Forensic Video Enhancement Software Download

1. Forensic Video Enhancement Software Download
2. Forensic Image Enhancement Software Free Download

Free video enhancement and authentication software relied upon by law enforcement, CSI labs, intelligence agencies and private analysts. Forensic Audio Workstation. With projects, users can keep all files related to an investigated case together, whether it’s an audio, text, video or photo files. All these files can be opened directly from the software. Sound Cleaner II.

MotionDSP is a product line within Cubic Corporation’s wholly owned subsidiary, GATR Technologies, Inc. The MotionDSP product line includes industry leading tools for advanced image processing and computer vision software for public safety, security, government, and defense applications.

Since initial product launch over 12 years ago, we have helped customers extract critical information from video across a wide variety of industries including law enforcement, military, oil and gas, forestry, inspection services, energy, transportation, and more, including: the US Secret Service, Scotland Yard, NCIS and many other agencies around the world.

Smart phone video enhancement is the process of applying scientific applications to a video recording in order to better see the events as they occurred. Smart phones and used to record video events like an accident or a crime. We forensically clarify or enhance these events so they can be seen better.

In the following paragraphs, we hope to communicate some information that will guide you on forensic video enhancement. We have included some before and after forensic enhancement examples for your review. We also include advise on what to do to best capture an event in for forensic enhancement.

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Since most smart phone video evidence is recorded freehand or without a tripod, you can’t guarantee the video usability. When people are nervous they shake while recording. Adobe master collection keygen.

In this case do not zoom in too much. A wide shot is less shaky than a zoomed in shot. Shaky video can result in less than quality video evidence. Record on your smart phone video horizontally or landscape When recording video on your smart phone, hold the phone horizontally and try not to zoom in. One of the most prevalent problems we have seen with video recordings are they shake and are not stable.

The chaotic motion of a cell phone video can make it hard to see what’s happening. Forensic video enhancement The two clips below will help you understand how video forensic video enhancement works. The first clip is of an forensically enhanced iPhone video. The original video was a distant view from down the block as it was recorded. In the sample below, please note no stabilization or other forensic enhancement has been applied to this video.

In the enhanced sample below, we applied warp stabilization. Notice how the frame follows the motion of the video, creating a more stable picture for analysis. As you can see, the subject in the video was not close enough to the smart phone camera. This makes it difficult to see the desired events as they occurred.

Clip One is not very helpful in this condition for use in court. The subjects are very far away, making it difficult to see the events as they occurred and were recorded.

The science of forensic video enhancement The forensic video enhancement process is not as simple as zooming in on the video recording. This will lower your overall video quality. Fixing it or enhancing your video isn’t nearly as simple as pushing the “enhance” button on your computer. The reason that the quality of video is reduced when you zoom in has to do with something referred to as “pixels.” Simply put, pixels are the small boxes of color code that combine to make up a given image.

Each image is composed of a series of pixels that display the image you see in front of you. Expanding an image means also expanding the size of each pixel. Because each pixel is representative of one “frame” of a bigger picture, such as photos making up a collage, each individual square pixel will expand along with the image. The increase of pixel size can cause distortion to the image, therefore making it even harder to decipher the contents of an image. Mii song on trumpet sheet music. This is where a video forensic expert is necessary. We have training in video enhancement and experience using the hardware and software tools capable of clarifying and enhancing the events that occurred when you recorded your video.

As you saw in the second video sample above, the image has been expanded so that we can see the events that occurred up close. The quality of the video hasn’t been compromised. This is because of training and experience. At the risk of being redundant, the biggest problem we see with smart phone video evidence is the orientation of the cell phone while recording. When we receive smart phone video evidence, many of the video recordings are vertically oriented. If your footage becomes evidence; not having a horizontal (or landscape) recorded video to work with really constricts your range of sight of a given event. Utilizing the footage above as another example, notice that around the:25 second mark, the camera focuses on the Jeep pulling up, as another officer runs towards the scene.

This takes our focus away from the scene, and we miss a substantial amount of the incident. Had this evidence been shot horizontally, we may have been able to see what happened when that officer arrived to the scene, along with seeing the white Jeep parking in the background. With the expansion of smart phone video technology, your smart phone can be of assistance recording crime and criminal activity. It is important to understand smart phone video enhancement from the forensic expert’s perspective.

The highest quality video recording will reveal more in court. However, despite the quality, it is crucial to employ a video forensic expert to make the most out of your smart phone video. Tags:, Posted in.

