator to view, as seen here [     ], where the Instrument is exactly pointed without having to otherwise look through the ‘reticle’ and focus on the evidence item.  Under certain light conditions, as well as close proximity to the object itself, this other wise would be nearly impossible ~ but for the ‘red-aiming’ dot.         

 A ‘red dot’ is also illuminated on the Instrument itself, to remind the User that this useful feature is in the ON position.   

Once the scene has been documented, it is then possible to return to your desk and create a to-scaled room or structure for further Scene analysis.

In as much as in today’s world, we are, as a whole, a VISUAL society … the use of 3D models, to the caliber constructed by the Structural Design experts at the FBI, and/or ‘live’ reconstructed 3D animation have proven a valuable tool for the Fire Investigator/Scientist.  Research has shown over the past couple years, that 8 of 10 jurors want to “see how events occurred”, based on an investigators physical evidence and other facts found at the scene.

Shown below left, is an innovative, VistaFX generated 2D model from scene measurements.   To give some idea of the rooms size, a 1 ft. grid is seen:

Note the inclusion of TRANSPARENT walls (2-sides) and the presence of “explosive”, and growing (‘shooting’) FLAMES! 

The over head view takes on an entirely different and accurate, given facts, perspective once viewed in 3D.

Where appropriate, the inclusion of transparent walls for example, could aid in a more professional presentation before the court or Jury, visibly illustrating how certain aspects of the event were known to transpire. 

The effect of virtual “moving” flames is an EXCLUSIVE of VisaFX.  It could aid the Prosecution during Discovery proceedings, or serve to help with Advanced in-house training scenarios.

More topics concerning the Fire Sciences as they relate to the application of the Forensic Mapping System will be covered here.

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