+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| #                                                                     |
|                                                                       |
| **Participants Manual**                                               |
|                                                                       |
| # SERIOUS ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION COURSE                               |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **LESSON 8: Maps, Sketches, Diagrams, Photographs, & Videos**         |
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| **INSTRUCTOR:**                                                       |
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| **Objectives:**                                                       |
|                                                                       |
| **After completing this lesson the participants will be able to:**    |
|                                                                       |
| -   **Reconstruct circumstances leading to an accident using          |
|     sketches, maps, evidence preservation, drawings, and diagrams.**  |
|                                                                       |
| -   **Determine photographic needs for an accident investigation.**   |
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+--------------------------------------------+-------------------------+
| **Unit Title: Maps, Sketches, Diagrams,    |                         |
| Photographs, & Videos**                    |                         |
+============================================+=========================+
| **Lesson 8:**                              | **Notes**               |
+--------------------------------------------+-------------------------+
| **PURPOSE**                                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| The main purpose of measurement, sketches, |                         |
| & drawings is to aid the investigation     |                         |
| team and agency management officials to:   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Understand existing conditions at the  |                         |
|     time of the accident                   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Reconstruct circumstances leading to   |                         |
|     the accident.                          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **PRELIMINARY WORK**                       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Initial development of hand drawn          |                         |
| documentation begins very soon after the   |                         |
| Agency Administrator's Briefing.           |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Accuracy is critical, as hand drawn        |                         |
| documentation will be used for many        |                         |
| purposes after leaving the accident site;  |                         |
| this demands thoughtful and deliberate     |                         |
| planning.                                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Remember to identify and document which    |                         |
| personal items have already left the       |                         |
| accident scene by victims or emergency     |                         |
| response personnel.                        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **DO NOT** rely on photographs alone to    |                         |
| document site layout; there could be film  |                         |
| problems, or focal length and perspective  |                         |
| distortions of the actual site layout.     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **EXTENT OF ACCIDENT SITE**                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Determine the extent of the accident site. |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   This first on-site action is done from |                         |
|     a distance.                            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Note spatial & geographic              |                         |
|     "benchmarks".                          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Benchmarks establish common points of  |                         |
|     reference e.g., a large boulder to the |                         |
|     left of the accident site to help give |                         |
|     the perspective of the accident.       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **ESTABLISH A BASELINE**                   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| > All measurements will be based from a    |                         |
| > point along the baseline.                |                         |
| >                                          |                         |
| > Baselines need to be fixed &             |                         |
| > unchangeable if follow-up sites visits   |                         |
| > are necessary.                           |                         |
| >                                          |                         |
| > Roads, sidewalks, exterior building      |                         |
| > walls, ridges are examples of baselines. |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **IDENTIFY**                               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Identify all common & proper names of      |                         |
| boundary marks.                            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Use as references for interviewing people  |                         |
| not familiar with local terminology.       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **INITIAL SKETCHES**                       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| > The first sketch is rough and shows the  |                         |
| > general area encompassing:               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Accident site                          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Debris field                           |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Location of identifiable structures,   |                         |
|     landmarks                              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   General orientation to north arrow     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Approximate measures by estimation     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **ORIENTATION OF EVIDENCE**                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| The first sketch should show orientation   |                         |
| of evidence.                               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Victims, equipment, parts, skid marks,     |                         |
| debris field, damaged foliage, damaged     |                         |
| surfaces or structures, spills,            |                         |
| contaminated areas, position of safety     |                         |
| equipment.                                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| This helps orient the team to where more   |                         |
| precise measurements may be taken.         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Helps identify where photographs will be   |                         |
| taken.                                     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Helps identify hazardous areas, areas of   |                         |
| forensic evidence.                         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Use numbered notations, e.g., "(Victim 01) |                         |
| may indicate the location of the first     |                         |
| victim.                                    |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| A team member should be assigned as a      |                         |
| recorder to take notes for the Chief       |                         |
| Investigator.                              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Sketch maps on grid paper, guided by the   |                         |
| first sketch map and measurements.         |                         |
| Recorder adds a "map symbols key"          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **EVIDENCE PRESERVATION**                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| The Chief Investigator is responsible for: |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Determining what evidence is fragile   |                         |
|     or perishable                          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Arranging with Agency Administrator    |                         |
|     for site, equipment, and materials     |                         |
|     preservation, flagging or barricading  |                         |
|     the area                               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| ```{=html}                                 |                         |
| <!-- -->                                   |                         |
| ```                                        |                         |
| -   Increasing security personnel if       |                         |
|     needed                                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **EVIDENCE PRESERVATION (continued)**      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Expanding site security perimeter      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Covering the site with plastic         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Using securing site storage facility   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Packaging & removing evidence          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **MEASUREMENT & MAPPING**                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Measurements & Mapping occur after         |                         |
