Forensic analysis using invisible radiation? The Criminal Investigation Department of the Czech Police, in collaboration with Radalytica, has developed a device that allows samples to be examined using advanced methods such as ultraviolet and infrared imaging, laser profiling, X-ray fluorescence, and diffraction imaging.
“The entire device, the system, consists of two robotic arms. One is equipped with an X-ray source, while the other carries an advanced camera that can capture radiation invisible to the naked eye. For X-ray imaging, we use pixel detectors that are noise-free and highly sensitive,” explains imaging expert Michal Pech.
The robotic system reveals what has hitherto been hidden from the eyes of forensic scientists. It can be used, for example, in the investigation of industrial accidents, where it is necessary to examine the condition of pipes, the quality of welds, or pressure gauges. It can also be used in the investigation of large fires, traffic and aviation accidents, or in verifying the authenticity of works of art.
“The great advantage of the multimodal scanner is that all methods are in one device, which will significantly facilitate the examination of forensic evidence,” says forensic scientist Marek Kotrlý. “We don’t have to transfer samples between devices, which eliminates the possibility of contamination, damage, or even loss.”
“We can dismantle the system, transport it to the location where the large sample is located, and prepare it like in the laboratory. We assemble the system, calibrate it, and perform measurements, which we then process in a similar way to measurements in the laboratory,” adds Pech.
The Czech police are the first in the world to use a device of this kind. Its originality is confirmed by its placement in the finals of the prestigious Europol Excellence Awards in Innovation, where it tied for second place in the technical innovation category.
