Massachusetts Police Implement PhotoModeler Statewide



Eos Systems, the maker of the versatile close-range photogrammetry software PhotoModeler, announced the Massachusetts State Police's decision to use PhotoModeler as part of the standard technology for accident scene documentation and reconstruction in all facilities statewide.

The new procedures, expected to start this fall and be fully implemented by years end, were proposed with the intention of shortening highway closure time and reducing the risk of secondary accidents during these closures.

The Massachusetts Highway Department has earmarked $357,000 in federal grant money for the implementation of photogrammetric technology throughout the state police force. This includes equipping troopers of Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section with digital cameras and furnishing district offices with the desktop modeling software, plus training from Eos Systems. By taking digital photographs of crash scenes, police will be able to perform many time-consuming measurements and calculations in the office, rather than on the highway. For major accidents, the on-scene investigation time is expected to drop from two to three hours to about 60 to 90 minutes.

PhotoModeler allows officers to re-create accident scenes through multiple photographs taken from different angles. From the photos, the software generates a 3D model of the crash with accurate real-world measurement units. These measurements can then determine the positions and speeds of the vehicles prior to the collision. Because the measurements are scientifically derived through the method of photogrammetry, PhotoModeler provides the evidence required in the courtroom if negligence is found.

The adoption of photogrammetry is expected to expedite a faster gathering of evidence and reduce delays for tens of thousands of motorists statewide. The long wait of stopped motorists frequently causes other traffic incidents, what police call "secondary accidents," when some drivers attempt to find a way out or around the congestion.

Although PhotoModeler is used by police forces around the country, Massachusetts is the third state to universally adopt the technology of photogrammetry as its primary tool for evidence collection. Digital cameras are standard issue to all 500 of the Utah Highway Patrol's troopers. Utah switched to photogrammetry in 2001 to improve traffic for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. "We like to keep our investigations under an hour," said Utah Highway Patrol Capt. Robert Anderson in a recent interview. "We push our guys to get roads reopened. This tool is what we need to make it happen."

Another Utah police customer, Deputy Sheriff of Salt Lake County, Mike Anderson reports a "vast improvement" in accident documentation by PhotoModeler over the previous method, the use of laser-guided surveying equipment, referred to as an Accident Investigation Measuring System (AIMS). "For large scenes, the AIMS measurements took hours. With PhotoModeler, we can just take a few photos and get out of there," said Anderson. "Because it gives us the same accuracy, we now use PhotoModeler exclusively."

Alan Walford, CEO of Eos Systems, believes the newest state customer is only the beginning of a large-scale spread of the technology among investigators. "Eos Systems has helped many police forces start up with photogrammetry and we are very pleased to work with agencies with large scale implementation projects such as Massachusetts, Utah and Washington. Once the advantages of photogrammetry for police work become known, it will become the standard across the board."

About Eos Systems
Eos Systems Inc is the developer of the award-winning PhotoModeler software and is the leader in versatile close-range photogrammetry solutions. PhotoModeler provides an easy and affordable solution for measurement or reverse engineering of objects into 3D CAD through the use of photographs. The software is used by thousands of organizations specializing in crime and accident reconstruction, archeology, architecture, engineering, surveying, film and video animation, among others. Eos Systems is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia.

For more information about Eos Systems, we encourage you to visit http://www.photomodeler.com.

2005 Eos Systems, Inc. ("Eos Systems"). All rights reserved. Eos Systems, PhotoModeler and Eos Systems logo are trademarks and PhotoModeler is a registered trademark of Eos Systems in the United States. All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

Eos Systems Press Contact
Brett Duesing
Strategic Reach
303-487-7406





Massachusetts Police Implement PhotoModeler Statewide