TY - JOUR
T1 - Individualised and non-contact post-mortem interval determination of human bodies using visible and thermal 3D imaging
AU - Wilk, L.S.
AU - Edelman, G.J.
AU - Roos, M.
AU - Clerkx, M.
AU - Dijkman, I.
AU - Vera Melgar, J.
AU - Oostra, R.-J.
AU - Aalders, M.C.G.
N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to thank N. Islam for her help in carrying out measurements, A. van Dam for her design of a figure, L. Aalders for his 3D printing of the imaging targets, the crime scene investigators of the Forensic Investigations Department of The Hague police force (Forensische Opsporing Politie Den Haag) for granting us access to the crime scenes and the participants of the body donation program for their contribution to the advancement of science. Funding sources: Project ‘Therminus’ is funded by the Innovation team of the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security. Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s).
PY - 2021/10/14
Y1 - 2021/10/14
N2 - Determining the time since death, i.e., post-mortem interval (PMI), often plays a key role in forensic investigations. The current standard PMI-estimation method empirically correlates rectal temperatures and PMIs, frequently necessitating subjective correction factors. To overcome this, we previously developed a thermodynamic finite-difference (TFD) algorithm, providing a rigorous method to simulate post-mortem temperatures of bodies assuming a straight posture. However, in forensic practice, bodies are often found in non-straight postures, potentially limiting applicability of this algorithm in these cases. Here, we develop an individualised approach, enabling PMI reconstruction for bodies in arbitrary postures, by combining photogrammetry and TFD modelling. Utilising thermal photogrammetry, this approach also represents the first non-contact method for PMI reconstruction. The performed lab and crime scene validations reveal PMI reconstruction accuracies of 0.26 h ± 1.38 h for true PMIs between 2 h and 35 h and total procedural durations of ~15 min. Together, these findings broaden the potential applicability of TFD-based PMI reconstruction.
AB - Determining the time since death, i.e., post-mortem interval (PMI), often plays a key role in forensic investigations. The current standard PMI-estimation method empirically correlates rectal temperatures and PMIs, frequently necessitating subjective correction factors. To overcome this, we previously developed a thermodynamic finite-difference (TFD) algorithm, providing a rigorous method to simulate post-mortem temperatures of bodies assuming a straight posture. However, in forensic practice, bodies are often found in non-straight postures, potentially limiting applicability of this algorithm in these cases. Here, we develop an individualised approach, enabling PMI reconstruction for bodies in arbitrary postures, by combining photogrammetry and TFD modelling. Utilising thermal photogrammetry, this approach also represents the first non-contact method for PMI reconstruction. The performed lab and crime scene validations reveal PMI reconstruction accuracies of 0.26 h ± 1.38 h for true PMIs between 2 h and 35 h and total procedural durations of ~15 min. Together, these findings broaden the potential applicability of TFD-based PMI reconstruction.
UR - https://pure.uva.nl/ws/files/73489288/Peer_Review_File_supplementary_information.pdf
UR - https://pure.uva.nl/ws/files/73489290/Reporting_Summary_supplementary_information.pdf
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85117414462&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-26318-4
DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-26318-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 34650046
SN - 2041-1723
VL - 12
JO - Nature communications
JF - Nature communications
IS - 1
M1 - 5997
ER -