Engineering Methods in Forensic Fire Scene Reconstruction

During a fire, the design of the building affected by the fire changes. Combustible materials are damaged and destroyed, structures are deformed by heat, surfaces are covered by smoke. The problem is that finding out what has happened on a changed scene can be difficult in a court case. In the present research, the researchers investigated how the tools and methods of traditional fire investigation scene inspection requires engineering solutions to perform a scene reconstruction based on engineering methods, presented credibly and visually in a forensic proceeding. The research analysed the process of fire investigation procedures today. The methodology and tools for conducting a fire investigation scene inspection, the elements and interrelationships of the static and dynamic phases, and the sampling options were examined. They evaluated the scene recording based on engineering methods, the methods of measurement and representation. The researchers analysed the reconstruction possibilities arising from the scene survey methodology, from which reconstruction models were created using conventional 2D as well as 3D representations. The analyses found that by introducing additional dimensions, such as time, new reconstructions that simulate processes can be created. As a result of the research, it was established which engineering data needs to be captured for the forensic application of state-of-the-art computer aided reconstructions in order to show valid results.