Symposium on Traffic Safety June 26-29, 2023

Advanced Investigative Techniques

• Body Language: Unspoken Communication for Expert Witnesses (Alan Moore)

  - Alan Moore, P.E., A.B. Moore Forensic Engineering

  A significant part of human communication occurs non-verbally, which is known as body language. It is valuable for a testifying expert to understand body language, both to help convey meaningful testimony and to understand how listeners (such as lawyers and jurors) are absorbing the testimony. In this real-world discussion, Alan Moore will teach you how to use body language to improve expert testimony.

• Fundamentals of Rotational Mechanics for the Traffic Crash Reconstructionist (John Daily)

  - John Daily, MSME, Jackson Hole Scientific Investigations, Inc.

  Further your Traffic Crash Reconstruction knowledge with this advanced course on Rotational Mechanics. In investigating collisions, rotational motion may be present along with translational motion. We will discuss how you can calculate delta-v vectors not only at the CM, but at other locations within the vehicle, assisting with occupant kinematic analysis. Examples of reconstructions completed with rotational mechanics will be presented.

• Expert Testimony in Vehicular Crimes Cases (Aaron Harder)

  - Aaron Harder, Bureau Chief - Vehicular Crimes, Maricopa County (AZ) Attorney's Office

  Learn how an officer becomes qualified as an expert witness for trial in this session with Bureau Chief Aaron Harder. He will discuss the Daubert and Fry standards for collision reconstruction testimony and evidence; best practices for presenting collision reconstruction testimony during trial; and what to expect from jurors. You will also learn about scene investigation and how prosecutors and collision reconstruction experts work together at a scene to obtain all relevant evidence to present to a jury. The session will end with volunteers demonstrating trial testimony.

• Nighttime Recognition of Objects: What Can We Really See (Swaroop Dinakar)

  - Swaroop Dinakar, Managing Scientist - Human Factors, Driver Research Institute, LLC

  Research has shown that in dark lighting conditions, many factors can affect a driver’s ability to recognize pedestrians, vehicles, or other objects in the roadway. This interactive presentation will discuss these factors with case examples and videos. You will learn how to approach your investigations by applying the appropriate methodology and avoiding any biases. The presentation will address what numbers to use when testifying and how to support your opinions in courtroom questioning.

• Peeling the Onion: A CMV Distracted Driving Case Study (Steven Schmit)

  - Corporal Steven M. Schmit, Pennsylvania State Police

  Using a 2014 fatal case study that involved a commercial motor vehicle that struck a pedestrian, we will look at the various elements of the investigation; what went well, what could have been improved upon, and how distraction, driver fatigue, and poor company philosophy ended with disastrous results. What started out as a "routine" fatal collision investigation quickly unfolded into a multi-layered tale of negligence and reckless behavior leading up to the collision. This case study is designed for both collision investigators and enforcement officers.

• Speed and Motion Through the Digital Lens (Josh Guthrie)

  - Josh Guthrie, Force Analysis and Multimedia Review

  Attendees will be introduced to methods for determining speed and motion from video evidence. Obtaining accurate timing information from video evidence will be examined. In addition to timing, methods for determining distance from video evidence and 3D scan data will also be discussed and demonstrated through case studies.

• A Tire's Role in Crash Investigation (T.J. Tennent)

  - T.J. Tennent, The Tyre Guy, Tennent and Associates

  Understanding a tire’s language can give you the advantage needed to determine the success or failure during an investigation. The tire(s) are important to a crash, whether they have become disabled or not. It is your job to not only understand the language that the tire is speaking but be able to translate it so that everyone understands what it is telling you.

• Using a Scientific Method to Evaluate a Driver's Response (Swaroop Dinaker)

  - Swaroop Dinakar, Managing Scientist - Human Factors, Driver Research Institute, LLC

  This presentation will explain how drivers' response times are related to the comparative probability of the event. More common events like cut-offs and suddenly slowing lead vehicles associated with faster response times, but lower probability events such as head-on crashes, U-turns, and pedestrians at mid-block locations at night being associated with longer response times.

Crash Testing

• Live, Instrumented Crash Testing (Sponsored by CARFAX for Police)
  Bill Wright, M.E., Symposium Crash Team Coordinator, will lead IPTM’s team of renowned crash reconstructionists as they conduct staged pedestrian crashes, gather, and analyze all the data. Full test data will be available after the conference.
• Post-Crash Data Analysis and Review (Wright, Harmon and Rich)

  Bill Wright, M.E., Andy Rich, M.E., and Ken Harmon will present their findings and analyses of the live, instrumented crash testing during two identical breakout sessions on Thursday morning.

EDR

• EDR in Traffic Crash Reconstruction Update (Andy Rich)

  - Andy Rich, M.E., Principal, Rich Consulting LLC

  This session will provide you with the latest updates to EDR equipment, software and the new data available. Andy Rich will discuss known issues with hardware, software and data, and explain the latest updates to EDR access law, EDR regulations, and research supporting EDR data admissibility.

