Mobile robotic systems have evolved to include sensors capable of truthfully describing robot status and operating environment as accurately and reliably as never before. This possibility is challenged by effective sensor data exploitation, because of the cognitive load an operator is exposed to, due to the large amount of data and time-dependency constraints. This paper addresses this challenge in remote-vehicle teleoperation by proposing an intuitive way to present sensor data to users by means of using mixed reality and visual aids within the user interface. We propose a method for organizing information presentation and a set of visual aids to facilitate visual communication of data in teleoperation control panels. The resulting sensor-information presentation appears coherent and intuitive, making it easier for an operator to catch and comprehend information meaning. This increases situational awareness and speeds up decision-making. Our method is implemented on a real mobile robotic system operating outdoor equipped with on-board internal and external sensors, GPS, and a reconstructed 3D graphical model provided by an assistant drone. Experimentation verified feasibility while intuitive and comprehensive visual communication was confirmed through an assessment, which encourages further developments.

Early and accurate visualisation of a crime scene is highly desirable such that a rapid, agile, and informed decision-making process can be undertaken by an investigative team. We present a new standard operating procedure for imaging an indoor scene using DSLR cameras conventionally used by crime scene investigators and examiners. The standard operating procedure (SOP) enables the systematic photography of indoor spaces in such a way that the Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry technique can be implemented, allowing the scene to be recreated in Virtual Reality (VR). To demonstrate the method's validity, we compare two VR-rendered representations of an example scene using (a) photographs taken by an experienced crime scene examiner using a conventional photographic method and (b) photographs taken by a novice photographer following the developed SOP.

When attending a crime scene, first responders are responsible for identifying areas of potential interest for subsequent forensic examination. This information is shared with the police, forensic practitioners, and legal authorities during an initial meeting of all interested parties, which in Scotland is known as a forensic strategy meeting. Swift documentation is fundamental to allow practitioners to learn about the scene(s) and to plan investigative strategies, traditionally relying on word-of-mouth briefings using digital photographs, videos, diagrams, and verbal reports. We suggest that these early and critical briefings can be augmented positively by implementing an end-to-end methodology for indoor 3D reconstruction and successive visualisation through immersive Virtual Reality (VR). The main objective of this paper is to provide an integrative documentation tool to enhance the decision-making processes in the early stages of the investigation. Taking a fire scene as an example, we illustrate a framework for rapid spatial data acquisition of the scene that leverages structure-from-motion photogrammetry. We developed a VR framework that enables the exploration of virtual environments on a standalone, low-cost immersive head-mounted display. The system was tested in a two-phased inter-agency fire investigation exercise, where practitioners were asked to produce hypotheses suitable for forensic strategy meetings by (1) examining traditional documentation and then (2) using a VR walkthrough of the same premises. The integration of VR increased the practitioners’ scene comprehension, improved hypotheses formulation with fewer caveats, and enabled participants to sketch the scene, in contrast to the orientation challenges encountered using conventional documentation.

The analysis of knuckle creases is part of the multifactorial assessment of digital images of the hand used to assist in the identification of perpetrators captured in images depicting child sexual abuse and other offending behaviours. To quantify the impact of finger flexion on the appearance of the dorsal knuckle creases associated with the proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP) joint in digital images, the collection of knuckle crease images, at different points of flexion, was facilitated through an app-based Citizen Science project, Knuckle Down ID. A method of knuckle crease classification was adapted to assess the images collected and was used to assess the impact of finger flexion on the frequency of different knuckle crease features observed in manual analysis. The results show that the adapted methodology had good intra-observer repeatability when the entire method was assessed (ICC.81). Specifically, the recording of the knuckle crease features had good inter-observer reliability (ICC.99) whereas the tracing aspect of the methodology was less repeatable (DSC of whole trace.24). The impact of flexion on the recorded frequency of knuckle creases was shown to be significant (p = .00). However, when comparing two hands at different points of flexion, only when comparing fingers held at 0⁰ vs 45⁰ (p = .04) as well as fingers held at 90⁰ vs any other finger position was the differences in the knuckle crease feature frequencies significant (p = .00). The comparison of knuckle crease image pairs at 20⁰ of hyperflexion vs 0⁰ (p = .10) and 20⁰ of hyperflexion vs 45⁰ (p = .09) showed that the difference in knuckle crease feature frequencies was not significant. This has implications for examiners and improves understanding of the limitations of the 1:1 comparison of knuckle creases in casework evidence in which perpetrator's hands are unconstrained.

The training of a fire investigator should lay the foundations for a systematic, evidence‐based, and unbiased analysis of a fire scene. The ability of the investigators to determine the origin, cause and development of a fire is gained through education, experience based on on‐the‐job training and focused continuous professional development (CPD). Practitioners have met these requirements for several decades through formal examinations and specialized training. Additionally, several countries provide training in full‐scale (simulated) fire scenes for public and private sector fire investigators. These scenes may also be used for ongoing competency and proficiency testing. However, simulated fire scene setups are costly, limited to a single excavation event, and often short‐lived due to deterioration upon use and ease of contamination. The COVID‐19 pandemic highlighted the need, and provided the opportunity, for developing both virtual/hybrid training and competence testing, prompting the exploration of novel technologies in this area. A cross‐border multi‐agency partnership between academics, forensic practitioners, and forensic scientists explored the feasibility of leveraging digitalization techniques to support immersive virtual reality (VR). We outline the critical aspects and requirements beyond the challenges connected to technical feasibility, which the forensic science and judicial community demand so that technological development would be considered admissible within the justice system.This article is categorized under: Crime Scene Investigation > Crime Scene Documentation and Visualization Digital and Multimedia Science > Multimedia Forensics