| establishing the baseline.                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Determine Measurements that must be    |                         |
|     taken                                  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Provide definitive scope & size of the |                         |
|     accident site                          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   It is helpful to use a grid pattern    |                         |
|     for a debris field, identifying each   |                         |
|     grid in its x and y axis               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Be careful entering the debris field   |                         |
|     to not disturb evidence locations &    |                         |
|     condition                              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Photographs should be taken inside the |                         |
|     grid prior to moving objects.          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Critical measurements will be the point of |                         |
| contact, the distance and angle from the   |                         |
| point of contact where persons or objects  |                         |
| may have been thrown.                      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Specific points must be identified and     |                         |
| recorded from the notes.                   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **USE OF GPS**                             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| There are two types of Global Positioning  |                         |
| Systems (GPS):                             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   **Navigational**                       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   **Engineering**                        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| > **Navigational GPS** data and software   |                         |
| > is usable for quick, accurate mapping,   |                         |
| > for spatial locations & gross distances  |                         |
| > between areas of interest. DO NOT rely   |                         |
| > on navigational GPS units to provide     |                         |
| > accurate minute detail.                  |                         |
| >                                          |                         |
| > **Engineering GPS** units used with      |                         |
| > Geographic Information System (GIS)      |                         |
| > programs, e.g. ArcView, will provide     |                         |
| > accurate minute detail, as well as, data |                         |
| > documentation, and multiple mapping      |                         |
| > opportunities to more accurately display |                         |
| > the accident scene and occurrences.      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Use of detailed GPS & GIS information will |                         |
| require a Technical Specialist often       |                         |
| provided by the host agency.               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **OTHER CRITICAL INFORMATION**             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| > **Specifically note** those items, which |                         |
| > may reveal important clues and need to   |                         |
| > be removed for protective storage.       |                         |
| >                                          |                         |
| > **Note** items that should be at the     |                         |
| > accident site, but were disturbed or     |                         |
| > removed during the emergency response    |                         |
| > effort, and items missing, e.g.,         |                         |
| > personal protective equipment, or        |                         |
| > equipment parts.                         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **OTHER CRITICAL INFORMATION (continued)** |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| > Other critical information may include:  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Environmental or site conditions that  |                         |
|     have changed from the time of the      |                         |
|     accident & time the investigation team |                         |
|     arrived.                               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Weather or fire may have destroyed     |                         |
|     evidence; e.g., vehicle tracks.        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Equipment may have been repaired.          |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **RECONSTRUCTION**                         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Reconstruction of a serious accident is    |                         |
| generally not recommended because of:      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   **Complexities & potential theoretical |                         |
|     errors.**                              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   **Complexities of recreating the       |                         |
|     hazards.**                             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **IF RECONSTRUCTION IS NECESSARY**:        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Consider using a professional accident |                         |
|     investigation/engineering firm versed  |                         |
|     in accident reconstruction. Involve    |                         |
|     them early in the investigation before |                         |
|     critical evidence can degrade.         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Use placards, traffic cones, ribbon,   |                         |
|     and twine or spray paint to indicate   |                         |
|     paths of travel, trajectories.         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **PHOTOGRAPHS GENERAL INFORMATION**        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Cameras provide a versatile medium for |                         |
|     the investigator to document scenes.   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Self-processing cameras (Polaroid's)   |                         |
|     are not recommended because the        |                         |
|     pictures are difficult to copy and use |                         |
|     in a report. Also, if you misplace the |                         |
|     picture there is no negative or        |                         |
|     electronic file to reproduce the       |                         |
|     picture.                               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Digital cameras with at least 5 mega   |                         |
|     pixels will work very well for         |                         |
|     investigations. They provide good      |                         |
|     quality pictures that are easy to      |                         |
|     incorporate into a report and pictures |                         |
|     are easily storable on a removable     |                         |
|     disc. Also, pictures can be produced   |                         |
|     (printed) without using a commercial   |                         |
|     film processor.                        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   35 mm cameras can produce very good    |                         |
|     quality pictures and they can be       |                         |
|     stored on CDs, however the film must   |                         |
|     be developed commercially.             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Cell phones that have the capability   |                         |
|     to take pictures should not be used as |                         |
|     the primary camera for an              |                         |
|     investigation. The mega pixels are     |                         |
|     generally low resulting in poor        |                         |
|     quality pictures.                      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **TYPES OF PHOTOGRAPHY**                   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Still photographs are more versatile for   |                         |
| enlarging, multiple printing, and using as |                         |
| illustrations in the factual report.       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Law Enforcement may have pictures of the   |                         |
| undisturbed scene.                         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| The news media may have videos of the      |                         |
| accident scene, and available to you for a |                         |
| price.                                     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Depending on accident complexities, the    |                         |
| Chief Investigator may determine that a    |                         |
| professional photographer is needed.       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **TYPES OF PHOTOGRAPHY (continued)**       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Photographs don't have to be taken in the  |                         |
| order the investigator intends to look at  |                         |