Forensic video enhancement (FVE) is the scientific approach to clarifying a video recording in order to better see the events as they occurred. FVE can help litigators understand events that have been recorded on video but are difficult to see because of movement or shaky cameras, the subjects distance from the camera or video is too dark. During the Boston bombings for example, CCTV cameras outside retail stores helped the FBI capture the terrorists who were responsible. Some of the reasons video needs forensic enhancement is because too often cameras are not properly maintained. This is a huge problem that is not noticed until after the crime has been committed. Or, worse yet, the cameras are not installed or positioned properly. In the following blog post we will provide you with a few facts on forensic video enhancement.

Original Video – Always begin with the original video recording. Maintain a chain of custody for your video recording.

If you have to export an AVI file to provide to police, keep a backup on thumb drive for insurance. If you have is a copy on DVD and not the original, then load the DVD copy of the video directly into your computer for forensic video enhancement. Computer Software – Use professional forensic software program to enhance like Adobe Premiere Pro and Clear ID. Primeau Forensics uses these as well as Adobe Photo Shop to enhance images exported from the video for forensic video enhancement. Remember, you can also export frames as still images to identify activity and other video components.

Color Correction – Perform a color correction process first before performing any other forensic enhancement process. This is especially important if your video recording is dark and or was recorded at night. Be careful not to add too much brightness. Enlargement – If you need to enlarge a portion of the recorded video viewing area, apply after you review the footage on a large video monitor.

At Primeau Forensics we use minimum 27” professional video monitors. Remember, the larger the playback monitor, the better you can see events in the video and the less you need to enlarge your video as an enhancement step.

This is even more important in the courtroom. Equipment – It is good to know, if you can, the type of equipment that made the video you are enhancing. Often times a poor CCTV video export may be to blame for the poor video quality. If the recording is stored on the system, we can make sure we have the best export to work with for forensic video enhancement. Is an art as well as a science. Please understand that you should use different filtering to get different results. Always begin with the largest file size and structure as close to original digital video recording as possible.

Forensic Video Enhancement Software Download

Call us for a consultation on your video that needs forensic enhancement 800.647.4281 Tags:, Posted in. Video work products are a way to document forensic investigations, like evidence recovery, for reference at a later date. Processes and procedures are documented using a video camera during a forensic investigation for future use. I have referred back to my video work product many times when I have questions later during the evolution of the case.

As an Audio & Video Forensic Expert, I have examined hundreds of audio and video recordings to determine authenticity, as well as enhance characteristics of the digital evidence to clarify the events as they occurred. This video recording is referred to as ‘video work product’ and comes in handy. There are a few different digital video recording platforms that I use when creating ‘video work product’. I often use VIEVU body worn cameras and HDSLR photography based cameras. Each one of these types of systems serves a certain purpose in assisting with a forensic investigation, as well as the investigative process. Over the last few years, I have seen firsthand the significance and overall efficiency that body worn cameras and their recorded video can bring to the public, law enforcement and legal proceedings.

Forensic Image Enhancement Software Free Download

I personally use the VIEVU LE2 and LE3 body worn cameras. The LE3 records in 720p HD resolution and utilizes a 68 degree field of view.

Other competitor cameras tend to use a 130 degree field of view, which captures a wider field of view but captures less detail. Detail is often more important when it comes to video evidence, which is one of the reasons I prefer to use VIEVU cameras. These body worn cameras also contain digital audio recorders, which record MP3 format audio at a 44.1kHz sampling rate and a 64kbps bit rate. This high sampling rate captures the full range of human hearing, making any audio that is recorded on the camera more audible. In some cases, the client lawyer or law enforcement agencies that I work for require that no audio be recorded while video is being taken. The LE3 audio recorder can be switched off separately from the video, which gives me flexibility in such a situation. The LE3 records to either MP4 or AVI video format for easy playability across various platforms utilizing the H.264 codec.

These formats also allow easy integration into my forensic programs, such as the Adobe Production Premium Suite. The 16 GB flash style storage system allows for either 12 hours of SD video or 6 hours of HD video and quick data transfer rates.

The battery will last 5 hours during SD recording and 3 hours during HD recordings. The unit is also compatible with an external battery pack for extended battery life.

My main use for the LE3 body camera in my investigations is recording my forensic process in the field. This includes retrieving evidence from different systems so I can review the video later and include it in my report to support the authenticity of my work product and any evidence used in the case. Often times a forensic expert will be challenged by a client or opposing lawyer to verify the chain of custody of the materials produced during an investigation. Even minor details about how the investigation was conducted can have a large bearing on the authenticity of the evidence. Having a digital video recorder on my person during my forensic investigation allows me to capture both video of my process and my dialogue explaining the process. Including this work product to my forensic reports verifies the chain of custody and protects me as a forensic expert. Another type of digital video camera that I use to produce video work product is an HDSLR photography camera.

