Crime Scene Investigation

One capture, taken before the scene is released, that answers questions nobody has asked yet. Every distance, surface and sightline stays measurable months later — without anyone returning to a scene that no longer exists.

Seven areas of crime scene work below, each with the accuracy, capture time and workflow that applies to it.

Talk to a forensic specialist Choose your topic

No sensitive case details required.

Room captured in 3D with measurements marked on the model

Nothing is touchedNo markers or targets in the scene. Evidence is documented as found.
The whole sceneRooms, buildings and street scenes, indoors or out, day or night.
Measure after releaseAny point, distance, area or angle, once the scene is gone.
Court-ready recordOne dataset from first response to the courtroom.

What do you need to document?

Crime scene work splits into jobs with different accuracy, range and time constraints. Pick the one in front of you.

Crime Scene 3D ScanningHow a scene is captured, and in what order, before release.3D Crime Scene ReconstructionTurning the capture into a reconstruction that holds up to challenge.Shooting Scene ReconstructionBullet paths, entry and exit geometry, and trajectory from one dataset.Bloodstain Pattern AnalysisSub-millimetre stain geometry on textured surfaces, in position.Line-of-Sight AnalysisWhat a witness could and could not see, from the measured scene.Evidence DocumentationRecording items in place, with a chain of custody that survives review.Forensic Digital TwinsA permanent, measurable copy of the scene for later analysis and trial.

Why the scene has to be measured, not photographed

A photograph records what a scene looked like from one position. It cannot settle how far the weapon was from the victim, whether a witness at the window could see the doorway, or how a stain pattern relates to the surface it sits on. Perspective compresses depth, and the defence knows exactly where that leaves a gap.

A scan records geometry instead of appearance. Two points that look adjacent in a photograph carry a real distance in a point cloud, and that distance can be produced in court years later. The University of Toronto's comparison study found 3D scanning completed full documentation in 26 minutes against 54 for photography — and produced submillimetre-accurate colour documentation that photographs cannot replicate. The National Institute of Justice identifies contactless capture as a key benefit for investigations for the same reason: nothing has to be disturbed to obtain it.

Measured, not asserted

26 minFull scene documentation, against 54 minutes for photographyUniversity of Toronto comparison study

1.7 minA dome scan covering an entire roomArtec Ray II

2–3 minA human body, captured where it liesArtec Leo

One capture, every downstream question

3D reconstruction of a Dutch Police training crime scene captured with Artec 3D scanners

Measurements on demand: Point-to-point distances, areas, angles and cross-sections, taken from the archive rather than from a return visit.
Analysis by several teams: Scene examiners, pathologists, reconstructionists and prosecutors work from the same dataset instead of three incompatible sets of notes.
Courtroom presentation: A model a jury can be walked through, built from the record rather than from recollection.
A documented method: Capture parameters, operator and processing steps recorded, so the result is reproducible under cross-examination.

A room needs range; a stain pattern needs sub-millimetre detail. Most units run two devices.

Compare forensic scanners

“Artec scanners help us preserve critical details and reduce our time on scene considerably while maintaining the highest standards.”

Dr. Dennis Dirkmaat, Ph.D.Mercyhurst University, Forensic Anthropologist

“Our experience with the Artec scanners has been excellent. The ability to capture an entire scene in 3D, with accurate measurements, casts and transformed data we can document and present in evidence.”

Jarrod Carter, Ph.D.Origin Forensics LLC

Questions that come up before the first scene

How long does scanning add to scene processing?

It replaces work rather than adding to it. A full room dome scan takes about 1.7 minutes, a body 2–3 minutes. Teams report scene time dropping from hours to minutes, and they leave with the documentation already complete.

Will a 3D scan be admitted as evidence?

Artec reports scan models from its customers being accepted as evidence in criminal proceedings, and the National Institute of Justice has surveyed crime scene units adopting 3D scanning devices. Admissibility still rests with the court, so operator qualification, validation and chain of custody all matter.

Does the scene need lighting?

No. The scanners project their own structured or laser light and do not depend on ambient conditions. Artec Ray II captures large indoor and outdoor scenes day or night; the handheld units work in low light at the scene.

Can we validate this against our current method?

Yes, and it is the sensible way in. Scan a known scene alongside your existing photography and measurement workflow, compare against your survey control, and write the comparison into your SOP before anything is replaced.

Other areas of forensic 3D work

EvidenceFootwear and tire impressions, toolmarks, ballistics, small evidence.Human Remains & PathologyAnthropology, skeletal trauma, autopsy and wound documentation.Accidents & IncidentsTraffic collisions, fire and arson, explosions, structural collapse.Court & LegalCourtroom 3D evidence, expert testimony, chain of custody.Software & WorkflowPoint cloud processing and the scene-to-courtroom pipeline.Technology & ComparisonsHandheld vs terrestrial, structured light vs LiDAR, accuracy and cost.

Tell us about the scenes you process

A forensic application specialist will come back with the device that fits your scene types, the accuracy to expect at that range, and how the data reaches your existing case workflow.