Technology that Enhances Accident & Injury Litigation Processes

Aerial Visual Technologies &
Krucial Engineering
Technology That Enhances Accident & Injury Litigation Processes s(UAS) Focused

Kurtis G. Whitling, P.E.
Mechanical Engineer
• Masters of Engineering Management, Case Western
Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, 2003
• B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Case Western Reserve
University, Cleveland Ohio, 2002
• Registered Professional Engineer, State of Ohio,
License No. 77930
• ACTAR, Accredited Traffic Accident
Reconstructionist, ACTAR 2733
• CFEI, Certified Fire & Explosion Investigator,
Registration No. 18946-10527v
• CVFI, Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator, Registration
No. 18946-10527v
• CXLT Certification, Excel Tribometers – English XL
Tribometer Certified Operator Training, 2012
• Trial Tested for the plaintiff and defense
• Hundreds of accidents investigated
AVT Drones | Krucial Engineering 2021

Created by AVT Drones
Robert Nicholson B.S.
Small Business Owner
FAA Part 107 s(UAS) Pilot
• Bachelor of Science Business, University of
Phoenix Tempe Az, 2015
• Turner School of Construction Management,
Cleveland, Oh, 2019
• Civil Engineering, Lakeland Community College
Kirtland, Oh 2018
• Hondros College of Business, Ohio Division of
Real Estate, Independence, Oh 2018
• Licensed FAA Part 107 sUAS Pilot, 2016
• The Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy,
Columbus, Oh, 2007
• Ohio Fire Academy HazMat/WMD Lc#1753-
2008-451 Columbus, Oh, 2008
• Autodesk Specialist

Stephanie Gandy AA
Software Engineer/Operations
• Associates Degree Applied Business, Cuyahoga
Community College, Highland Hills, OH 2015
• Sprinkle Code Web Developer & Design
• Information Technology, Cleveland State
University, Cleveland, OH 2013
• University of Phoenix, IT/Web Development,
Tempe, AZ 2010
• Software Engineering, We Can Code IT 2015
• Civil 3D/Revit/ AutoCAD Specialist

Engineering Services
Accident Reconstruction, Fire Investigation & Mechanical Engineering Forensics
• Commercial vehicles
• ATV and off-road vehicles
• Motorcycle & bicycle
• Brake failure investigation and testing
• Mechanical failure analysis
• Man lift and construction accidents
• Event data recorders for commercial vehicles
• Cummins/Detroit Diesel/Mercedes/Paccar/International/Bendix
• Crash data from passenger vehicle airbag control modules
• Bosch CDR/Kia/Hyundai/Infotainment Systems
• Commercial Vehicle GPS/Onboard Data Recorder Analysis
Water Intrusion Investigation
•Fitting & component failure investigation
•Fire suppression system failures
•Frozen or burst pipes
Fire Investigation
•Origin and cause investigation
•Propane, natural gas and other fuel gas
systems
•Commercial vehicle fires
•Passenger vehicle fire investigation
•Farm equipment fire investigation
•CSST failure
Premises Liability
•Slip/trip fall evaluation
•Doorway accidents/Stairways-
railings/concrete evaluation
Vehicular Accident Investigation
Vehicle Crash Data Retrieval

Unmanned Aerial Services
For Accident Scene Recreation, Documentation and Processing
UAV Photogrammetry
UAV Scanning with Point Cloud generation
CAD and surface modeling
Georeferenced 3D mesh models
Aerial photography and 4K video
Aerial Mapping and Virtual Surveying
Collision Scene Reconstruction using UAV NCDOT

How Our UAS Capture
Process Works
• Evidence on the roadway and
surrounding area is identified and
marked with spray paint, tents or cones
• We use three or more scale reference
measurements taken between easily
identifiable points minimal 50ft apart to
help in verifying the accuracy of the
photogrammetric model.
• Checks of the drone are made to ensure
flight safety and mechanical function.
• In general, two-three flight patterns are
conducted at progressively lower
altitudes to increase accuracy, improve
GSD and to ensure the collection of the
most critical evidence.

