Lou sits down with Randy Bauder and Taylor Walker to discus the ACTAR exam – why they sought accreditation, how they prepared, and their advice for others taking the test.

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Connect with Randy

Learn more about ACTAR

Read about the accreditation process

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Timeline of Topics

Randy Bauder

00:00:00 – Introduction to the show and Randy’s background

00:04:33 – Randy’s decision to pursue accreditation

00:08:13 – The application process and requirements to sit for the exam

00:10:46 – Distinction between ACTAR and PE

00:12:30 – Preparation for the exam

00:20:30 – Reference materials used during the exam

00:25:50 – The morning session

00:31:37 – The afternoon session

00:34:35 – Finding out the results

00:36:41 – Advice for others seeking accreditation

Taylor Walker

00:39:40 – Introduction to Taylor’s background

00:45:03 – Taylor’s decision to pursue accreditation

00:52:20 – Training prior to the exam

00:55:09 – Preparation for the exam

01:02:44 – Advice for others seeking accreditation

01:04:48 – Tools used during the afternoon session

01:12:12 – The morning session

01:17:01 – The afternoon session

01:25:58 – Finding out the results

01:26:42 – Would you do anything differently a second time around?

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Resources Discussed

• Andy Rich’s Prep Course
• CA Association of Accident Reconstruction Specialists (CA2RS)
• California Peace Officer Standards and Training
• IPTM Courses – Crash Investigation and ACTAR Prep
• Northwestern University Center for Public Safety
• Rusty Haight | Collision Safety Institute
• YouTube Test Prep

Lou sits down with Jeff Suway of JS Forensics to discuss how he got into recon, the current state of his firm, Jeff's real love: retroreflective tape, quantifying luminance with a camera, video analysis, and much more.

The podcast is available to watch here.

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Connect with Jeff

JS Forensics

Nitere

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Timeline of Topics

00:00:00 – Jeff’s background and introduction to forensics

00:20:16 – JS Forensics: Jeff’s vision for the company and his current team

00:31:45 - Jeff’s fascination with retroreflective tape

00:44:35 – Quantifying luminance with a consumer grade camera

00:59:00 – Presenting in the courtroom

01:02:26 – How to take contrast measurements

01:19:53 – Nitere applications

01:28:11 – Necessities for a recon trying to do nighttime analysis

01:39:57 – Methods and tools Jeff’s experimenting with

01:43:06 – How Jeff stays in touch with the latest tech in the industry

01:47:11 – Rapid fire: What Jeff uses point clouds for, best investment under 5k, and most used papers

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• Papers Discussed (in order of appearance)
  • Suway, J., Suway, S., “A Method for digital Video Camera Calibration for Luminance Estimation” Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) World Congress and Exhibition, 2017, SAE Paper No. 2017-01-1368
  • Suway, J., Suway, S., "A More Robust Method for Digital Video Camera Calibration for Luminance Estimation" SAE Technical Paper 2022-01-0802, 2022
  • Muttart, J., "Factors that Influence Drivers' Response Choice Decisions in Video Recorded Crashes," SAE Technical Paper 2005-01-0426, 2005, https://doi.org/10.4271/2005-01-0426.
  • Cipriani, A., Bayan, F., Woodhouse, M., Cornetto, A. et al., "Low Speed Collinear Impact Severity: A Comparison Between Full Scale Testing and Analytical Prediction Tools with Restitution Analysis," SAE Technical Paper 2002-01-0540, 2002, https://doi.org/10.4271/2002-01-0540.
  • Suway, J., Welcher, J., “A Quantitative Method for Accurately Depicting still photographs or video of a night-time scene Utilizing Equivalent Contrast” Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) World Congress and Exhibition, 2016, SAE Paper No. 2016-01-1463.

Lou sits down with Jeff Muttart to discuss driver response, autonomous vehicles, training novices, and the evolution of recon.

The podcast is available to watch with video here.

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Connect with Jeff

Driver Research Institute

Response

Education

Drivers’ Response in Emergency Situations Book

Published Papers

Swaroop Dinakar

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Timeline of Topics

00:01:22 The origin of a data junkie

00:13:02 The 16-year-old driver

00:23:52 Moving from the police department to academia

00:31:36 Jeff’s first success

00:40:07 The PRT of automated vehicles

00:52:14 Why are ped fatalities on the rise even with the increase in ADAS-equipped vehicles?

