FCN's Shelley Wilson reflects on a 4-year EU forensic research project.

Horizon 2020 was a European Union research programme that covered a range of topics. The EU Commission recognises the value of impact in research and are now emphasising the need to involve end users in research programmes. This supports the delivery of science and technology that makes a difference, rather than focusing on academic excellence alone. 

As part of the funding, Horizon 2020 funded a project that specially related to forensic science in policing, known as real-time on-site forensic trace qualification - or RISEN.

The aim of the RISEN project was to develop a set of real-time contactless sensors that would optimise crime scene capture, transforming the trace, detection, visualisation, identification, and interpretation elements of the forensic examination process.

If successful, the project had potential to demonstrate how crime scene investigation could be managed differently at scene, reducing the impact of forensic treatments, and providing real-time forensic evidential results to investigations. 

The project has taking four years to complete with commitment across Europe to exploring this innovative approach. The final demonstration of the sensors and the system prototype was held at the end of 2024.

Over several days the whole system was demonstrated and tested by representatives from 16 different European countries with the scientists and technical development team.

The final RISEN system included eight different sensors, 3D imaging capture and ‘live feed’ capabilities, and a unique digital asset management system (DEMS) which included a single API.

The system was contactless and non-destructive of crime scene evidence, and had automated sensors that identified, selected, and labelled trace materials. It provided real-time acquisition of in-situ data linking into a 3D augmented crime scene reconstruction which had the positioning and labelling of traces and relative results of the on-site analysis, and a DEMS which included scientific interpretation results and wider contextual information and data.

This exciting research project has shown that new technology has made it feasible for crime scene work to be undertaken without the use of hazardous and destructive chemicals, providing real-time results, and reporting to investigations and of a good enough quality to avoid compromising forensics standards.