Accidents Being Recorded Through 3D Laser Scanning

3D laser scanning has been one of the most evolving industries in the technology world, and with good reason. Every new advancement made to the scanners brings a unique variety of uses that not many would expect. It is no longer only for artists creating statues from scans. Still, this technology has also entered the world of public safety.

What is 3D scanning

This technology was created in the 1960s but didn’t start gaining attention until the late 1990s. The older versions of 3D laser scanners involved huge cameras set up to capture every angle of an object. As well as laser lights that measured how long it took for the image to be received through the camera.

Since the original invention, 3D laser scanners have evolved to handheld devices that capture thousands of pictures rapidly collecting the most microscopic detail of an object. Now there is the option to scan entire scenes as well as objects and create a virtual reality with these images.

3D laser scanners can help improve civilian safety

Police departments and forensic investigators have adopted the use of 3D scanners. They can acquire information about a crime scene and be able to go back to the exact location any evidence is found, through these scans. 3D scanners are more accurate and precise than the original way of taking pictures at a scene.

3D laser scanners are able to pick up more details, quickly, and efficiently than a human taking pictures. It is easier to miss something, a small piece of evidence or information that could lead to the correction of an accident. That is why using this new technology when scanning an area after an accident can be crucial in some circumstances.

Benefits of using a 3D laser scanner

Not only can this scanner pick up the tiny details no one else can, but anyone who needs to review the accident can go back in and find the evidence they need. This could help build safer streets and even railways.

In 2017 a major Amtrak accident happened on the railways in Washington state. A team was able to scan the entire collision exactly how it was. Then, after another 36 hours, they could create a virtual scene that was incredibly accurate. They created a virtual reality that allowed others to walk through and see the exact effects of what happened.

Eric Gunderson a state trooper who helped work through every scan and helped create the virtual reality for the Amtrak accident stated, “I don’t think they’d ever seen something like this before and as I moved through the scene, they could immediately see the benefits of the detail, accuracy and interaction the point cloud provides for their investigation. They can now revisit the scene from their desktops anytime they need to find evidence or verify details, and they may even find something new to aid the analysis.”

Not only could others walk through it, but the system saves the information forever. This means anyone rebuilding the railway could have access to the mistakes that were previously on the tracks. They could fix their errors, making the railways a safer way to travel.

Anyone at any time could have access to this information, making 3D laser scanners one of the most valuable technologies on the market. As technology evolves the variety of uses grows in this industry, the adoption of these devices will allow the market to expand and grow globally.