Computers aren’t just for Wall Street traders and web site designers, and are in fact used by many areas of law enforcement. The federal government implements many innovative programs for identifying criminals based on fingerprints, resurrecting an individual’s criminal record, and even for crime scene analysis. Software is an integral part of the forensics used by crime scene technicians, and replace hundreds of hours of leg work that was required in the past.
There are four basic types of software used for crime scene analysis:
Image Editing. It is important for all data related to a crime scene to be uniform, including the photographs taken by crime scene techs and the medical examiner. Image editing software is used to align, verify and archive various pictorial representation of a crime scene for further analysis, and allows investigators to get a well-rounded view of the scene long after it no longer exists in real life.
Drafting. Used commonly by architects and construction companies, drafting software is essential to crime scene analysis. It allows CSI techs to create a three-dimensional model of a crime scene, from the ground up, including placement of the victim and other objects in or around the scene. And, if necessary, this system can be used to create a real-life representation of the scene.
Photogrammetry. Similar to the purpose of drafting software, photogammetry creates three-dimensional models of a crime scene from photographs rather than from inputted dimensions. This is useful when the CSI techs have only photographs at their disposal, and although there are some flaws in this system, the results are surprisingly accurate.
Presentation. The final type of software commonly used for crime scene analysis is presentation software, which creates a systematic presentation of the crime scene for viewing by CSI techs and investigators. For example, slide shows are common, and provide a seamless sequential diagram of the scene.
Although there are plenty of options available for investigators, the software used for crime scene analysis must meet certain stringent criteria. If it doesn’t, the fruits of its use can be excluded from the courtroom and therefore useless to prosecutors. This is because, if the software isn’t sufficiently accurate, the defense can claim that it is reliable and will be prejudicial to a jury.
For example, software used for crime scene analysis must be compatible with other similar programs. The best software will use file formats that can be commonly found throughout the industry, such as .txt and .rtf and .PDF. This is so the defendant can receive a fair defense when the information becomes discoverable.
Furthermore, most investigative teams do not use new, cutting-edge software for crime scene analysis. This is because older programs are less likely to contain bugs, and are more reliable all around. When a new program becomes standard, the police department or federal agency will upgrade all of its systems simultaneously.
Common software programs used for crime scene analysis include Adobe Photoshop, Curious Labs’ Poser, Discreet’s 3D Studio Max, and AutoCAD.
