PDF3D work with Forensics to Bring 3D PDF into the Court Room

The freely available guide provides a review of 3D visualization in accidents and crime scenes, and presents the case for using 3D PDF to speed up workflows and improve communications during investigations.

PDF3D offer a suite of 3D PDF conversion tools. Their renowned SDK toolkit has been extensively used by developers across industry, and more recently by some of the forensic industry's leading 3D reconstruction and visualization technology suppliers.

"We've worked with some of the major software developers in the forensics industry, who now incorporate PDF3D technology within their tools to make it easier for users to convert complex point cloud data into the more easily accessible 3D PDF format," explained Ian Curington of PDF3D.

Scanned data, such as point cloud data, is notoriously difficult to share and present to others who don't have access to specific software. The big data it generates also makes it cumbersome to archive. 3D PDF conversion compresses these large files into more manageable sizes without losing the image detail required in court.

Individuals in forensics teams are increasingly turning to the power of PDF conversion for themselves, with many engineers using tools like PDF3D's ReportGen alongside their visualization software.

"Digital forensics has transformed how much detail can now be captured at the scene of a traffic accident or crime scene," added Ian. "With the use of drones, cameras and scanners, many man-hours are saved in the processing of critical information. These tools, combined with 3D software, allows investigators to capture a rich and accurate 3D image fast, without interrupting the scene, and with a level of detail that can be used to analyse everything from blood spatter to bullet trajectory."

PDF3D's SDK and ReportGen tools allow investigators and lawyers to present a fully interactive and animated 3D view of a scene that can be rotated, zoomed and inspected in detail, with factual markers and information provided to add further explanation to an image.