• Investigating EDR Anomalies Using 3D Simulation (Brian McHenry & Stanley McHenry)

  - Brian McHenry and Stanley McHenry, McHenry Software

  EDRs tell part of the reconstruction story. They are a great additional piece of the crash reconstruction puzzle, however they have issues/failures and do not tell you everything you need to know about a crash. Using a 3D simulation program can help when things go wrong with EDRs results. This presentation will add additional crash investigations and raise important issues to be considered and addressed when reconstructing a crash with an EDR.

New Technology

• Advantages of GNSS and Terrestrial Photogrammetry Mapping for Crash Reconstruction (Will Henningsen & Kevin Kinney)

  - Will Henningsen, Collision and Crime Scene Forensics
  - Sgt. Kevin Kinney, South Dakota Highway Patrol

  In this session we will look at the advantages of GNSS and Terrestrial Photogrammetry Mapping in the field of Crash Reconstruction. We will explore the basic theory of GNSS and photogrammetry and how to apply these technologies, as well as options and features currently available and future technology developments.

• The Analysis of Heavy Truck Dash Camera Video and the Associated Telematics Data (Scott Skinner)

  - Scott Skinner, Collision Reconstructionist, Collision Consulting and Reconstruction LLC

  This presentation will discuss how truck dash camera video and telematics data work hand-in-hand. The analysis of both the associated telematics and accelerometer data will also be discussed as well as methods of adjusting video frames to streaming accelerometer data. The calculation of vehicle speeds from dash mounted video cameras will also be presented.

• CARFAX for Police Investigations and Traffic Tools (Josh Schultz)

  - Josh Schultz, Traffic Solutions Manager, CARFAX for Police - Crash Test Sponsor

  CARFAX for Police empowers law enforcement agencies to create better protected communities and safer, more efficient agencies. It also offers traffic tools that can help your agency clear the road faster and provide better customer service for your community. Josh Shultz will explain how to use the CARFAX for Police suite of investigative tools and how to save time by using Driver Exchange.

• Innovative Solutions and Software for 3D Mapping and Data Acquisition (Mike Flamm)

  - Mike Flamm, Law Enforcement Specialist Carlson and Delta V Innovations Inc.

  New software and techniques that focus on simplicity will be introduced in this session. Using new software with existing technology provides investigators a less complex format for determining critical data collection techniques. By merging multiple data sets, or field measurements, you can get a more complete picture of the crash or crime scene. Mike will share details of the soon-to-be-released DVI-3D software – from Delta V Innovations and Carlson Software – that allows users to work within both the 2D and 3D realms of design, simultaneously. Simple interface and reporting options enables you to acquire precise data in a simple format.

• iPhone/iPad LiDAR Scanner for Evidence Documentation (Robert Wyman)

  - Robert Wyman, President, Wyman Enterprises, Inc.

  This presentation will focus on the built-in LIDAR scanner that comes with the new Apple iPhone and iPad devices. Explore the use of this scanner to document vehicle damage and traffic crash locations, in comparison with other scanner brands which have been on the market for several years. Several iPhone scanner apps will be tested and discussed, resulting in recommendations regarding accuracy, range, environmental operating conditions, and ease of data utilization.

• GNSS, RTX, CORS, NTRIP - What is it? (Calvin Rikard & Thomas Eardmann)

  - Calvin Rikard, Forensics Specialist, Duncan Parnell
  - Thomas Eardmann, Forensics Specialist, Seiler Public Safety

  Numerous forensic mapping methods use satellite correction services to obtain accurate measurements of crash and crime scenes. Each service is labeled with its own acronym, and all have unique differences. Calvin and Thomas will examine the different services offered, their coverage and costs, and provide a detailed accuracy comparison. They will also demonstrate best practices for forensic mapping with satellite corrections.

• UAV Point Cloud Accuracy in Forensic Mapping (Calvin Rikard & Thomas Eardmann)

  - Calvin Rikard, Forensics Specialist, Duncan Parnell
  - Thomas Eardmann, Forensics Specialist, Seiler Public Safety

  Forensic mapping with small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (sUAVs) has become popular among many law enforcement agencies. This presentation will examine the presenters’ testing of commonly-used sUAV forensic mapping methodologies. The results uncovered critical accuracy problems with a processed point cloud and orthomosaic photograph. You will see erroneous outputs which were the direct result of improper mapping and processing methods. Presenters will demonstrate best practices for forensic mapping with sUAVs, show integration of sUAV-derived point clouds with lidar scans, GNSS, and optical total station data, and make sUAV mapping defendable in court using accuracy checks.

• Understanding and Using Simulation in Traffic Crash Reconstruction (Terry Day)

  - Terry Day, P.E., Ret. Founder/President, Engineering Dynamics Company

  Vehicle crash simulation has been used with great success by crash reconstructionists for several decades. However, its use by law enforcement has been limited, perhaps because it is not well understood. Terry Day will explain the inner workings of simulation and how it can be successfully used to investigate traffic crashes. A brief technical overview is followed by examples of simulation involving various types of crashes.

• Vehicle System Forensics (Wesley Vandiver)

  - Wesley Vandiver, Berla Corporation

  Modern vehicles contain data that can be acquired by investigators to serve as key evidence in their cases. This session will include information on various acquisition methods and available data elements such as historical geolocation data, vehicle speeds, user information, connected devices, vehicle events and vehicle configuration data. Wesley Vandiver will share real-world uses of these data, including cases in which the data has been admitted at trial.