Proceedings of the Public Security S&T Summer Symposium 2009

CRTI 05-0122TD
CRTI 07-0216TA

CBRN Crime Scene Modeler — C2SM and C2SM-FAST

Project Lead: Royal Canadian Mounted Police – Forensic Identification Operations Support Services

Federal Partners: Canadian Police Research Centre, DRDC Ottawa – Radiological Analysis and Defence Group, RCMP – Explosives Disposal and Technology Section

Industry Partner: MDA Space Missions

Other Partners: Hamilton Police Service – Emergency Response Unit and Explosive Disposal Unit, Toronto Police Service – Public Safety and Emergency Management – CBRN Team and the Forensic Identification Services, Vancouver Police Department – Forensic Services Section, York University – Department of Computer Science and Engineering

Objectives

The objective of this project is to develop a system for collecting evidence at crime scenes contaminated with CBRN agents with minimum exposure to first responders. CBRN Crime Scene Modeler (C2SM) operates on board a mobile robot. C2SM increases situational awareness of the robot operator by providing registered images, CBRN data, and current robot location. The images are automatically processed to create photorealistic, three-dimensional (3-D) models of observed scenes on-site, and the models are augmented with CBRN measurements. From October 2006 to October 2008 the technology demonstration project team developed and field-tested two prototype versions and delivered three units to first responders for extended evaluation. The technology acceleration project—with an objective to develop a ruggedized, production-ready, robotic version—is expected to start in April 2009.

Relevance

First responders investigating scenes contaminated with CBRN materials rely on teleoperated mobile robotics to deliver cameras and detectors to the scene. Such robots provide mobility and remote viewing using on-board cameras, and they enable manipulation with robotic tools and use of disruptors. However, situational awareness of the robot operators is low as the existing systems are equipped only with video cameras and simple CBRN detectors. Measurements from various sensors are not registered with the workspace, robot location, camera views, or facility blueprints; the detector data may not be available in real time. This causes difficulty in interpreting such multiple data streams during and after events. C2SM offers a new solution to tasks such as detecting and locating CBRN sources, mapping contamination levels for immediate reaction and consequence management, and storing event data for onsite analysis and future reference.

Recent Progress and Results

The C2SM prototype is a self-contained system that operates on board a teleoperated robotic platform. The sensor suite includes stereo and high-resolution cameras, an infrared (thermal) camera, two gamma detectors, and a chemical detector. A directional gamma radiation probe (DGRP, Bubble Technology Industries) provides direction toward the radiation source, and a gamma monitor detects the radiation levels. A lightweight chemical detector (LCD, Smiths Detection) detects the presence of chemical agents and toxic chemicals. C2SM is remotely operated from a control station connected via a wireless link. C2SM is also equipped with an optical odometer, which estimates the robot location and provides the operator with real-time display of the current location and traversed path. The complete data recorded during an event (images, models, and detector data) together with reports and annotations are geo-located, time-stamped, and stored in a multimedia event database. This database can be queried for specific conditions and results displayed in 3-D.

Two prototype versions were developed and installed on board a mobile robot (MK-2, Allen-Vanguard Corporation) and then tested during field trials in September 2007, and April, June, and September 2008. Multiple test scenarios (both indoor and outdoor) were staged and the system was used to detect and map locations of multiple gamma radiation sources. In initial tests, mostly the developers from MDA Space Missions operated the system; in the later tests, the RCMP and police responders fully operated the system. The responders were trained in operating the system and three units (modified copies of C2SM-2) were delivered for extended evaluation (“leave-behind”). The follow-up technology acceleration project, C2SM-FAST (CRTI 07-0216TA), is expected to start in April 2009 and will develop a ruggedized and production–ready mounted robot version of the system. Multiple units will be delivered to first responders participating in the project.

Impact

Using C2SM will reduce the exposure of first responders investigating crime scenes contaminated with CBRN agents by allowing them to mount and operate the C2SM system on board a mobile robot. C2SM will significantly increase situational awareness of the robot operator by providing not only current images and sensor data but also current robot location and traversed path, recent geo-located measurements, and an integrated 3-D display of the event data. C2SM will create a permanent record of the scene on-site allowing it to be used during the event for planning the operations, transferring it to command centres, and storing for future reference.

Authors:

Carl McDiarmid, Forensic Identification Operations Support Services, RCMP, carl.mcdiarmid@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Piotr Jasiobedzki, MDA Space Missions, piotr.jasiobedzki@mdacorporation.com

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