Reconstruction of an incident using video images and 3D models

The growing amount of security cameras increases the chance that there is important video footage available for the reconstruction of an incident. Using the right methods for analysis of large amounts of videos, it is possible to use this relevant information. In collaboration with the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI), research is done on the reconstruction of all movements of people and vehicles before, during and after an incident. Using the available videos, a reconstruction is made in a 3D model of the location of the incident. The video streams are synchronized, displayed simultaneously and analyzed. The events, which are visible in the videos, are displayed graphically to gain better insight in the sequence and location of events. In the 3D model, the fields of view of the virtual cameras are matched to those of the real cameras. This makes it possible to estimate the position of people and vehicles in the 3D model, based on their appearance in the video images. Assumptions made during the reconstruction can be visualized as well. The reconstruction can also be used to view events from a different perspective, test the report of a witness, etc