This type of camera equipment has become popular among the scientific community, as well as production companies, for its portability, versatility, quality and functionality. An HDSLR photography camera can use different size lenses to capture both images, as well as video, in different ways depending on the investigation requirements. HDSLR cameras record in 720p, 1080p, anamorphic and even 4k resolution. These cameras typically record at 30 minute intervals and have a battery life of approximately 2 hours of recording time, depending on the preferred quality and the available storage space. When connected to an external power source, these cameras can record for longer intervals of time. HDSLR cameras are great for recording a locked down alternative perspective to body cameras of an investigation or retrieval process.

The flexibility of being able to produce individual still images as well as video throughout an investigation is also helpful with my forensic process. In some investigations, a single video recorded perspective may not be sufficient to display the forensic process or document the events. Having another high quality camera with flexibility of perspectives and interchangeable lenses can capture aspects of my investigation that body worn cameras cannot. This lockdown feature of a point and shoot camera can also allow an investigator or client attorney to view the process as if they are sitting there watching in real time. Another use for HDSLR cameras as a forensic expert is recording accident reconstruction videos. An accident reconstruction video is a recreation of an event or series of events in the same environment that they occurred so they can be shown to a client investigator, client attorney and/or law enforcement. An accident reconstruction video is most effective to show the real life series of events as opposed to a 3D animation or a written statement of the events.

Video recorded by Closed Circuit television (CCTV) surveillance systems has been the dominant source of video evidence that I have investigated during my 30 years of being an audio video forensic expert. Video evidence produced by CCTV systems can help solve crime, as well as reproduce accidents and disasters as they occurred for play back in many different settings. One significant use a video forensic expert has when recording video from a CCTV system is to create an exemplar.

An exemplar recording is a recording made in the most similar way possible to the original piece of evidence using the same equipment, settings, environment and conditions of the original evidence. This recording is used as a comparison file to the original evidence to help determine the authenticity of the original evidence. Both the quality of the video and the metadata included in the files will be compared when conducting a forensic investigation. It is a best practice of ours at Primeau Forensics to video record many forensic investigations, such as our exemplar creation process or evidence recovery, so if our client has any questions during the life of their case, this video work product can be referenced.

Tags:, Posted in,. November 19, 2004 was the day the worst sporting brawl in US history took place. It was the final few minutes of the basketball game between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons when a fight broke out between the players. While Ron Artest was in time out, a drunken fan tossed a partially full beer cup and hit Artest causing him to jump over seats and attack a fan in the stands.

With tempers running hot, Artest went after the wrong person and triggered an ‘every man for himself’ situation with only four Auburn Hills police officers in the building. After the criminal litigations were over, the attorney for the Pacers, Steve Potter retained my services as a video forensic expert on behalf of the Indiana Pacers basketball team. My first activity was to collect all of the available video footage from that moment when the brawl broke out. As you can imagine there were many video sources. With the help of, I found cell phone videos, CCTV system video from the Palace of Auburn Hills and four major television network multi camera video sources. The next task was to cull through all the footage including multi camera views of the brawl and isolate those vantage point views that helped bring the brawl into the courtroom for the civil litigation.

I was prepared with several video clips when the first civil case went to trial, Haddad V Indiana Pacers on August 10, 2006. (Read all about it ). Here are the video forensic activities I used to help the Trier of Fact and jurors’ view the brawl including all isolated incidents in question. After I received all video footage, I loaded the various formats into my forensic computer using Adobe Premiere Pro software. I created sequences for each incident and placed the useful camera vantage point clips back to back in each sequence.

Some events went by very fast so I repeated the video clips and added slow motion. In some cases I reduced the speed by 25%, 50% and 75% so all persons could see the series of events as they occurred. When necessary I also added a zoom to enlarge the area of interest in each video clip. In my opinion it is very important to place this series of clips back to back with a 5 second pause in between clips so the viewer can become acclimated with the series of events as they occurred. For each clip vantage point there was an average of two to five minutes of video all persons could watch to see exactly what went down during the brawl. Read more about the brawl: Footage from the infamous brawl can be found below: Tags:, Posted in. As a video forensic expert I am asked, on a regular basis, to enhance images that have been recorded.

