Crime/Crash
Scene Reconstruction Utilizing
3D CAD Software - CADKEY 97
Cook County Sheriff's Police Detective Paul Breuninger can examine the scene of a crime with a few strokes on his keyboard. Breuninger, a 27-year veteran assigned to Criminal Investigations, produces interactive 3-D models of crime scenes on a computer using CADKEY 97 CAD software. Detective Breuninger has been producing crime scene reconstructions for his and other area law-enforcement agencies for the past 10 years, re-creating violent crimes, reckless homicides, and mass murders like the Brown's Chicken & Pasta massacre in 1993. Detective Breuninger teaches 3D Crime Scene Reconstruction Courses for Law Enforcement professionals and evidence technicians.
"If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a three-dimensional model is worth a million," says Detective Breuninger. "It's just that much more. An accurate computer animation is a tool that can allow one to see into the past, a motion picture from a camera that was not there, but still shows the truth. Pieces of evidence are like words in a sentence. A string of words doesn't mean anything unless you put them together in the right way."
Detective
Breuninger talks about CAD Technology for Crime Solving
Courtroom Evidence
How Detective Breuninger Creates a 3D Crime Scene
CAD Systems for Law Enforcement
Crime
Scene Reconstruction Courses
For more information on 3D Crime Scene Reconstruction and Classes Contact Detective Breuninger via Email at: paulb@mc.net
NET LINKS - Visit other related Sites on the World Wide Web:
Crime Scene Reconstruction Courses
Detective Breuninger has trained
experienced police investigators, traffic accident reconstructionists,
and evidence technicians in a five day, 40
hour course, "Introduction to Crime Scene Reconstruction Using
3D Computer Aided Drafting (CAD)". This course is pending certification
by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training & Standards Board. The course
was presented by the North East Multi-Regional Training (NEMRT) Aurora,
IL FAX 708 896 4422. The course includes a copy of DataCAD and a copy of
Dr. Nasman's book. John Haley (NEMRT R&D) advises that NEMRT is offering
courses which are open to any federal, state, county, and local law enforcement
agency in the country.
Detective Breuninger talks about CAD Technology for Crime Solving
I have been using personal computers since the early 1980's. I was involved in the recommendation of an office computer system for a police association which evolved into the purchase, set up, programming, data entry, and upkeep of same. As I had a background in technical drawing and graphic arts prior to joining the department, the concept of CAD (Computer-Aided Drafting) intrigued me from the start. The first computer was purchased solely for personal use and for the purpose of finally being able to produce a flawless drawing. One additional piece of equipment which was required for that perfect inked drawing was a pen plotter. A pen plotter is a device that places an ink pen on paper and moves it very precisely producing a very neat line, straight or curved.
I have been producing police related drawings for the past ten years, from maps of areas that were not previously mapped, multiple homicides. Initially, the drawings were produced by programming the computer to instruct a pen plotter what to draw, and if all computations which were made manually were correct, the plotter drew a correct, error free, scale drawing.
Subsequent to manual programming various two dimensional software programs were used which made the task much easier as the software made the necessary computations for the desired results. In the mid 80's, I began drawing in three dimensions, that is to say, instead of drawing several views to depict an object, the object itself is drawn as a model which can then be viewed, as well as printed, from any view point. Since a detailed model of a crime scene can be viewed from any view point, criminal investigators are recognizing that 3D CAD is a strong visualization tool that is proving itself to be more and more useful during investigations.
Choosing a CAD System for Law Enforcement
Personal Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) systems in the past cost thousands of dollars. With the continued expanded use of personal computers by law enforcement agencies and the availability of user friendly CAD software, it is now possible for every police department regardless of size to utilize this technology. Sophisticated CAD drawings can be produced by police personnel with a minimum of expense and training.
Having been faced with the dilemma of being called to a crime scene that required a drawing and having time at the scene to start a drawing while my notebook computer was in the office, I decided to find a solution to the problem. I decided what was needed was a computer that would not be left in the office because of the "lugability" factor of most notebook computers, which is between six and nine pounds excluding peripherals. All major palmtops were researched and I chose the Hewlett Packard 200LX as it was capable of running software written for MS DOS, easy upload/download to my desktop PC, and weighed in at eleven ounces.
After purchasing The 200LX and spending days of quality time with it, the search for software began. As the 200LX has the capability of internally expanding storage by using a flash disk card, I had to determine the best use of the available storage space (6 MEG in this instance) and the software employed. There are any number of CAD software packages available on the market today and it is no longer necessary to spend thousands of dollars for a professional package. The criteria for the software, which was determined by the hardware, was:
(1) true 3D capabilities
(2) not requiring a math co-processor
(3) able to be installed and used in under six megabytes of space
My search led me to Cadkey Incorporated, Windsor, CT who advised me that CADKEY version 4.0 met the requirements. The software was obtained and configured for the 200LX and installed on a flash disk card. Of the 6 megabytes available on the card, 3.3 megabytes are used by the software leaving 2.7 megabytes for 3D models.
