A survey of case studies on the use of forensic three-dimensional printing in England and Wales

Errickson, David; Carew, Rachael M.; Collings, Amber J.; Biggs, Mike; Haig, P.; O’Hora, H.; Marsh, Nick

doi:10.1007/s00414-022-02872-4

Cited by 12 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…While the introduction of new technologies into legal case materials is not trivial, there have been innovations towards new visualisation modalities. For example, 3D printing of skull models has been tested in the UK [18], while others have used VR to present 3D crime scenes to the authorities [19]. The challenges of introducing technology include differences in legal procedures across countries, and the necessary consideration of the emotional impact of unfamiliar visualisation modalities on jurors [20].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

FATAL: A Forensic AuTopsy Annotation tooL for digital recording of autopsy findings

Petersen,

Thomsen,

Hansen

2024

Preprint

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The findings from forensic autopsies, where cause of death must be established and reported to legal authorities, are reported in paper-based formats. Practitioners are required to map 3D injury findings to 2D space. Here, we design and describe a digital Forensic AuTopsy Annotation tooL (FATAL), that can be used by practitioners to record systematically detailed autopsy findings onto an interactive 3D body model. We employ a user-centred design process involving an expert forensic medicine team. We describe the iteration process and the final functionality determined, based on in-depth analyses of forensic clinical workflows, and feedback on the types of complex cases confronting practitioners. FATAL functions include freehand drawing, a layer system for injury categorisation, trajectory plotting, surface area markings, and point-of-interest marking. Relevant external images, such as investigative report or autopsy photographs, can be loaded into the FATAL tool and assigned to individual annotations. The application streamlines workflows, supports template-driven documentation, and collates all forensic data into a single interface. Findings from the digital tool can be exported to a 2D report (PDF). We highlight the advancements in accuracy, efficiency, and reproducibility afforded by a digital tool for forensic autopsy documentation. Potential applications in forensic medical examinations beyond autopsies are described, along with specific areas for extension, such as supporting touch screen and pen inputs, export for 3D printing models and extending the tool's compatibility with custom 3D body models.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

FATAL: A Forensic AuTopsy Annotation tooL for digital recording of autopsy findings

Petersen,

Thomsen,

Hansen

2024

Preprint

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“…Furthermore, 3D printing has been implemented in several countries. Human skull 3D prints have been used as demonstrative aids in court since 2009 [124], and 3D prints are now commonly employed in various jurisdictions [125][126][127][128].…”

Section: Visualization Modalities In Court Proceedingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Virtual, 3D Multimodal Approach to Victim and Crime Scene Reconstruction

Villa,

Lynnerup,

Jacobsen

2023

Diagnostics

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In the last two decades, forensic pathology and crime scene investigations have seen a rapid increase in examination tools due to the implementation of several imaging techniques, e.g., CT and MR scanning, surface scanning and photogrammetry. These tools encompass relatively simple visualization tools to powerful instruments for performing virtual 3D crime scene reconstructions. A multi-modality and multiscale approach to a crime scene, where 3D models of victims and the crime scene are combined, offers several advantages. A permanent documentation of all evidence in a single 3D environment can be used during the investigation phases (e.g., for testing hypotheses) or during the court procedures (e.g., to visualize the scene and the victim in a more intuitive manner). Advanced computational approaches to understand what might have happened during a crime can also be applied by, e.g., performing a virtual animation of the victim in the actual context, which can provide important information about possible dynamics during the event. Here, we present an overview of the different techniques and modalities used in forensic pathology in conjunction with crime scene investigations. Based on our experiences, the advantages and challenges of an image-based multi-modality approach will be discussed, including how their use may introduce new visualization modalities in court, e.g., virtual reality (VR) and 3D printing. Finally, considerations about future directions in research will be mentioned.

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“…The utility of 3D printed human remains has been explored in forensic medicine [5], forensic imaging [6], forensic odontology [7], and bioarchaeology [8]. There is evidence of their use in forensic practice in the UK [9,10], with 3D printed remains being shown to have the potential for multiple applications, such as establishing physical fit [9,11], the visualisation of trauma [12,13], and for courtroom use and improving juror comprehension [14][15][16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%