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Crime scene technology will be used in Syracuse University forensic science classrooms

 Faro Laser Scanner stands in front of Syracuse University Life Sciences Complex, June 16, 2022.
Emma Murphy
/
WAER News
Faro Laser Scanner stands in front of Syracuse University Life Sciences Complex, June 16, 2022.

New technology that has made great strides for crime investigation may soon be in forensic classrooms at Syracuse University.

The technology uses a laser that spins 360 degrees to develop three-dimensional models. Syracuse University can use the Faro Scanner to make digital 3D versions of entire buildings on their campus.

Certified trainer for Faro technologies, Ryan Rider, says the scanner be very useful in crime investigations because it eliminates human error when taking measurements. He says it also allows the crime scene to be portable.

You see a lot of major crime scenes where they want to take the jury out to the scene to see it, right, so let’s just take it to them where they move around, walk up to stuff, and anything reasonable they can do,” Rider said.

Rider came to Syracuse earlier this month to train four Syracuse University faculty and one Police Officer on how to use the scanner. The Dewitt Police force already has this tool and hopes this training will allow Officer Katrina Kilmer to use it. She says it’s pretty easy to learn.

So it’s a little overwhelming at first but now that our instructor has taught us most of the things, shortcuts and how to do most of things on the computer it’s actually picking up pretty fast,” Kilmer said.

The university hopes to familiarize forensic students with the tool too. Kathleen Corrado is the Executive Director of the Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute. She helped organize the purchasing of the scanner because she says it will expose their students to current technology in the field.

So basically this technology allows us to bring current technology into the classroom so our students have hands on experience using the types of instrumentation that are used in the field which makes them more marketable when they’re out looking for jobs,” said Corrado.

Not only is this technology helpful to students but Syracuse University Professor of Practice and retired state police investigator, Adrian Grenier, says there’s also an excitement factor.

“Most of my students are CSI fans, they watch the shows and you see everything high tech on there. Unfortunately, in the real world it’s not quite as high tech, mostly because of money. So, this is a step for us to move into more the modern technology aspect of this,” Grenier said.

The five trainees are finished with their session. They now hope to gain more experience with the technology and develop lesson plans so that in the future the scanner can be incorporated into classrooms.