One of the goals of video enhancement, in some cases, is to be able to see persons faces better than they are when viewing the video under normal circumstances. Other times I am asked to enlarge and clarify a video in order to identify, for instance, the license plate on a car that is driving by that is alleged to be involved in criminal activity. With video enhancement, as a forensic expert, I can only do so much with what has been given me. In a lot of cases, the video that has been exported from the surveillance system is small and when I enlarge it, or zoom in on the objects of interest they become very blurry and distorted.

Even with some of the best software programs available today a full enhancement isn’t always possible. So, when receiving calls from attorneys or government agencies, as well as private individuals who are involved in litigation that has video evidence, what I’ve learned to do is to ask to see the video first on a pro bono basis before being retained as an expert. Because that way I can determine what is and is not possible before taking money from a potential client.

I feel this is important not only from an ethical standpoint but also from a practical one. Meeting any client’s expectations in any business is extremely important. Taking money from someone that you can’t help is not good business practice.

At Primeau Forensics, I am assisted by a team of investigators that can load the video and perform some processes that I’ve trained them to do to prepare the video for a pro bono viewing and at that time I can look, make some suggestions, and determine whether or not I feel I can help the person enquiring about the video enhancement. One tip that I can present to you, reading this blog, is to make sure you always have the highest possible quality export from the surveillance system.

Police departments often send me video from a surveillance system that was not exported through the system but rather recorded from the VGA ‘out’ or video monitor output to a portable digital video recorder. There are several companies that manufacture this type of turnkey evidence retrieval system. And, in some cases, that video is better than what the system is capable of exporting. And, when in doubt, send the video forensic expert both files: the screen capture VGA out or video out from the system, as well as an export from the system. And by ‘export’ I mean, the process used from a CCTV surveillance system to officially export video from the system to a thumb drive or DVD. And if you have the option to choose a thumb drive or DVD, oftentimes the digital file onto the thumb drive is better than the DVD. And when in doubt, send all three: the screen capture, the thumb drive and the DVD, because then we know up front what is and is not possible for video enhancement.

Tags:, Posted in. As a video forensic expert and expert witness, I have seen almost everything when it comes to Closed Circuit TV. Some of it is very disturbing, but much of it is benign – from the lady whose ex-husband is stalking her, to the bank that just captured a robbery on video. Understanding CCTV systems has become part of the video forensic examiner’s job because a majority of video evidence is made on CCTV systems. In the following article, I will give you my tips, from a forensic perspective, on CCTV. Imagine this. You are the proprietor of a convenience store.

Last night at 11:06, you rang up a customer’s Snickers bar and a Jumbo Slurpee. The customer reached in his pocket, pulled out a gun, and put it to your head, demanding all the cash in the register. Terrified for your life, you gave him the money. Luckily you had a CCTV system and turned the tape over to the police. The police sent it to a forensic expert because all you could see on the tape was a dark silhouette of the criminal. Unfortunately,the robber’s face and features were unidentifiable. Although CCTV systems can prove to be beneficial for many reasons, they can be useless without some well thought out considerations.

My hope is that the law enforcement and legal community will read this article and pass on the information to the businesses in their community. CCTV is a network of cameras hooked to a monitoring system so that virious locations or angles can be viewed and/or recorded. It does differ from broadcast television in that CCTV cameras are not openly bradcast through the airwaves. However, some CCTV systems have point-to-point transmissions (wireless cameras) that could be intercepted by someone with the equipment and knowledge to intercept that signals. The benefits outweigh the drawbacks for implementing CCTV systems for several reasons. Think of how CCTV systems have helped our traffic problems.

Having cameras all over our roads and highways allows accidents and traffic jams to be discovered sooner so traffic can be rerouted. In banks, casinos, airports, shopping centers, business and military bases; CCTV systems can prove beneficial against crime. There are some drawbacks that can really cause problems with CCTV systems. These systems can be expensive. They can be considered an invasion of privacy. Also a system can fail because of a bad or over-recycled tape, and the crime will not be recorded.

For some strange reason, businesses who still use VHS tape to record their surveillance often insist in recycling their videos beyond a logical limit. Then, when the expert needs to lift an image off for identification, fuzzy, blurry photos are produced. In the convenience store example above, the camera was in the wrong position.

