Police train on high-tech mapping equipment for use at wreck scenes

04.12.09

Mapping is an impressive part of a police officer's job. Data gathered at the scene of a crime or traffic accident is vital in court trials.

Comparable to technology used in surveying land, the program Crash Dynamics was purchased by the department through a grant about two years ago.

This is the first formal training they have received on the $15,000 equipment and software.

"We've hardened it in the past for fatality scenes using the scale diagram," Stanaland said. "With this training, we'll be adept to find more uses for it."

Using the Crash Dynamics system, officers take measurements and use the data to draw out scenes in two- and three-dimensions, according to Stanaland.

What once took six to seven hours to manipulate and measure an accident is now cut down to 90 minutes to two hours.

"This takes the place of traditional tape measures. It saves us countless man hours on the location of an accident; all that time to measure and draw out the maps of what happened," Stanaland said.

Source: Lufkin Daily News