Applying Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) in Traffic Investigation Process

Abstract

Traffic accident investigations are technical and technological processes which essentially contain two opposed demands. The first demand refers to the need of the shortest clearance time in order to prevent secondary incidents, to bring back traffic to its full operative capacity and to completely normalize the traffic flow. The second demand refers to investigation as an act which purpose is to determine the elements of criminal offense of causing a traffic accident or a traffic offense. The investigation today, in time context, is a depended process that requires relatively longer time period to gather evidence, make necessary measurements, describe traces etc. In this paper will be shown the possibilities of digitalization and three-dimensional (3D) modelling of traffic accident sight. Innovative technologies will be described, such as making three-dimensional (3D) models of the actual place where traffic accident happened, using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and photogrammetric procedures.