VR could revolutionise fire and crime probes

VIRTUAL reality (VR) headsets using software developed by forensic scientists at Dundee University could soon be used in Scotland to help investigate fire and crime scenes.

Researchers at the university’s Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science (LRCFS) worked with Danish Police fire investigators on the project, and the software has now been tested using footage of a fire scene.

The researchers and police fire investigators created controlled fires within several domestic dwellings in Denmark and the aftermaths were recorded using a traditional camera.

The immersive VR technology was then used alongside traditional briefing methods as part of a training session at the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) to determine the start point, cause and development of the fire.

The use of the technology resulted in an increase in the number of investigators who were able to determine these crucial factors, and some could even recall the layout of the scene to the point of being able to draw accurate sketches.

Vincenzo Rinaldi, VR Specialist at LRCFS who is developing the software, adds that the technology allows the crime scene to be brought to the investigator, instead of the other way round.

“Our results showed there was a general improvement in the formulation of hypotheses of the cause and origin of the fire and its development,” Mr Rinaldi said.

“We did two rounds of testing. The first was using traditional documents only and the second integrated the standard documentation with a VR reconstruction of the crime scene.

“There were less uncertain hypotheses being presented when VR was included alongside traditional documents. We need to now understand if VR provides more information when compared against traditional reports.”

The recording process was designed by PhD student Sanghun (Sean) Yu, who is jointly supervised by LRCFS and the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design.

It allows one site to be used in multiple training sessions while providing a realistic setting for investigators to explore and examine the scene in a safe environment.

The team are continuing research to further improve the quality of the footage and develop the technology into a professional tool.

INVESTIGATION TOOL: Researchers at Dundee University using VR software developed by forensic scientists.