FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 6, 2005
Massachusetts Police Implements PhotoModeler Statewide
Eos software to speed accident documentation
Vancouver, BC - September 6, 2005 - Eos Systems, the maker of the versatile
close-range photogrammetry software PhotoModeler, announced the Massachusetts
State Police's decision to use PhotoModeler as part of the standard technology
for accident scene documentation and reconstruction in all facilities statewide.
The new procedures, expected to start this fall and be fully implemented by years'
end, were proposed with the intention of shortening highway closure time, and
reducing the risk of secondary accidents during these closures.
The Massachusetts Highway Department has earmarked $357,000 in federal grant
money for the implementation of photogrammetric technology throughout the state
police force. This includes equipping troopers of Massachusetts State Police
Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section with digital cameras and furnishing
district offices with the desktop modeling software, plus training from Eos Systems.
By taking digital photographs of crash scenes, police will be able to perform many
time-consuming measurements and calculations in the office, rather than on the
highway. For major accidents, the on-scene investigation time is expected to
drop from two to three hours to about 60 to 90 minutes.
PhotoModeler allows officers to re-create accident scenes through multiple
photographs taken from different angles. From the photos, the software
generates a 3D model of the crash with accurate real-world measurement
units. These measurements can then determine the positions and speeds
of the vehicles prior to the collision. Because the measurements are
scientifically derived through the method of photogrammetry, PhotoModeler
provides the evidence required in the courtroom if negligence is found.
The adoption of photogrammetry is expected to expedite a faster gathering
of evidence and reduce delays for tens of thousands of motorists statewide.
The long wait of stopped motorists frequently causes other traffic incidents,
what police call "secondary accidents," when some drivers attempt to find a
way out or around the congestion.
Although PhotoModeler is used by police forces around the country,
Massachusetts is the third state to universally adopt the technology of
photogrammetry as its primary tool for evidence collection. Digital
cameras are standard issue to all 500 of the Utah Highway Patrol's troopers.
Utah switched to photogrammetry in 2001 to improve traffic for the 2002
Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. "We like to keep our investigations
under an hour," said Utah Highway Patrol Capt. Robert Anderson in a recent
interview. "We push our guys to get roads reopened. This tool is what we
need to make it happen."
Another Utah police customer, Deputy Sheriff of Salt Lake County, Mike
Anderson reports a "vast improvement" in accident documentation by
PhotoModeler over the previous method, the use of laser-guided surveying
equipment, referred to as an Accident Investigation Measuring System (AIMS).
"For large scenes, the AIMS measurements took hours. With PhotoModeler, we
can just take a few photos and get out of there," said Anderson. "Because
it gives us the same accuracy, we now use PhotoModeler exclusively."
Alan Walford, CEO of Eos Systems, believes the newest state customer is
only the beginning of a large-scale spread of the technology among
investigators. "Eos Systems has helped many police forces start up with
photogrammetry and we are very pleased to work with agencies with large
scale implementation projects such as Massachusetts, Utah and Washington.
Once the advantages of photogrammetry for police work become known, it will
become the standard across the board."
About Eos Systems
Eos Systems Inc is the developer of the award-winning PhotoModeler software
and is the leader in versatile close-range photogrammetry solutions. PhotoModeler
provides an easy and affordable solution for measurement or reverse engineering of
objects into 3D CAD through the use of photographs. The software is used by thousands
of companies specializing in crime and accident reconstruction, archeology,
architecture, engineering, surveying, film and video animation, among others.
Eos Systems is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia.
For more information about Eos Systems, we encourage you to visit
http://www.photomodeler.com.
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© 2005 Eos Systems, Inc. ("Eos Systems"). All rights reserved. Eos Systems,
PhotoModeler and Eos Systems' logo are trademarks and PhotoModeler is a
registered trademark of Eos Systems in the United States. All other
trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
Eos Systems Press Contact
Brett Duesing
Strategic Reach
303-487-7406
brett@strategicreachpr.com
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