The iCollWare project, The iCollWare Kft.
GOP-1.2.1-09-2010-0012 R&D project
Supporting of the business procedures of the forensic expertise by creating a horizontal framework system, building a pilot system in the field of medical forensic science, utilizing up-to-date 3D modelling and data recording technologies.
The project-company, iCollWare Kft., comprising of six members of the First Hungarian e-Administration IT and Innovation Cluster, is committed to the realisation of this project. It wishes to offer a solution in the priority field of info-communication by the cooperation of the innovative companies composing the project-company, in line with the Székesfehérvár-Veszprém polar axis strategy.
The aim of the project is to create a complex framework system, covering horizontally the work of the forensic expertise, which assists electronically the elaboration process of the expert’s opinion. A further aim is to facilitate the elaboration of expert’s opinion, especially that of the medical forensic experts, with the utilization and mixing such up-to-date technologies as 3D modelling, scene survey with laser scanning, interactive spherico-panoramic imaging, extended reality modelling technology merging real and virtual environment.
The solution offers possibility to analyze and process different examination results, and the corresponding results can be share among those involved in the case – provided that there is no legal obstacle to that or opposing interests to do so. The support to the execution of activities is done by bound specific sub modules that are connected through open interface, thus it can be expanded continuously with the development of new sub modules.
Modularity makes possible to use the expert framework system in all the fields, listed in the law on legal expertise, and in every specific field a corresponding appropriate support can be rendered. It is a development value of this solution that it offers a framework for a secondary utilization of the expert opinion as data asset. On a longer run a national digital expert opinion archive can be established with the involvement of the forensic experts.
From a different point of view
We have reviewed the preparatory documents of the application, modelling and supporting the forensic expertise activity with Dr. Sándor P. BARTÓK IT legal expert and layer-specialist on info-communication. As a result of the common work, the documents compiled so far were augmented with some lifelike details, characteristics to the daily work of a forensic expert.
Practical Processes
The project documents planned for December have been completed on time. The goals were the practical survey of the current forensic expertise procedures and their reassessment for the future. The document, prepared with the help of the Enterprise Architect, is based on thorough reviewing of legal acts, as well on studying the practical expertise work at the Forensic and Insurance Health Institute of the Semmelweis University of Medicine.
Goals and success criteria
The first documents of the planning phase have been completed according to the project schedule.
1. Analysis of business processes. Identification of goals and qualitative criteria
The aim of the project is to create a complex framework system, covering horizontally the forensic expertise, which assists the elaboration of a well-founded expert’s opinion and supports that work process electronically. A further aim is to facilitate the elaboration of expert’s opinion, especially for the medical forensic experts with utilizing and mixing such up-to-date technologies as 3D modelling,scene survey with laser scanning, interactive spherico-panoramic imaging, extended reality modelling technology merging real and virtual environment.
We aim that the solution facilitated the analysis and procession of different examination results as well, and that the relevant results could be shared with those involved in the case – provided that there is no legal obstacle to that or opposing interests to do so. Moreover we facilitate the electronic cooperation between the “customers” and the providers of the expert’s opinion, between the experts and the organizations, thus contributing to the shortening of time necessary for the completion of the procedures as well. It is our basic goal that the support of the completion of the procedure was done by bound specific sub modules, which are connected through an open interface, thus with the development of sub modules, the support of expertise may be extended to a new and new professional domain without changing the framework system in the future. In realising this aim, generalisation is important, i.e. functionality of the framework system supporting the expertise work, should be implemented so that it inhibited the necessary supporting solutions to the expertise activities irrespective to the specific field of science. Modularity makes possible to use the expert framework system in all the fields, listed in the law on legal expertise, and in every specific field a corresponding appropriate support could be rendered.
We consider it important that the newly developed system also provided a framework for the secondary utilization of the expert’s opinion as data assets as well.There is a present demand for that; there is regular demand for statistical analysis for example for research, organization-development, work organization, performance screening and other considerations. On a longer run a national digital expert opinion archive can be established, relying on the frameworks system and with the involvement of the forensic experts, and also there emerges a possibility to standardize
the expertise methods.
The technological support of the expertise should be a constant development activity, in which new and new technological successes facilitate these activities. In the wake of the project, solutions which support a single partial tasks, will become an integral part of the expertise as a business process, creating a uniform system.
2. Analysis of business processes of the iCollWare. Legal background. Professional regulations.
The aim of the document is the iCollWare – the support of procedural model of forensic expertise by creating a horizontal framework, building a pilot system in the field medical forensic science, utilizing up-to-date 3D modelling and data recording technologies. In the first phase of the project, these tasks are the review of the legal background, the law on legal expertise and the professional regulations for legal forensic activities, the survey of the practical implementation of the regulations at institutions involved in forensic expertise, corresponding to the subject of the project.
