A New Approach to Crime Scene Management: AR-VR Applications in Forensic Science

The crime scene, a place where a crime has been or is suspected to have occurred or where the evidence related to a crime was found, is a vital part of the investigation as it contains all the major information about a crime. A keen eye for the crime scene can determine the possible Modus Operandi of a crime and establish Corpus Delicti in a court of law. As per Indian law, we are allowed to visit a crime scene once only and if we want to visit again, we have to take permission but it is of no use. During a revisit to a crime scene, the chance or probability of finding any evidence is nearly 0%. Documenting a crime thus became a very crucial step. By using ordinary methods for documenting the crime scene we cannot give a visual or walk to the actual crime scene. It’s just a physical view of the documents. It is, therefore, critical to visually capture the crime scene and any potential evidence to aid the investigation. The current demand is for Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. Virtual Reality is a wholly virtual view of the scenario, whereas Augmented Reality reflects a real-world context. VR is a type of advanced user interface that comprises a real-time simulation of a real-world environment with which the user interacts through numerous sensory channels: sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. The 3D reconstruction and visualization of crime situations such as criminal assaults, traffic accidents, and homicides is a new method of criminal investigation that has the potential to improve efficacy. To produce an accurate and immersive virtual environment, modern 3D recording and processing methods, such as AR and VR, are used. Immersion in a virtual environment, on the other hand, allows for various points of view.

Keywords: Crime Scene, Reconstruction, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, 3D Capturing.