01:04:42 Analyzing the SHRP-2 data

01:17:53 Where are humans most vulnerable?

01:29:27 Access to video

01:39:39 Age as a factor

01:54:30 Jeff’s current toolkit

02:12:55 Autonomous vehicles

02:28:33 Predictions for the future

02:36:27 Motorcyclist PRT research

02:44:58 Applying the literature

02:53:22 What tool will be gone in 5-10 years?

02:57:02 Driver Research Institute and the future

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Studies, Literature, and Tools Discussed

100 Motorcyclists Study

Development and Evaluation of Driver Response Time Predictors Based upon Meta Analysis

Human Performance Lab at UMass Amherst (HPL)

Konica Minolta Luminance Meter

Part 563

Risk and Perception Training (RAPT)

Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP)

SHRP-2

Sony Alpha 7S II

SWOV

Lou sits down with Tim Cheek and Matt DiSogra to discuss heavy vehicle data and its proliferation, the modern HVEDR toolkit, and the future of the field.

The podcast is available to watch with video here.

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DELTA |v| Forensic Engineering

Tim Cheek

Matt DiSogra

SAE Course - Accessing and Interpreting Heavy Vehicle Event Data Recorders

HVEDR.com

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Timeline of Topics

00:01:23 Tim and Matt’s backgrounds

00:05:45 Definition of HVEDR

00:12:42 What sources of data are available on a heavy vehicle and how do you access them?

00:30:21 Preparing for a heavy vehicle inspection and triaging once you’re there

00:39:55 How do you keep up with it all?

00:43:44 Last stop data

00:49:45 Fault code setting event and the associated data

00:57:43 Autonomy in heavy trucking

01:06:59 What tools are needed to access Bendix data?

01:13:05 Sharing knowledge in a changing environment

01:16:58 WABCO Systems

01:19:57 Increase in data sources

01:24:53 Accessing trailer data

01:27:25 Modern toolkit for a heavy truck inspection

01:40:08 Will event data recorders ever replace recons?

01:48:31 How to drink out of the fire hose without getting your face blown off

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Systems, Tools, and Companies Discussed

Bendix

Bosch CDR

Cummins

Dearborn Group

Detroit Assurance

Mack Volvo

Mecanica Scientific

NEXIQ

Omnitracs

Part 563

Safety Direct

WABCO

Waymo

Wingman Fusion System

Lou sits down with Anthony Cornetto to discuss the state of computer simulation, acquiring HVE, building a Blender-based super tool, and the integration of AI.

The podcast is available to watch with video here.

A rough transcript of the podcast can be found here.

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Connect with Tony

Momenta

HVE

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Timeline of Topics

00:01:23 Tony’s background

00:09:14 The purchase and expansion of HVE

00:34:48 Blender and its application in collision reconstruction

00:54:01 Creating 3D models

00:58:41 The future of Blender and HVE - from simulation to beautiful visualization

01:04:21 What’s in Tony’s current toolkit?

01:13:15 Best tool under $5,000

01:17:02 360 cameras

01:23:24 Resources for continued education

01:27:23 What does the future of HVE look like?

01:37:229 Low-Poly modeling

01:43:04 All-in-one super tool?

01:55:57 How will AI integrate into recon?

02:09:19 Most used tool in Tony’s current arsenal

02:10:58 What’s inside the future toolkit of a reconstructionist, and what isn’t?

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Software / Tools Discussed

3DF Zephyr

3ds Max

Blender

CarSim

CloudCompare

Cycles Render

DyMESH

EDCRASH

EDSMAC4

Garmin VIRB Ultra 360

Leica BLK360

Lightpoint Low-Poly Meshes

OpenDroneMap

SIMON

Unreal Engine

A full list can be found here.

Lou sits down with Alan Moore to discuss autonomous vehicles, ADAS, the battle between safety and distraction, getting to level 4, and advice on learning.

The podcast is available to watch with video here.

A rough transcript of the podcast can be found here.

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AB Moore Consulting

Alan’s SAE Course

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Timeline of Topics

00:01:23 Alan’s background

00:03:26 What is ADAS and how much should reconstructionists know about it right now?

00:12:25 The omnipresence of electronic data00:12:26 Levels of autonomy

00:18:06 Do we need LiDAR for Level 3?00:28:29 Facilitating autonomous driving with V2X communication

00:38:00 Fleet corroboration

00:41:14 Autonomous systems and distracted humans

00:50:06 Diving down the “ADAS knowledge” rabbit hole

00:55:32 ADAS intervention and the event data recorder

01:02:19 Testing ADAS for research, classes, and cases

01:21:07 Will autonomous vehicles kill recon?

