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Middlesbrough tech agency powers ‘world’s first’ VR court case reconstruction

A technology agency in Middlesbrough has helped close a court case utilising virtual reality in what is believed to be a world’s first application of the emerging technology.

Spearhead Interactive spent four weeks developing a visualisation of a road traffic collision for the courts to help solve a dispute that had been rumbling on for years.

The firm created a replica 3D model in partnership with Sunderland-based laser scanning company Precision Geomatics, alongside lead forensic investigator on the case Kevin Taylor who provided further data to ensure that the representation of the case was as accurate as possible.

Ultimately, the case was settled soon after the solicitors received the completed software, despite Spearhead being called as an expert witness.

Spearhead’s Managing Director, Dan Riley, impressed that the tech firm remained neutral throughout the whole process, and that the technology served to only ‘visualise the facts’ to help those involved reach the truth about what happened.

He explained: “Each of the partners helped to ensure that every detail of the visualisation was as accurate as possible.

“Having access to quality laser scan data of the scene and full forensic information we were able to create a visualisation that matched reality as much as it could with the evidence we had to hand; from the correct speed and rotation of the tyres on the vehicles, to the view from the mirrors on the vehicles.”

The firm even went as far as to contact the MET Office to ensure that weather conditions, temperatures, visibility and other environmental factors were all as accurate as possible.

While presumed to be the first successful use of VR in a court setting, Dan believes the technology has significant potential both within the legal sector and other professional services.

He said: “The final software was submitted to the courts as a PC application that users can view either on a monitor or through a Virtual Reality headset, providing unprecedented levels of immersion and enabling users to experience, replay and discuss events as if they were there themselves.”