This system allows for the creation very large sized three dimensional models, including a restaurant interior with seven homicide victims and multiple projectile trajectories or even a large office building. For those who are not familiar with the space required by model files, the three dimensional model of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, which was destroyed in the April 1995 bombing attack, was close to 2 megabytes in size. This model was used in a 3D computer animation that realistically depicts the detonation that destroyed the building. The animation was produced by Engineering Animation Incorporated, Ames, IA and the information relative to the file size of the 3D model is courtesy of Mr. Jay Shannon of AEI who is the project manager of the animation.
How Detective Breuninger Creates a 3D Crime Scene
The re-creation begins with an investigator collecting various measurements at the scene, and then transferring the data to the computer. Such measurements might include the distance from a door to a window, the length of the room or the span between two pieces of furniture. The result is a model consisting of a series of lines drawn together to define shape. You can then can add doors, windows, furniture and appliances, or shade in the wire frame to make the 3D model appear more realistic on the screen
Creating the CAD model of the scene is started by deciding which point will be the absolute zero reference point. This point will be used in determining distances in three directions or axes, left/right or X, up/down or Y, and forward/backward or Z. To help clarify X, Y, and Z, imagine that we are constructing a model of a two car garage. Imagine floating face down above the garage. Looking down from above the garage, the X distances would run right and left, the Y distances would run head to toe, and the Z distances would be height.
Subsequent points will all be measured and referenced to this zero point. All points that will be needed to complete the model are then added to the model with the points that are the ends of lines, like corners of walls, window and doorway openings, connected by lines (vectors) until the wire frame model is completed. A wire frame looks like the name implies, a number of lines which define shapes, think of how a bird cage looks, that's a wire frame. Those points which indicate positions of items such as furniture and evidence are recorded in the model for later placement of the items for which they mark the position.
When the crime scene is secured and all the data gathered and safely stored on the flash disk card, the data file for the model can be transferred from the 200LX to a larger system. This transfer can be done in one of four ways, by cable, modem (telephone lines), flash disk card, or by infrared (IR). IR is how your remote talks to your TV.
Once the 3D model is uploaded in your home/office PC it can be completed by adding doors, windows, furniture, appliances, and evidence. Once the model is finished it can be viewed from any perspective, either as a wire frame or solid.
In addition to being a tool that is becoming a powerful ally in forensic and scientific analysis, the three dimensional model can be animated and the animation transferred to VHS video tape enabling anyone with a VCR to view the scene.
Courtroom
Evidence
This type of visualization is becoming more wide spread in the court room.
An accurate computer animation allows the illustration of complicated technical
evidence to non-technical viewers. To be useful in the search for the truth
animations must obey the laws of physics as coupled with evidence discovered
at the crime scene.
3D crime scene reconstructions are very beneficial because they can corroborate or refute witnesses' testimonies. For instance, Detective Breuninger recalled a case in which a man told authorities he had not seen a murder that occurred in his kitchen. He stated he was in the attached garage at the time and the kitchen was not in his line of sight. By re-creating a accurate model of the man's house, Detective Breuninger could accurately depict the view from the garage towards the kitchen, and verify if it was actually possible to observe actions in the kitchen from the garage. Authorities were able to determine that the man could have seen the murder.
"Mute physical evidence can speak volumes when viewed from the proper/correct point of view. 3D CAD models make this possible", states Detective Breuninger. "We have all been at scenes where multiple projectile strikes are evident, whether in walls, floors, ceilings, vehicles, or victims. With a CAD model each strike can have a corresponding line running from it at the correct angle showing the flight path just prior to the strike. A three dimensional model of a crime scene can be used to help understand and refine complex theories as to how an event unfolded. The model is only as good as the measurements taken to construct the it."
In crimes without witnesses, evidence can be telling when viewed from the proper angle. For instance, when a bullet is lodged in a wall, investigators can determine its flight path by following a line that runs from it to the general area from which it was fired. Based on that information, an investigator can determine the height at which the weapon was fired. "No one told you what happened," he said. "Your evidence is your witness."
Detective Breuninger's Biography
. As a former race car pit crew member Breuninger developed a keen eye for observing accurate details under pressure.
. Attended many classes on High Technology Crime Solving.
. CADKEY User since Version 1
. Used CAD for crime/crash scenes for 15 years.
. Taught Cook County evidence technicians 3D CAD
. Authorized DataCAD Trainer
. Developed and taught the first
ever 3D Crime Scene Reconstruction Class for the IL Law Enforcement Training
and Standards Board, NEMRT.
. Assigned to the Palatine Task Force investigating the Brown's massacre
from day one, set up computerized lead sheets, and reconstructed the scene
in 3D
. Consults/assists other law
enforcement agencies
. Articles published in the Chicago Tribune, local Chicago newspapers,
Police Chief magazine and other law enforcement trade publications.