Thus in the course of the preparatory work, we review the legal acts in force, regulations of the professional bodies, then with a survey of the current practical implementation of the processes, there will open up an opportunity to identify the goals and the qualitative criteria of the project, and to reassess the expertise procedure model.
We took part as speakers in the 7th Diagnostic Imaging Conference on April 5, 2012th.
New imaging techniques in the forensic work – How does the scanner happen to be on the dissection table?
“The forensic expert’s job is to produce an expert opinion utilizing the achievements of science and engineering, to help to establish the facts and to provide answers to specific questions.” We are very much inclined to expand this definition with the expression of “state of the art” as well. We have been researching that kind of utilization in the framework of iCollWare, Ltd. On this occasion we presented our first conclusions to the representatives of medical sciences.
What does it necessitate to consider utilizing 3D laser scanners and applying of image processing programs on the produced images in the forensic work,especially in the field of medical expertise?
- The work of experts also requires more accurate, more reliable, reproducible technologies.
- The “other” side, i.e., the criminals and their defenders are ever moreand better prepared for and they, too, “utilizing” the latest cutting-edge technologies.
- It is true for the 3D laser technology as well, that as equipment prices fall ever faster procedures become widely available.
- Some technologies, that we have also studied, have already been accepted by the American judiciary as capable to yield a 100% conclusive evidence. In this research and development project we have taken into consideration, tested and evaluated the available equipment and technologies in the fields above.
In this presentation we discussed the following themes:
- Photogrammetric procedures
- Terrestrial laser scanners
- Surfacescanners
- Bodyscanners
- Economical solutions
What kind of results have we expected from our work?
- Producing an accurate, correct size, walking-around 3D model.
- Producing a photorealistic, visually assessable image.
- Possessing a reliable and reproducible documentation.
- Supporting to put forward and verify hypotheses.
- Preparing improved educational materials.
- Making possible 3D reconstructions and 3D printing.
Our conclusions:
The photogrammetric procedures are inexpensive, fast, and yield spectacular results.Their accuracy, usability, adaptableness to fit into protocols however requires further studies.
The terrestrial laser scanners are remarkably suited to on-scene investigations and also to necropsy, although they seem to be less suitable for autopsy documentation.
The usability of surface and body scanners in healthcare has already been demonstrated in several areas. We believe that they can be used in the forensic work as well. In our further studies we are going to examine these pieces of equipment in first place and try to find the most suitable one for our purposes.
The 3D scanning made by the Kinect is simple and fast. The equipment is inexpensive. Its accuracy, however, needs further examination. It may be a solution for police scene investigation or necropsy.
Practical use of our findings:
- Increases the validity of expert opinion.
- Ensures a basic documentation for another expert opinion or examination that is identical to the original and unalterable.
- Enhances the “user experience” in the proofing process.
- Opens up new horizons for other areas of expertise.
- Introduces solutions that can be used ever faster and available ever cheaper.
- Ideal for use in education.
Our presentation was made in the framework of the project of “supporting the administrative procedures model of the forensic work by the creation of a horizontal framework system, creating a model system in the field of medical forensic expertise with implementing advanced 3D modelling and data capture technologies”,in process now in the iCollWare, Ltd.
Our work has been supported also by the SOTE Forensic and Insurance Medical Institute. We wish to express our special thanks to researcher dr. György Dunay, too, for his assistance.
Press Release
ICOLLWARE LTD. OFFERS OUTSTANDING 3D MODELING AND DATA RECORDING TOOLS, RECORDKEEPING AND DOCUMENTING SOFTWARE AND OTHER SOLUTIONS REPRESENTING THE HIGHEST TECHNOLOGICAL LEVEL IN THE FIELD OF FORENSIC, POLICE AND DISASTER CONTROL WORK.
The iCollWare project, launched in September 2011 and ending in June 2013, approaches to a successful conclusion. The research and development have been focused on supporting forensic work and the related criminal, disaster control and medical forensic areas by developing cutting-edge IT solutions.
Using 3D scanners, three-dimensional data capture and modeling of accidents, crime and fire scenes were carried out by researchers examining the applicability of these devices. Complex software solutions have been developed to facilitate the work of forensic experts, including the case management framework system and the necropsy application for tablet computers.
Interview with András Fehér,
project director of iCollWare Ltd.
The iCollWare Ltd. closed its R & D project, identified GOP-1.2.1-09-2010-0012, the goal of which was to study, how the management model of the forensic medical expertʼs work can be supported by leading 3D modelling and data capture technologies. In the framework of the project – among others – they tested the suitability and applicability of the object and terrestrial scanners in the areas of law enforcement as police crime investigation, necropsy, procedures taking place in the autopsy room, and also sought to elaborate best possible practices. We interviewed the projectʼs director, who, beyond summarizing their achievements, also told us about the possibilities of further use of the experience gained in the project.
