A Comparison between Leica RTC360 and Recon-3D Scan Data in Pre- and Post-Collision Vehicle Documentation

Documenting and mapping using three-dimensional (3D) technologies have become essential in crime- and crash-scene investigations in recent years. Traditionally, this has been accomplished using terrestrial laser scanners (TLS), which often come with significant upfront costs. In contrast, Recon-3D, launched in 2022, leverages the capabilities of Apple’s light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensor, available in Pro and Pro Max models since 2020. This study aims to evaluate the relative accuracy of documenting vehicles in both pre- and post-collision conditions using these technologies. A deviation analysis was conducted utilizing CloudCompare software to compare point cloud data collected from the Leica RTC360 laser scanner with that obtained from Recon-3D for 7 vehicles in a pre- and post-impact condition for a total of n = 14 vehicles. At the 1, 2, and 3 cm deviation thresholds, the average percent of points which fell below each threshold level for all vehicles was 66%, 91%, and 97%, respectively. Overall, the results indicate that Recon-3D delivers point cloud data that is useful for pre- and post-collision vehicle documentation.