Vehicular crashes taking place today can effectively be analyzed along with the utilization of the latest available technology—3D scanning. Three-dimensional scannings provide users with access to its many features including the precise detailing of crash scenes.
The physical evidence left behind a vehicular crash can be considered as the most important source of information for any investigation. If a proper analysis can be conducted on the available data, a large number of useful facts can be extracted. Additionally, a vehicular crash is considered a “crush,” which is usually referred to the manner of deformation of a vehicle, hence a “crush” analysis.
A crush analysis required measurements made by hand, using legacy tools such as plumb bobs and a series of rulers. As of late, pre-made jigs have been developed to assist users in the collection of this data.
These methods can provide valuable analysis, though, it is monotonous, prone to errors and is a “one-time” method – if additional data is desired at a later date, the analysis and vehicle inspection must be done again.
And if the case makes it to trial, the presentation of this data before the jury isn’t very visually appealing and may need an overhaul to stimulate engagement at a trial. This explains the increasing use of 3D scan technology.
Crush analysis can be considered one of the most prominent applications of 3D scanning, in which one of the greatest breakthroughs in recent photogrammetry has been exploiting, from a geometric point of view, the image spatial resolution (size in pixels).
This has made it possible to obtain a 3D object point of each of the image pixels. The 3D reconstruction of the scene corresponds an object point with a pixel in a 3D image. These strategies, fed by the external and internal orientations and complemented by the epipolar geometry, are focused on the minimization of an energy function.
Considering 3D point clouds, both general and detailed, an energy analysis of the crash incident is carried out with the aim to evaluate the impact speeds.
For this purpose, an analysis of the kinetic energy is performed. This analysis implies the evaluation of different types of energies (e.g. deformation energy absorbed by the vehicle’s bodywork, friction energy, and rotational energy).
With the assistance of 3D scans, there is a possibility to analyze both the exemplar vehicle as well as the incident vehicle. Hence, it has the ability to deliver required information to the people in an effective manner.
The time taken for 3D scans is considerably low when compared to the traditional methods. Data extracted out of 3D scans can effectively be used in order to get the claims as well.
All the measurements taken by hand can be eliminated with the assistance of 3D scans, and it can be considered as an effective method available to experts to eliminate human error. Because the information provided by 3D scans can be trusted as a valid and reliable, this method is widely being accepted for crush analysis.
What about your current situation? How have you observed crush analysis work?