Victoria Berezowski, Jason J. Keller, & Eugene Liscio
Abstract: The purpose of this research was to compare manual and 3D digital methods for documentation of a clandestine grave located at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Measurements were taken using manual trilateration as well as digitally using a total station and a terrestrial laser scanner. Comparisons were made between each method using 14 landmarks on a buried skeletal cast. Twenty-five measurements were taken across the 14 landmarks using Rhino, a 3D modeling software, as well as FARO Scene. These measurements were compared and found an average difference of 1 mm between the total station and the laser scanner measurements, 10 mm between the total station and manual measurements, and 10 mm between the laser scanner and manual measurements. The results provide investigators with an alternative method of clandestine grave documentation that can be more precise as well as being time and personnel-efficient on scene.
Supplemental Material: Grave Video