T3 Webinar Overview
Crash Investigation and Reconstruction Technologies and Best Practices
Date: Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM ET
Cost: All T3 webinars are free of charge
PDH: 1.5 View PDH Policy
T3 Webinars are brought to you by the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Professional Capacity Building (PCB) Program of the U.S. Department of Transportation's (U.S. DOT) ITS Joint Program Office (JPO). References in this webinar to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the U.S. DOT.
Background
The collection of evidence at a traffic crash scene is very important, but can often take many hours. The more exposure that responders have to the dangers of traffic, the increased chance of a secondary collision occurring. Traffic incident management is a vital part of the crash investigation process. By utilizing technology effectively, the management of traffic incidents and investigations reduces time on-scene as well as increases safety and alleviates congestion. The utilization of traffic crash reconstruction technology has a significant impact on the safety of the investigators and the traveling public, and the operation of the transportation system. The evolution of traffic crash reconstruction technology has introduced many new types of technology to this field, as well as constantly evolving innovations. A report has been developed for the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA's) Traffic Incident Management Program entitled, “Crash Investigation and Reconstruction Technologies and Best Practices.” This report examines the technology available for the investigation and reconstruction of traffic crashes and provides information about each technology's capabilities and limitations to inform crash investigation units of the options available.
The webinar will present the findings of the report's research and review technologies and recommendations to improve investigation strategies and reconstruction methods of crash sites.
Agenda
Paul Jodoin will present the introduction and overview of the “Crash Investigation and Reconstruction Technologies and Best Practices” report.
Rusty James will present the findings of the “Crash Investigation and Reconstruction Technologies and Best Practices” report.
Timothy Robbins will demonstrate how photogrammetry and LiDAR improve investigation strategies and reconstruction methods of traffic crash sites.
Steve McKenzie will discuss Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD) for Accident Reconstruction.
Collin Brooks will demonstrate how technology, specifically, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), improve investigation strategies and reconstruction methods of traffic crash sites.
Learning Objectives
This webinar will:
- Provide an overview of the “Crash Investigation and Reconstruction Technologies and Best Practices” report.
- Demonstrate how various technologies are used to improve investigation strategies and reconstruction methods of traffic crash sites in Kansas and Michigan.
Target Audiences
- ITS and Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Program Managers, police, fire, consultants, vendors, academia, and government officials, including local, State, Federal and DOT, and any other individuals or entities involved in the design, deployment, operation, or evaluation of TIM Programs or the collection of TIM Performance Measures.
Host
Paul Jodoin, TIM Program Manager, Office of Transportation Operations, U.S. Department of Transportation, FHWA, Washington, D.C.
Mr. Jodoin has served as the TIM Program Manager for FHWA for the last five years. Prior to joining FHWA, he worked for 38 years at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) as the manager of the Highway Operations Center and was instrumental in starting their traffic incident management program.
Mr. Jodoin previously served as the Federal host for the following Traffic Incident Management-related T3 webinars:
Presenters
Rusty James, Incident and Emergency Management Specialist, Gannett Fleming, Blue Springs, MO
Mr. James worked in the field of law enforcement for 30 years, with the majority of that time involved in Traffic Safety. As a part of his regular duties, Mr. James was involved in the investigation of traffic crashes, including serious injury and fatality crashes. He was instrumental in obtaining funding and equipment for the purpose of conducting thorough crash investigations. This type of equipment, and the training to utilize it, is now the standard in the Kansas City Metro area for traffic crash reconstruction. Mr. James was the Incident Management Coordinator for KC Scout, the traffic management system in the Kansas City Metro area. Mr. James assisted law enforcement agencies by participating in the research and selection of equipment utilized for traffic crash reconstruction.
Tim Robbins, Owner, MCrash Group, Bay City, MI
Mr. Robbins worked for the Michigan State Police from 1997 to 2012 where he received well over 1000 hours of training as a traffic crash reconstruction expert. Tim vested his retirement in 2012 to run his business full time, reconstructing crashes for the civil market. He also joined the ranks of Arenac County Sheriff's Office as a deputy and the department's only reconstruction expert.
Mr. Robbins has been blessed with the opportunity to assist in the reconstruction of over 1000 crashes, teach law enforcement officers from across the country how to effectively measure and diagram crash and crime scenes, and has qualified and testified in numerous courts in Michigan as a crash reconstruction expert.
Robert S. (Steve) McKinzie, Owner, McKinzie and Associates and CSI Mapping, Overland Park, KS
Mr. McKinzie began his career in reconstruction as a Trooper with the Kansas Highway Patrol. Mr. McKinzie was an Accident Reconstruction Specialist when he retired. He was the primary instructor at the Kansas Highway Patrol Academy for Accident Investigation, Advanced Accident Investigation, and Commercial Vehicle Accident Reconstruction. He was an instructor in CAD for Accident Reconstruction for the National Transportation Safety Board. Mr. McKinzie instructed courses on Advanced Accident Reconstruction with Micro Computers. He originated the Critical Highway Accident Response Team with the Kansas Highway patrol. Mr. McKinzie is an important participant in the Kansas City Metro Traffic Incident Management Program. He regularly hosts and instructs training sessions for crash investigators and re-constructionists who are a part of that group.
Colin Brooks, Senior Research Scientist, Michigan Tech Research Institute, Ann Arbor, MI
Mr. Brooks has over 20 years of experience in the application of remote sensing and GIS technologies to a wide variety applications, focused on the modeling and understanding of environmental processes and assessment of transportation infrastructure. He has a background in the application of decision support systems and geospatial data for solving diverse problems in transportation applications, aquatic ecology, contaminated areas, agricultural systems, and changing ecosystems.