The fatal squad of Kolkata Traffic Police is all set to buy state-of-the-art cameras that can help cops capture photographs accurately and use them in 3D models essential for recreating accident scenes that can be later used as evidence.
While such cameras are already being used by the scientific wing of the detective department, the development assumes significance given that the fatal squad needs to record evidence in quick time as restoring the crash site to its original form is of vital importance to allow traffic to resume.
“At times, we are forced to depend on even mobile clicks by local police that offer little help. But with these cameras with us, we can recreate the accident scene. We can also record clearer photographs of the vehicles involved in the accidents,” said an officer.
Apart from accident prevention, the focus of the traffic modernization drive now is also on helping the victims and their families get justice, reminded cops at Lalbazar. “Since we are moving to an era of digital evidence, we need to provide our investigating officers with the equipment essential for investigation,” explained a joint commissioner.
According to police sources, video recordings from digital cameras implemented in road vehicles present a valuable source of data concerning various dangerous traffic situations — road accidents or near-miss incidents. Of late, the method based on the fusion of kinetic vehicle trajectory simulation within 3D laser scanner point cloud, projective geometry, and processing of video footage from moving vehicle cameras have proved to be accurate. The result is a 3D projection of simulated vehicle motion.
The infusion of technology in Kolkata Traffic Police has begun with cops identifying around 120 fresh spots where they will put up the new red-light offence detectors and licence plate readers that have been procured recently. While some of these spots will see an increased use of these gadgets, there are a few spots where such devices will be put up for the first time.
