An offshoot of our research in the area of accident reconstruction has been the development of economical computerized graphic simulation techniques. Three-dimensional images are mathematically reconstructed on the computer screen. Building a sequence of these images and animating them is a means of simulating motion. A special approach is taken to facilitate real time playback using a desk top microcomputer.
These dynamic simulations are a very effective means of presenting a complex sequence of events to a non-technical audience in a clear and understandable fashion. The equations used in a rigorous engineering analysis are modeled graphically for analysis by the viewer.
Different scenarios of the same incident can be developed to show the credibility of various statements. This is done through modifying individual variables, such as speed, distance, timing, and camera location to determine the effect of the change on the final result. In addition, looking at the scene from different perspectives may explain how witnesses may view the same event differently simply because of where they are standing at the time.
In this paper, a case study is used to describe the process and how it lends itself to modeling any three-dimensional object, allowing full motion viewing about all axes.