Forensic Examination of Post-Fire Damaged Electrical Conductors by Using X-Ray Radiographs

Mark Svare; Niamh Nic Daeid

doi:10.51501/jotnafe.v40i1.845

Forensic Examination of Post-Fire Damaged Electrical Conductors by Using X-Ray Radiographs

Mark Svare (Lead / Corresponding author)
, Niamh Nic Daeid

Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

205 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Structural fires globally have a catastrophic impact on loss of life, property damage, and socioeconomic factors. Forensic scientists, engineers, and/or fire investigators — often working together as fire investigation practitioners — are commonly tasked with determining both the area of fire origin and its cause. During the course of a fire investigation, a fire investigation practitioner may implement an origin determination methodology termed “arc mapping” or an “arc survey.” The correct application of an arc survey as a fire origin determination method is dependent on the fire investigation practitioner’s ability to distinguish and characterize features observed on post-fire damage electrical wiring and equipment. Experiments were conducted to generate a dataset of post-fire damaged electrical conductor artifacts. Generated artifacts were visually examined, compared, and characterized by X-ray examination. The research results produced a validated, novel, non-destructive methodology for utilizing X-ray imagery to reliably distinguish and characterize electrical conductor damage features for forensic investigations.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	27-39
Number of pages	13
Journal	Journal of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers
Volume	40
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.51501/jotnafe.v40i1.845
Publication status	Published - 9 Jul 2023

Keywords

Arc Mapping
Arc Survey
Arc
Bead
Computed Tomography
Electrical
Fire
Conductors
Forensic Engineering
microstructure
bead
artifact
arc
fire
X-ray
fire investigation
NDT
computed tomography
radiograph
arc survey
porosity
electrical
forensic engineering
Arc mapping
science
conductors
origin and cause investigation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
Law
Building and Construction
Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Automotive Engineering
Civil and Structural Engineering

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10.51501/jotnafe.v40i1.845Licence: CC BY-ND

Final Published Version Final published version, 3.46 MBLicence: CC BY-ND

Cite this

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title = "Forensic Examination of Post-Fire Damaged Electrical Conductors by Using X-Ray Radiographs",

abstract = "Structural fires globally have a catastrophic impact on loss of life, property damage, and socioeconomic factors. Forensic scientists, engineers, and/or fire investigators — often working together as fire investigation practitioners — are commonly tasked with determining both the area of fire origin and its cause. During the course of a fire investigation, a fire investigation practitioner may implement an origin determination methodology termed “arc mapping” or an “arc survey.” The correct application of an arc survey as a fire origin determination method is dependent on the fire investigation practitioner{\textquoteright}s ability to distinguish and characterize features observed on post-fire damage electrical wiring and equipment. Experiments were conducted to generate a dataset of post-fire damaged electrical conductor artifacts. Generated artifacts were visually examined, compared, and characterized by X-ray examination. The research results produced a validated, novel, non-destructive methodology for utilizing X-ray imagery to reliably distinguish and characterize electrical conductor damage features for forensic investigations.",

keywords = "Arc Mapping, Arc Survey, Arc, Bead, Computed Tomography, Electrical, Fire, Conductors, Forensic Engineering, microstructure, bead, artifact, arc, fire, X-ray, fire investigation, NDT, computed tomography, radiograph, arc survey, porosity, electrical, forensic engineering, Arc mapping, science, conductors, origin and cause investigation",

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N2 - Structural fires globally have a catastrophic impact on loss of life, property damage, and socioeconomic factors. Forensic scientists, engineers, and/or fire investigators — often working together as fire investigation practitioners — are commonly tasked with determining both the area of fire origin and its cause. During the course of a fire investigation, a fire investigation practitioner may implement an origin determination methodology termed “arc mapping” or an “arc survey.” The correct application of an arc survey as a fire origin determination method is dependent on the fire investigation practitioner’s ability to distinguish and characterize features observed on post-fire damage electrical wiring and equipment. Experiments were conducted to generate a dataset of post-fire damaged electrical conductor artifacts. Generated artifacts were visually examined, compared, and characterized by X-ray examination. The research results produced a validated, novel, non-destructive methodology for utilizing X-ray imagery to reliably distinguish and characterize electrical conductor damage features for forensic investigations.

AB - Structural fires globally have a catastrophic impact on loss of life, property damage, and socioeconomic factors. Forensic scientists, engineers, and/or fire investigators — often working together as fire investigation practitioners — are commonly tasked with determining both the area of fire origin and its cause. During the course of a fire investigation, a fire investigation practitioner may implement an origin determination methodology termed “arc mapping” or an “arc survey.” The correct application of an arc survey as a fire origin determination method is dependent on the fire investigation practitioner’s ability to distinguish and characterize features observed on post-fire damage electrical wiring and equipment. Experiments were conducted to generate a dataset of post-fire damaged electrical conductor artifacts. Generated artifacts were visually examined, compared, and characterized by X-ray examination. The research results produced a validated, novel, non-destructive methodology for utilizing X-ray imagery to reliably distinguish and characterize electrical conductor damage features for forensic investigations.

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Forensic Examination of Post-Fire Damaged Electrical Conductors by Using X-Ray Radiographs

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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