A Systems Approach to CSI

Forensic science is the core of crime scene investigations (CSI), a niche mastered by few experts world-wide. Crime scene investigators skillfully determine the most suitable sequence of methods for valuable evidence recovery from crime scenes, e.g., blood trace detection and blood-stained footmark or fingermark recovery. This professionalism demands a high degree of experience, memory, judgment, and decision making. Digital aids for such tasks are still scarce, whereas checklists and diagrams are heavily used. We propose an original systems approach to CSI, coupled with a Digital Companion for Crime Scene Investigation (DC4CSI) – a model-based digital engineering (MBDE) proof of concept. We introduce a model-based, unified, end-to-end, layered socio-technical architecture (people, technology, and processes etc.) for CSI. We incorporate forensic expert support through method execution and integration with physical environments and devices. Our method uses OPCloud, an emerging digital platform capable of expressing, exhibiting, and executing any type of system using Object Process Methodology (OPM) – a holistic systems modeling paradigm. The results of our approach include: a) a common language for CSIs and other crime-scene engaging parties, b) reduced checklists-based traditional work, and c) enhanced decision automation for effective and efficient evidence recovery.