Typical UAS
Roadway
Mapping
Pattern
*Formula: Initial Height-w-75% overlap -2/3rds for 2nd pattern – 50% for 3rd flight = Final output*

Benefits of UAV
Photogrammetry
• Significantly reduces the amount of time
needed to collect sufficient data to map out
the scene for an investigation.
• UAVs offer a speedier, more accurate
solution. General scene processing takes
just 10-20min.
• Using UAVs to process an accident scene
leaves 0 footprint resulting in less
contamination.
• UAV scanning help reconstruct accident
scenes by collecting visual data that can
then be processed into 3D models and real-
time orthomosaic maps.
• UAV maps and models can be used during
courtroom testimony and litigation as
exact scene replications.
• A safer, cost-effective way for critical scene
evidence to be captured sooner

Completed Photogrammetry Model

Collision Reconstruction Using
UAV Point Cloud Data
• UAV point clouds are georeferenced and
provide an incredibly precise way of
collecting data.
• UAV point clouds provide the ability to
replicate an accident scene which can be
measured, notated and directly
referenced.
• UAV point clouds can be directly converted
into 3D mesh models available for 3D
printing or HTML manipulation.
• UAV point clouds allow individuals to make
observations of a scene using depth,
elevation, geometry and location space.
• UAV scanning greatly accelerates the data
collection process over the current
methods of investigation using –Total
Station and laser scanning.
• UAV data can be used for visual
representation, and accident
reconstruction for 3D demonstrative
evidence.
Photo credit Pix4D

UAV Data & Measurable
CAD Models
• When accuracy counts our team
can easily convert UAV scans to CAD
files in scale
• CAD files can be easily shared and
uploaded to the cloud for quick
reference between multiple agencies
• CAD models produce real-time
scene conditions where items can be
easily documented, measured and
preserved.
• UAV scans are an unbelievable way
of introducing and relaying scene data
to a jury or courtroom proceeding.

Is Your Team Still Relying on
Pen and Pad Drawings to
Map and Communicate
Accident Scenes?
• Our UAV models and scans can capture entire neighborhoods in under
20 minutes.
• 3D models help to show evidence in its exact location relative to the
scene.
• 3D models can be used during courtroom proceedings with high impact.
• 3D models delivered by our UAVs capture real-time environmental
conditions to show contributing factors now available on paper and
computer printouts.

Use Interactive 3D Models for Testimony and Impact
Statements
Recover and
collect
Recover and collect evidence that was left behind by the human
eye.
Use Use 3D models to coincide with witness/victim impact
statements
Show on Show on screen measurements & evidence location
Immerse Immerse the jury in the accident scene with varying vantage
points
Show Show surface conditions and potential contributing factors

Capture a Scene in Real-Time With Aerial Video
Record the scene during or
following an accident to
aid in processing and
information gathering
evidence and potential
witnesses
Capture the scene from
the air to avoid excess
contamination and for
future testimony
Start and stop at various
sections of the video to
deliver impact statements
and site analysis during
litigation proceedings
Aerial video provides an
unbiased view of the scene
and captures invaluable
data that may be missed
by the human eye.

Trips, Falls and Serious
Injury are Common
Mishaps on
Construction Sites
• Our UAVs collects hundreds of
photos in minutes to aid in evidence
collection and documentation of the
entire site.
• Each blue dot represents a
retrievable section of the work area
available in seconds.
• Because of their speed, UAVs can be
deployed on the day of the accident
to capture all critical information.