| them:                                      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   **Shoot long & medium distance         |                         |
|     pictures first**                       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| ```{=html}                                 |                         |
| <!-- -->                                   |                         |
| ```                                        |                         |
| -   **Consider close-up photography using  |                         |
|     tripod, flash**                        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Types of photographs used to document the  |                         |
| accident scene.                            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **[Perishable Evidence]{.underline}**:     |                         |
| photographs of items that are likely to    |                         |
| change or disappear if not photographed    |                         |
| immediately:                               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Accident aftermath or rescue in        |                         |
|     progress                               |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Victim(s) documentation, gauge         |                         |
|     readings, ground scars, radio setting, |                         |
|     fire damage, body fluids/parts, items  |                         |
|     that may switch positions              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **[Aerial View]{.underline}**: photographs |                         |
| from aerial platform or high ground that   |                         |
| affords a high angle photograph.           |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   When using an aircraft be certain to   |                         |
|     receive an approved aviation plan from |                         |
|     the Unit Aviation Officer.             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   The photographer needs a safety        |                         |
|     harness if taking photographs from an  |                         |
|     open door                              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Try to get aerial photos early before  |                         |
|     investigators move through it.         |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **[Aerial View]{.underline}**: (continued) |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Do not let helicopter rotor wash       |                         |
|     disturb the site.                      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Important locations on the ground can  |                         |
|     be marked using flagging or other      |                         |
|     suitable material.                     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Photograph multiple angles & distances |                         |
|     above the ground                       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **[Overviews of the scene]{.underline}**:  |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Photograph the site from the eight     |                         |
|     points of the compass.                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   If accident scene is spread out try a  |                         |
|     series of overlapping pictures. Be     |                         |
|     certain each picture is taken from the |                         |
|     same spot or distance.                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Print edges can be matched to create a |                         |
|     montage (panoramic view).              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **[Significant Scene                       |                         |
| Elements]{.underline}**: Establish the     |                         |
| terrain gradient through photographs.      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Photograph ground scars that will      |                         |
|     allow future analysis of size & depth  |                         |
|     (with something of known size like a   |                         |
|     pen or ruler or even your hand).       |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **[Site Inventory]{.underline}**:          |                         |
| Photographs can inventory the site and     |                         |
| document personal protective clothing,     |                         |
| safety equipment, personal effects and     |                         |
| victim's clothing. Item locations can be   |                         |
| plotted on a scaled map using a fixed      |                         |
| point of reference.                        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **[Documents]{.underline}**: Use a camera  |                         |
| to copy documents that cannot reasonably   |                         |
| be retained or copied, e.g. licenses,      |                         |
| logbooks, wall maps or charts.             |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **[Witness Views]{.underline}**: It may be |                         |
| important to photograph the "witness view: |                         |
| of the scene. Use a wide-angle lens, or    |                         |
| montage technique of several photographs   |                         |
| to duplicate a wide-angle view.            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **[Exemplars]{.underline}**: This is a     |                         |
| model or pattern of an actual object. It   |                         |
| it's difficult to distinguish a part from  |                         |
| wreckage, use pictures of an identical     |                         |
| undamaged object for comparison.           |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **[Wildland Fire Photos]{.underline}**: In |                         |
| addition to the above items these are      |                         |
| specific to fire management accident:      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Include surrounding fuel type and burn |                         |
|     patterns from the 8 cardinal           |                         |
|     directions.                            |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Include pictures of the fire origin,   |                         |
|     containment lines, and personal travel |                         |
|     routes.                                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   If possible, obtain photographs        |                         |
|     depicting the entrapment site before,  |                         |
|     during, and after the incident.        |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Photograph deployment sites and final  |                         |
|     resting position of fatally injured    |                         |
|     firefighters. New firefighter clothing |                         |
|     can be laid out to represent           |                         |
|     firefighter positions.                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Photograph all fire resistant          |                         |
|     clothing, PPE, line gear, and tools,   |                         |
|     Include detailed photographs of        |                         |
|     components showing identifying marks,  |                         |
|     name tags, labels, etc.                |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| -   Other equipment that responded to the  |                         |
|     incident.                              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Accident Photographic Documentation      |                         |
| Forms**                                    |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Photographs used in the factual report     |                         |
| must be mounted and captioned. **HANDOUT   |                         |
| 8-1**                                      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Accident Photographic Documentation      |                         |
| Form**                                     |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Each photograph taken will be entered into |                         |
| a log and include the name of the          |                         |
| photographer and the date taken. **HANDOUT |                         |
| 8-2**                                      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Accident Photographic Log**              |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| **Video Photography**                      |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Video Photography is particularly valuable |                         |
| for showing slope and terrain features     |                         |
| when filmed from aircraft.                 |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| It can also be helpful in the team         |                         |
| deliberations and any accident review      |                         |
| process.                                   |                         |
|                                            |                         |
| Employees or private citizens may have     |                         |
| video footage of the accident or           |                         |
| aftermath. Original video or copies should |                         |
| be gathered as evidence for the            |                         |
| investigation.                             |                         |
+--------------------------------------------+-------------------------+