A light was installed in a recently added display that was not in the store when the CCTV system was installed. Nobody ever updated the CCTV system or performed maintenance to discover the problem. The purpose of this article is to share some of my experiences with CCTV footage and provide some tips from a forensic experts point of view, sound advice to avoid costly mistakes and expensive forensic restoration. Number one: Plan your CCTV system layout in advance. Do not put in a CCTV system without planning for a potential crime circumstances. What crimes could be executed under the watchful eyes of your CCTV system? You can call this crisis management.

Draw a diagram of this activity. Use it as your blueprint for locating your camera positions. If you own a business that has a back lot to cover, don’t just mount the camera to the back of your building thinking it will do the job. Consider what you have to protect, the value of these items, and the various ways a criminal could get at them. Then, place the camera(s) to cover all potential activity.

Consider multiple cameras because, in the long run, it will save you money. Because so many systems were not planned throughly in advance, the majority of my forensic cases involve video restoration and clarification. So much of this can be avoided. Number two: Use a digital video recorder and record direct to hard drive.

If at all possible, do not use VHS. There are some great companies like Focus Micro and Crest electronics who specialize in DVR CCTV systems, maintenance of the system, and training your staff to use them properly. They offer some excellent products and CCTV systems, and will even help you plan your system layout. Here are some reasons DVR is superior to VHS:. Far Better Image Quality. The Ability to view cameras, live or recorded, from another location through the internet. Ease in copying images from crime scenes.

No VHS tapes to change. Number three: Make sure to account for lighting conditions, as well as sun positions.

About one out of ten of my cases require comparison of a frame of evidence from a darkly lit video with an exemplar frame or photo. Make sure there is light where your camera is located. If necessary, hire an electrician to put in a light or two near your camera, especially if the potential crimes that warrant the installation of your CCTV system can occur at night.

I can hear the installed now: “Sure looked good in daylight!” In addition, consider sun positions all year long. Remember sixth grade science class? The sun changes positions with the seasons. Bright sun facing the camera will cause the iris in the camera to close (in automatic position) causing the image of the perpetrator to darken.

Try this with your home camera. Take a video of your friends with the un behind them instead of behind you.

The friends will appear dark because of the camera’s lenses adjusting for the high light level. Number four: Plan camera positions for all possible situations. I have heard it said that if you want to rob a bank, wear a baseball cap. Why is it that CCTV installers put the cameras in high positions that will never show the criminals face? Number five: Keep your camera clean. Car dealerships wash their windows and cars weekly if not more often.

Why don’t they wash their cameras? Think about it. Many outdoor cameras are somewhat protected from the elements, but after a while, dirt will still gather on the surface of the camera lenses. A solution of Shaklee basic H or white vinegar in hot water will clean them nicely without scratching or clouding the lenses or protective housing. Harsh cleaning chemicals can scratch or cloud the glass, especially on plexiglas camera housings.

Number six: do not use wireless cameras. If at all possible, run cable and go wired for your entire network.

Wireless cameras are unreliable, especially in storms. Almost all maintenance can be performed by you or done very reasonably by a professional. Avoid costly mistakes and tragedy by keeping your system maintained and updated.

Use Google to seek a professional who can help with your circumstances. Ed Primeau is an video forensic expert, author, professional speaker and business owner in Rochester Hills, MI. He is the author of two books, “The Art Of Production” and “The Video Revolution.” Visit primeauproductions.com for more info.

Tags:, Posted in,. You have a video and the quality is poor.

You need to see the events recorded in the video more clearly than what is currently available. Chances are that your video is probably part of a court case and has a critical impact on the judge and jury better understanding the events as they originally occurred.

Video is a and helps law enforcement display criminal activity in the courtroom. Video also helps keep businesses secure through the use of surveillance video. When a crime is committed and caught on CCTV video, video forensics experts can help that video so the court and other litigators can see the events more clearly during the court proceeding. On the other hand, maybe you have an old video, like a wedding video that has aged and damaged from poor storage or became over heated on the dashboard of your car in the hot sun. Video forensic experts have the hardware and software tools available to restore that video to a playable condition in most situations.

The success of the restoration, clarification and enhancement, depends on two things; how damaged the tape is and your expectations of what is possible. Many video recordings are too far gone for the forensic expert to properly restore. However, I have found over the years that experimenting with various restoration tools, hardware and software, in various combinations, yield results. You have to have a starting point to work from to achieve results. What may seem impossible can be very possible when using various tools in various combinations. If you have a video that needs the quality improved, call us for a pro bono consultation (800) 647-4281. Tags:, Posted in,.

