Virtual Crime Scene
Who attacked the judge in the library? It’s not an Agatha Christie novel or a rousing game of “Clue.” It’s actually a high-tech crime-scene recreation at the University of Oklahoma.
OU Libraries Interim Dean Carl Grant recently held the lead acting role as Judge Dixon as part of a National Institute of Trial Advocacy case book in the Trial Techniques course offered by the OU College of Law.
This most recent collaboration between the emerging technologies team at OU Libraries and OU Law involves the use of photogrammetry, a technique that uses photographs to create 3D models, in this case, for the creation of a virtual crime scene. Last year, OU Libraries and OU College of Law partnered to replicate a crime scene using a 3D modeling program. By using photogrammetry this year, the team is replicating the crime scene to be more photorealistic.
“Since the crime scene is a photorealistic, volumetric accurate capture, we should be able to test whether that type of visualization is satisfying or creepy to the user,” said emerging technologies librarian Bobby Reed.
With more angles and more data, this 3-D crime scene model is a more immersive experience.
“Version 2.0 allows us to utilize photogrammetry and dive in to tricky camera positions so we can achieve a more photorealistic representation of the scene, giving people the ability to immerse themselves and gain a better understanding of the room itself and the surrounding evidence,” said Kristi Wyatt, OU Libraries emerging technologies librarian.
"Over time, using this technology to recreate actual crime scenes will innovate the presentation of evidence," said Kenton Brice, director of technology innovation at OU College of Law.
“We hope this type of evidentiary experience will free up attorneys and experts to explore scenes as they existed with the detail needed to provide meaningful and engaging narratives in all forms of litigation,” Brice said.
Article Published: Wednesday, October 16, 2019