ABSTRACT
As discussed in Chapter 6, the fundamental purpose of the crime scene investigation is to collect information to determine what occurred and to preserve both the crime scene context and evidence in order to allow for subsequent analysis and to present the scene to the court. The scene may be preserved in images, sketches, models, notes, and physical evidence, each of which serves its own unique function in preserving the scene. Although the scene itself no longer exists, the goal is to preserve it in such a way that it can be understood and virtually reconstructed if needed. While the goal remains constant, methodologies have evolved over time. As with other aspects of life, automation has made manual tasks easier, faster, and more accurate. Methods for collecting data, analyzing the data, and representing the results of the analysis have evolved. Some of these methods originated from the crime scene investigative process, others within the forensic community, but many were adapted from industrial technology. The decision as to which technology to utilize in any analysis is based on various factors, including accessibility of the technology, the nature of the evidence being represented, the data collected from the crime scene, other aspects of the investigation, and the financial impact on the agency or analyst. Regardless of the technology used, the goal is to accurately depict the evidence and assist the court in understanding the scene and the evidence.
