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2008 ARC-CSI Crash Conference
June 2-5, 2008
Las Vegas, NV
Palace Station Hotel
ACTAR CEU's: 18
The Introduction of Close-range Photogrammetry
as a Routine
Accident Reconstruction Tool
within the Florida Highway Patrol
Presented by: Cpl. Dave Templeton
Florida Highway Patrol
Abstract:
Police have traditionally employed a range of dimensional measurement techniques for crime scene investigation and traffic accident reconstruction. These have included the basic roll wheel/steel tape combination and, more recently, electronic theodolites incorporating ranging, or so-called total stations. In order to meet the ongoing demand for new technologies that will produce more comprehensive incident recording productivity, close-range photogrammetric systems built around consumer grade cameras have also been developed. The aim of this presentation is to review by way of traffic incident case studies the adoption of low-cost photogrammetric technology for 3D forensic measurement and accident reconstruction by the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).
At the outset, a brief review of modern digital close-range photogrammetric techniques will be presented. This will emphasize the attributes of photogrammetry that are particularly attractive to accident reconstruction. These center upon both the significantly reduced on-scene time, which leads to shorter traffic disruption and enhanced incident management, and the fact that a permanent archival record of the measurement operation becomes available for any future measurements that might be required for the incident investigation. Also touched upon will be the ease of use of this image-based 3D measurement techniques, which renders the techniques another ‘tool in the officers tool box’ to assist them in their crime and crash scene mapping tasks.
The presentation will then refer to specific cases where the FHP has employed photogrammetric recording techniques. The purpose of these is to provide a practical insight into the day-to-day operation of photogrammetry. Highlighted will be aspects of the scene preparation and design of the image recording, the very straightforward process of generating the required 3D coordinate data from measurements made on the photography, and the integration with CAD systems for the final diagramming stage. The case studies considered will also shed light on aspects of accuracy, measurement reliability, timeliness and general quality assurance of the dimensional reconstruction process. Although the presentation is generic in nature in its description of the photogrammetric approach, the iWitness close-range photogrammetry system will be employed to illustrate the concepts and examples presented.
Bio
Cpl. Templeton is a 23 year veteran of the Florida Highway Patrol. He attended the FHP Academy from March to June 1985. Cpl. Templeton started in the Orlando Troop D District June of 1985. In 1987 he became a motorcycle officer in the Orlando area where he remained until 1989. May of 1989 he was promoted to the rank of Corporal and transferred to the Lake County District of Troop D. All Corporals in the Florida Highway Patrol are Traffic Homicide Investigators. During his 19 years, Cpl. Templeton has instructed at various training institutions around the state. He is currently a full time instructor for the Florida Highway Patrol Traffic Homicide Program. Cpl. Templeton instructs Basic, Advanced, Reconstruction, Ped/Pedal cycle, Motorcycles, iWitness Photogrammetry, Crash Zone Cad Diagramming, and the Rec-Tec software, to name a few. He is also tasked with case review and technical support to the investigators within the department.
