Comparison of forensic photo-documentation to a photogrammetric solution using the multi-camera system “Botscan”

As forensic science technologies progress, digital photography has become outdated for certain documentations that require exact measurements. Recording three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional photograph leads to a potential loss of relevant information. Photogrammetry has been utilized to record persons, objects or crime scenes and prevents this loss. Photogrammetry enables accurate documentation and visualization of events or matching of injuries and injury-causing instruments. To reduce inaccuracies during photogrammetric recording, a multi camera device, Botscan by Botspot, can be used to record living persons in three-dimensional space (3D). The device can record a full body in a fraction of a second, which leads to a significant reduction of inaccuracies due to movement. Photogrammetric measurements were compared with measurements from forensic photographs to evaluate the applicability of this device for medical forensic documentation of injuries. For this purpose, a mannequin fitted with different types of artificial injuries was used as an example. The results showed that the photogrammetric measurements obtained using the software Agisoft PhotoScan were more accurate than the measurements from the forensic photographs.