As we have all witnessed from the recent Boston Bombings, having the technology and talent to accurately and clearly perform expert video enhancement. This is especially true when it comes to criminal forensic image clarification from surveillance security cameras. A trained specialist using sophisticated software can make blurry or seemingly impossible-to-see images so clear that unique facial features are revealed, leading to positive identification of a suspect or criminal. The FBI engaged a team of experts to enhance images of the two bombing suspects to the point of positive recognition.

As a result, several friends and family members of the suspects came forth, providing valuable information to the authorities. Within 24 hours after the enhanced photos were released, suspect one was killed and suspect two was captured. The power of video enhancement prevented an unknown amount of possible additional deaths by the two bombers. Watertown residents can feel safe in their homes once again. At Primeau Forensics, we have a team of video forensic experts that employ the latest technology available to enhance surveillance video. We investigate video evidence that helps the court better see (and hear) the events as they occurred working closely and strategically with authorities like police or prosecutors as well as lawyers. We have the technology and experience to acquire clear images, measure objects and suspects, and the ability to look for other clues in the surveillance video to aid in the litigation or criminal proceeding.

If you have any questions about video enhancement, give us a call for a pro bono consultation at (800) 647-4281 Tags:, Posted in. Every case that requires requires the video forensic expert to develop a strategy comprised of a series of steps and forensic software tools. Back when surveillance video was analog video tape, video enhancement was more difficult. The equipment forensic experts used to conduct video enhancement was entirely hardware based. Forensic experts did the best they could with what they had to work with. Today, technology has progressed, making several scientific community approved software programs available. One of the things that causes difficulty during video enhancement is poor camera placement.

Installation of must be well thought out in advance in order to aide in the forensic investigation, should a crime be committed. In addition, the sun constantly moves throughout the day and affects the surveillance video camera by over and under exposing the surveillance area. Outdoor cameras become dirty after a period of time, making video enhancement difficult. Point Tilt Zoom (PTZ) cameras provide much better video surveillance footage because of their ability to move, follow and zoom in on perpetrators more effectively than surface mount cameras.

‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’ Making sure the surveillance system is properly thought out and installed will make video enhancement more successful than trying to fix problems that could have been avoided. I do not have to convince you of the the number of court cases that have video forensic evidence speak for themselves.

Surveillance video recordings produce very useful high-quality digital video recordings that aide litigators in the court room see the events as they originally occurred. Video enhancement is challenged by one thing: the fact that most security video recordings must be viewed on a proprietary player, a software program that has the ability to interpret the specific manufacturer’s secure codec, which maintains the integrity of the video recording, keeps the video secure and reduces the vulnerability of editing. This proprietary player makes it very difficult to alter or edit the surveillance video. Some manufacturers allow the ability to export video files from their surveillance propriety players and others do not. This poses a challenge for the video enhancement expert. The best bet in any situation that requires video enhancement is to talk to an experienced video forensic expert to learn what is possible and what is not.

Video enhancement is mislead by what Hollywood produces and often confuses the public as to what is possible and what is not. Tags:, Posted in. You have had a crime committed at your place of business but you do not have a closed circuit television system in place that could have captured some video recording of the crime as it was committed.

With the large number of closed circuit television systems that are currently installed in businesses today even if you don’t have a closed circuit television system consider surrounding businesses or neighbors who might have outdoor cameras that partially cover the area where your incident may have occurred. As a video forensic expert I often receive video recordings from closed circuit television systems that are in neighboring businesses that cover a theft, an act of vandalism, arson, a breaking and entering, and these videos help bring at least part of the crime into the investigative stages. They may not be optimum situations, as if your business had its own surveillance system that caught the criminal act more closely, it’s still video footage that can help an investigator understand more about the crime that was committed. One of the first steps that I take as a video forensic expert in examining ‘neighboring surveillance’ video is to consider what is the maximum image size and resolution of the video export (video removed from the CCTV system for litigation).

Has the video that recorded the crime been exported properly? The larger the resolution or screen size the more dots that are in the video, the better the image recovery quality or images of the crime for investigation. If your video evidence has a low resolution, or screen size, there is a limited amount of enlargement that can be performed before the video becomes too pixelated (blurry) to be of use to the forensic expert. Therefore, zooming in to key components that an investigator would be interested in is very difficult and it could have been improved on had the cooperating neighbor, with all good intent, exported a larger resolution screen size of that video. So when you encounter a crime and discover closed circuit television footage that was caught on a neighbor’s system help that neighbor do good for your litigation and bring on a forensic expert to help export the highest quality possible from that surveillance system, because the higher the video quality in, the better the video evidence out. Tags:, Posted in.