22acre Facility
330 Photos in
27 Minutes
• Geo-tagged Photos for evidence
• Reduce risk to investigators
• Use point clouds or 3D models to
measure fall height, accident area or
other related evidentiary factors
• Use 3D models to show viewpoint of
victim or witness during testimony
• Gain access to normally inaccessible
or hazardous areas

3D Interactive
Modeling Example
• Our 3D models can be manipulated by
the user 360 degrees to achieve various
vantage points.
• 3D models help victims and witnesses
provide better testimony during
litigation.
• Handheld cameras cannot capture
entire project areas or incident scenes
like UAVs
• UAV scanning is much faster than using
Trimble or Total Station

What are the Most Valuable
Benefits of our UAS Technology in
Litigation Proceedings?
Impactful Evidence in Court
• Three-dimensional models are not only compelling
during witness statements, but they also provide
full immersion into the accident or crash site with
360 degree viewing.
• Using both Point Clouds and 3D model's vantage
points can be changed to any location within the
scene to show what a driver, passenger, witness or
victim would have been able to see before the
accident.
• Three-dimensional models are much more
persuasive than 2D line drawings or retro
animations that are not full functioning.
• Drones provide unmatched data collection and
offer full immersion coverage of an accident site
without human error or scene contamination.

Why Add Our Team To Your Existing
Workflow?
• We provide a faster, and in some cases a more reliable
method of crash investigation and documentation.
• Our team as completed 100s of successful accident
investigations, Mr. Whitling qualifies as an expert in the
field and Robert has over 20 years of investigative
experience both maritime and terrestrial.
• Our UAS technology has been officially recognized and
adopted by the NTSB as an approved method of
accident and crash investigation.
• We provide an immediate reduction in time and cost as
compared to traditional accident investigation methods.
• We utilize drones in combination with existing methods
to paint a realistic 3D recreation of the scene allowing
for better courtroom testimony and impact statements.
• We can successfully map most accident scenes in
under twenty minutes with high density scale point
clouds, 3D models and aerial maps.
• We can provide live streaming services VIA UAS
directly to your phone or office showing the scene in
real-time.
• Our processes are less susceptible to human fatigue
due to environmental conditions and human error.
• Our system of Photogrammetry processing reduces
road closure times, improves safety, reduces the
amount of manpower needed to process a scene and
we capture better evidence at crash scenes with
consistent front and side overlaps.

Aerial Metrics Testimony
Using UAS to Map an Accident Scene a Year Later.
August 19, 2020 Usage Study
• In the small hours of a January morning, a speeding vehicle veered off a major road and
struck a streetlight, killing the passenger. The posted speed limit was 30 mph. The
responding officer took 61 photos with a Nikon DSLR, including 18 that captured the yaw
mark left by the tires on the roadway. At the time, there was insufficient evidence to
determine the speed of the vehicle. Nearly a year later, Pix4D’s premium reseller Aerial
Metrics were asked to fly an sUAS mission at the scene and combine the photos taken from
the drone with the original DSLR photography and build a model with Pix4Dmapper. From
the model, the Aerial Metrics team was able to measure the length and curvature of the yaw
mark and determine a range of possible speeds for the vehicle -- in excess of 60 mph. This
evidence allowed charges to be filed against the driver, which would not have been possible
without this technology.
https://www.pix4d.com/blog/drone-mapping-crash-investigation

Bill English
National Transportation Safety Board
(NTSB) Usage Study
I’ve gone back to some major cases that we threw a lot of resources at; in no case
did I find one where the source data was any better as far as documented accuracy
than what we can do right now with a drone. In fact, most of the time we do better.
In our kit, we take a differential GPS with us, so we can put down ground-control
points and make the accuracy to the level we require. I'll get 10-cm or less absolute
accuracy on a routine basis. I've tested the differential GPS using survey markers
from the county. I can get down to within 4-cm without any difficulty. That's far
better than historically any NTSB ground mapping has ever been.
https://www.commercialuavnews.com/public-safety/drones-used-ntsb-investigations

Take The Next Step and Speak With Us
For Questions or Service Please Reach Out to Us
Robert Nicholson
robert.nicholson@avtdrones.com
Stephanie Gandy
sgandy@avtdrones.com
Kurt Whitling
kurt@krucialengineering.com
Click here to schedule an appointment

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