Ground Truth XR

Virtual reality as a collaborative tool for fire and crime scene examination

Following five years of research and development, experts at The Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science are poised to launch Ground Truth XR, a new spinout company that will revolutionise fire and crime scene investigation.

In the context of incident response, early, accurate documentation and evaluation of the scene are vital. Techniques such as sketching, 2D, and 360° photography, and videography are traditional and trusted methods of site processing. In complex cases there is often a need for a pool of specialist personnel to attend the scene, increasing the risk of contamination and posing challenges with regard to staff availability and proximity to the incident.

Ground Truth XR addresses these challenges by enabling 2D images to be displayed in 3D with ground truth accuracy. Its scene reconstructions improve understanding of depth and spatial perception, and they can be explored by cross-functional teams in a collaborative virtual environment within just a few hours.

The scenes can be acquired using standard-issue cameras or scanners and explored using low-cost virtual reality head-mounted displays. The virtual environment is accompanied by original photographs and reference information, enabling validation and contextualisation of the 3D spatial data.

From the collection of ground truth images to cross-team collaboration and efficient investigations right into the courtroom, Ground Truth XR applies virtual reality in a way that is underpinned by a robust scientific approach which will stand up to the scrutiny of legal systems and courts alike.

A proof-of-concept demonstration has been developed in collaboration with the Scottish Police Authority Forensic Services, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and fire investigators across Europe.

The system has been found to be:

• Rapid – 3D visualisations in hours
• Efficient – cross-functional teams collaborate quickly
• Easy – requires no special equipment
• Cost-effective – reduces travel time and cost

Virtual reality for training and competency testing

Crime scene examiners and forensic scientists are critical, highly skilled personnel. Training can be costly and time-consuming. Traditional training methods rely on mock crime scenes and controlled burns, which provide valuable but expensive ‘one-off’ training opportunities.

Virtual reality opens up a world of more cost-effective possibilities.

Ground Truth XR’s training and competency testing packages immerse users in real-world environments with an unrivalled level of visual fidelity for more effective, consistent and frequent training and assessment.

Ground Truth XR – Created for forensic scientists by forensic scientists