ESR and the FARO Freestyle3D Hand-Held Scanner

ESR has recently put a FARO Freestyle 3D hand-held scanner through its paces with the assistance of a research student from Kings College, London.

A high-tech FARO Freestyle 3D hand-held scanner was recently deployed with the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) as part of a post-graduate Masters evaluation project run by a visiting student from Kings College, London.

As part of his Masters of Forensic Science degree, Alex Readfern spent three months with ESR in Auckland, utilising the FARO Freestyle 3D hand-held scanner in the laboratory. Readfern has since gone on to pass his Masters with distinction.

The scanner was loaned to ESR for testing by FARO distributor Synergy Positioning Systems.

Forensic Scientist at ESR’s Auckland Forensic Service Centre, Jason Barr, says post-graduate student placements within ESR are a firm part of the Institute’s development and mentoring programme.

“In addition to students from Kings College, London, we also host Masters of Forensic Science students from the University of Auckland under a programme run by Dr. Douglas Elliot.

“The programme has been very successful. We have students investigating new techniques and technology, which allows us to get on with our investigative work. The students achieve specific research goals within a relevant environment while we are able to utilise their findings to make informed decisions on future methodologies and investment.”

Readfern was primarily using the FARO Freestyle 3D hand-held scanner to accumulate blood spatter data. Where ESR has a lot of data on blood spatter across flat surfaces, the hand-held device allows for the documentation of such matter across curved or non-repetitive surfaces, such as furniture and clothing.

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The scanner gives forensic teams the ability to quickly measure and record objects and structures in 3D with the utmost precision. Because it is constructed from lightweight carbon fibre, it weighs less than a kilogram, making it easily portable and ergonomically comfortable to utilise regardless of the environment.

“Jeremy Neilson from Synergy Positioning Systems supported us and Alex very ably while we were using the scanner.

“ESR has already invested in terrestrial laser scanning technology from FARO, with both a Focus3D S120 and Focus3D X130. Overall this meant that the close-up detail we captured with the hand-held unit integrated very well with the larger scale scan data we took and didn’t impact unduly on our workflow.”

While the advent of hand-held scanning technology is undoubtedly set to change the ways in which 3D scanning can be used by forensic investigators, Barr says there will always be a place for terrestrial scanners, such as the FARO Focus3D X130 that ESR adopted into its portfolio last year.

“Hand-held scanners provide a very competent way of recording difficult shaped objects such as the deceased, or other complex structures for analysis like three-dimensional shoe prints or wound deformation.

“But terrestrial scanners with long range capabilities will always play a part in macro-level analysis. For example I recently returned from a scene investigation that covered more than a kilometre; there would never be efficiencies in trying to cover that sort of environment in a piecemeal fashion with a hand-held scanner, regardless of the portability the unit provides.

Barr says that the next step for ESR will be to make an assessment on the hand-held scanner’s usability in the field based in part on Alex Readfern’s findings.