01:29:32 How to keep up with changes and developments in our field

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Systems / Companies Discussed

Axon

Bendix

Bosch CDR

Comma.ai

Detroit Assurance

DRSC

GM Super Cruise

Mercedes Drive Pilot

Part 563

Tesla Autopilot

WABCO

Waymo

Lou sits down with Rick Ruth of Ruth Consulting to discuss the evolution and future of EDRs, the industry’s global shift, and the Wild West of ADAS.

The podcast is available to watch with video here.

A rough transcript of the podcast can be found here.

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Connect with Rick

Ruth Consulting

Rick's SAE Course

IPTM Level 1 Course

IPTM Level 2 Course

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Timeline of Topics00:01:55 Rick’s background and the early adoption of EDRs

00:06:52 What does today’s reconstructionist need to know about EDRs?

00:12:48 The evolution of EDRs

00:19:32 Bosch updates and troubleshooting

00:26:06 Secondary systems you need access to

00:29:28 Proposed changes to government requirements for EDRs

00:36:48 A huge evolution in EDRs and ADAS performance data

00:46:36 Forward-facing cameras

00:59:27 Hacked autonomous vehicles, safety guards, and the EDR report

01:05:11 Global changes to EDR requirements

01:18:57 Predictions for the future

01:25:53 Will the reconstructionist be replaced?

01:33:11 Will EDRs ever become standardized?

01:21:23 How do we stay educated, keep our finger on the pulse, and adapt?

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Equipment / Tools Discussed

Bosch CDR Kits

Crash Investigation Sampling System

GIT Hyundai Kia Download Kit

Part 563

Subaru EyeSight System

Toyota Techstream

Lou sits down with Eugene Liscio of ai2-3D to discuss the current state and future of 3D scanning and photogrammetry in the field of collision investigation.

A rough transcript of the podcast can be found here.

You can find the audio only version of this podcast on your favorite platform.

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Connect with Eugene

ai2-3D

Recon-3D

Eugene's Youtube Channel

Zero to Hero Course

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Timeline of Topics

00:18:34 - Eugene's current tool kit

00:25:15 - DSLR vs. mirrorless cameras

00:30:58 - Laser scanners - past and future

00:49:23 - Recon-3D

01:07:27 - The future of photogrammetry

01:19:17 - Best investment under $5,000

01:21:11 - Predictions for the future

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Software / Products Discussed

3D Whale Scanner

3DF Zephyr

Artec Leo

CamRanger 2

CloudCompare

COLMAP

DotProduct

Everypoint

Leica BLK3D

Meshroom

Metashape

Nikon Z9

Olympus T6

PhotoModelerPremium

Pix4D

RealityCapture

Space Spider

VeOptics Structured Light Scanner

Lou sits down with Mark Crouch, Head of Collision Investigations at FCIR, to discuss his background, differences in the field of collision reconstruction between the US and the UK, and primarily the current state and future of video analysis.

Prefer to watch the filmed interview? It can be found on Youtube.

Links from the show:

• Connect with Mark
• Be notified about Mark’s Video Analysis course
• Purchase Video Analysis in Collision Reconstruction
• Join the Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators (ITAI)
• Software / Tools Discussed
  • Amped FIVE
  • AnalyzerPro
  • Axon (iNPUT-ACE)
  • FFmpeg
  • PC-Crash
  • PhotoModeler Premium
  • Recon-3D
  • RIEGL
  • Virtual CRASH

Timeline of Topics:00:02:47 - Similarities and differences in collision reconstruction between the US and the UK 00:23:41 - Mark's background 00:28:24 - ITAI Membership 00:40:16 - Mark's introduction to video analysis & the development of his book 00:51:58 - Evolution of video analysis: frequency, diversity of sources, and autonomous vehicles 01:03:16 - Frame health 01:25:14 - Mark's video analysis toolkit 01:30:03 - Frame timing and position 01:41:05 - Recommendation for macroblock analysis 01:47:46 - Codecs 02:01:27 - Video of video 02:08:43 - Changes in video analysis over the last 15 years 02:09:50 - Current developments in the field of video analysis 02:14:54 - The future of video analysis