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                            Library & Multimedia
 Unmanned Aircraft Systems Can Support Law Enforcement in Crash Scene Reconstruction
NCJ Number
              251586

Date Published

April 2018
Length
              2 pages
Annotation
              This is a summary report of a NIJ-funded study that found unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) can enable law enforcement agencies to reconstruct vehicle crashes quicker.
Abstract
              Major vehicle crashes account for about half of all congestion-related traffic delays. The reported NIJ-funded study found that using UAS can reduce the amount of time needed to clear a crash scene, which reduces both the length of traffic delays and the length of time police officers are at risk of injury while managing a vehicle crash scene. In addition, the study compared the accuracy of measurements made using different crash reconstruction methods. It determined that UAS slightly reduces some measurement errors. Several law enforcement agencies across the country are currently using UAS in crash investigations, primarily to take aerial photographs in complementing other methods of accident reconstruction. A recent study compared the use of UAS with established methods used in crash-scene investigations. Using a mock crash scene, the researchers found that UAS used in support of traditional reconstruction methods that use a manual or robotic "total station," reduced the time to clear the scene by 35-45 minutes, and the time that officers were at risk in the roadway was reduced approximately 28 minutes. When UAS alone was used in crash reconstruction, it took, on average, 1 hour less than data collection by a robotic station and 2 hours less than data collected by a manual or robotic "total station." Factors that may hinder efficiency in the use of UAS are noted, such as weather conditions, low light, and Federal Aviation Administration regulations on UAS use.
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2013-MU-CX-K111


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Research (Applied/Empirical)
                                Report (Technical Assistance)
                                Report (Summary)
                                Report (Study/Research)
                                Report (Grant Sponsored)
                                Program/Project Evaluation
                                Program/Project Description


  
  
        
  Award
        Establishing a National Criminal Justice Technology Research, Test and Evaluation Center
    
  
  
Date Published: April 1, 2018
    
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