Department of Homeland Security touts new 3-D crime scene tool

The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is joining Israeli Police in espousing the benefits of a new 3-D crime scene investigation tool.

Officials said 3D-Hawk can turn a crash or crime scene into an interactive 3D model within minutes, based on high-definition (HD) video footage. This tool will aid in the effort to transition the investigation from an incident scene to the police station for in-depth analysis to help resume normal activities.

The use of the investigation tool involves using an HD video camera, a dedicated Site Survey Set for shooting from above, a short handle for up-close shots, a smartphone for showing what the camera is capturing, and a laptop with software for turning video into 3D models. These components enable investigators to move around the virtual scene and measure distances and heights by calculating the line of sight to verify witness testimonies.

“Israel is one of our strongest allies, and they have quite a bit of experience in many of the same first responder challenges and issues we deal with in our country,” Milt Nenneman, S&T First Responder program manager, who oversees the 3D-Hawk project, said.

Both the Israeli police and Fairfax County, Va., police have incorporated the 3D-Hawk technology into their work and have created thousands of models since the assessment in May.

As part of a bilateral agreement with the government of Israel, S&T engaged in joint research and development efforts that are advantageous to both parties.