Capture once. Measure, analyse and revisit the scene for years.
Artec 3D scanners record footwear impressions, wound patterns, bullet trajectories and entire scenes in accurate, contactless 3D — before the scene is cleared and before the evidence degrades. One dataset carries the case from the first hour to the courtroom.
No sensitive case information required.
Contactless captureSafe for victims, officers, and fragile evidence.
Full-color 3DPhotorealistic detail with true-to-life color.
Scene-to-micro evidenceFrom large scenes to the smallest items.
Standard export formatsE57, OBJ, PLY and more for seamless workflows.Organizations featured in documented Artec 3D forensic applications and published studies.
Pick what you work with and we'll show the scanners that fit it best. The right choice depends on scene size, required detail and field conditions.
Best overallArtec Ray IILong-range capture · up to 130 m
Artec LeoFast handheld captureBest overallArtec LeoCable-free · under an hour per vehicleArtec Ray IIWhole-site context around the vehicle
Artec EvaPanel and interior detailBest overallArtec LeoUntethered at the scene
Artec Spider IIWound and bite-mark detailArtec EvaFull body in 26 minutesBest overallArtec Spider IIAccuracy up to 0.05 mmBest overallArtec Spider IIHandheld detail at 0.05 mm
Artec Metrology KitAccuracy to 0.002 mmAccording to FBI data, 55% of violent crimes and 83% of property crimes went unsolved in the US. Traditional forensic documentation — photographs, hand measurements, dental stone casts — was never designed for the speed and complexity modern crime scene investigation demands.
A photograph taken from the wrong angle misrepresents the spatial relationship between a weapon and a victim. A footwear impression cast takes 24 hours to dry and can still crack. A vehicle accident scene sits on a highway for hours while investigators work through documentation backlogs. All of it creates gaps in evidence that prosecutors have to fight around — or can't overcome at all.
3D scanning for crime scenes solves this at the source. The complete scene — every dimension, every surface, every measurement — captured before anything is moved or touched.
Two points that look close in a photograph can be metres apart. Perspective still shadows and depth. 2D data alone leaves an important spatial question open, and defence counsel knows exactly where to press.
Tape measures, sketches and reference markers are only as reliable as the hand holding them. Two investigators can record the same distance differently, and neither result can be reproduced once the scene is released.
Capturing, photographing, sketching and measuring on site — plus drying and rebuilding casts at the office — can take days. That is time the scene stays exposed and your team stays tied up.
Collections of photos are difficult to navigate, measure or share. A 3D model can go to a prosecutor, an expert or a laboratory anywhere in the world in minutes, and it is still measurable when it arrives.
Contactless scene capture: capture detailed 3D data without touching or moving evidence.
Measurements after release: measure any point, distance, area or angle long after the scene is cleared.
Shareable 3D documentation: secure, accurate and easy to share with teams, experts and in court.
1. CaptureCollect accurate 3D data on scene with minimal disruption.
2. VerifyCheck coverage and quality before leaving the scene.
3. ProcessAlign, clean and color the data in Artec Studio.
4. MeasureTake precise measurements and annotations.
5. ArchiveStore in a tamper-evident, scalable repository.
6. PresentShare 3D models, images and reports in court or with partners.These are documented outcomes, not claims — reported by the National Institute of Justice, Forensic Science International and agencies that have deployed Artec 3D scanners in active investigations.
Nothing is cast, coated or moved. The evidence is documented as found and stays that way.
Hours become minutes on site, and the team is released while the record is already complete.
Take the measurement you did not know you needed, months after the scene was released.
One model reaches prosecutors, experts and laboratories worldwide without losing accuracy.
Not every 3D scanner is built for crime scene investigation. These are the capabilities that decide whether one belongs in a forensic kit.
Artec Ray II captures up to 2 million points per second, generating point cloud data that documents the full geometry of any crime scene — indoors or outdoors, day or night. A full dome scan covering an entire room takes 1.7 minutes. Artec Leo captures a full human body in 2–3 minutes. That's the difference between finishing before a scene is cleared versus scrambling to catch up.
Every Artec forensic scanner captures evidence without physical contact — no markers, no calibration targets required in the scene. Bloodstain patterns, footwear impressions, bullet holes: they're documented exactly as found. Defense attorneys cannot argue evidence was disturbed during scanning. The NIJ specifically identifies this as a key benefit of 3D scanning for crime scene investigation.
Artec Studio software turns raw scan data into dimensionally accurate 3D models. Investigators can take precise measurements between any two points in the scene, reconstruct trajectories, overlay data from multiple scans, and export to standard forensic and CAD formats. The same 3D dataset supports the initial investigation, expert witness reports, and courtroom presentation — no rescanning, no reconstruction from memory.
Forensic 3D scanning produces objective, reproducible data. No operator interpretation, no angle choices that can be questioned. A University of Toronto study that compared 3D scanning directly against traditional forensic photography found that scanning took less than half the time — and produced submillimeter-accurate color 3D documentation that photographs simply cannot replicate. Judges have accepted 3D scan models as criminal evidence.
Documented forensic workflows with measurable results.
“Artec scanners help us preserve critical details and reduce our time on scene considerably while maintaining the highest standards.”
Read the full case“Our experience with the Artec scanners has been excellent. The ability to capture an entire scene in 3D, with accurate measurements, casts and transformed data we can document and present in evidence.”
Read the full caseSpecifications say what each scanner can do. This is what each one is for.
A forensic 3D programme depends on more than the scanner. Validation, operator training, data handling and procurement support decide whether the workflow holds up across real investigations.
Most investigators become proficient with basic scanning in a few days of hands-on practice. Our training covers capture technique, field tips and Artec Studio processing, so the workflow you write down is the one your team can repeat.
We provide onboarding, hands-on scanning practice and Artec Studio processing training. Train-the-trainer options help you build internal expertise, so competency stays with your team as cases and people move.
We cover handling of raw and processed files, access control and storage. You can work in offline or controlled environments, with retention policies and use backups. We also provide shareable formats for collaboration with prosecutors or experts.
We assist with evaluation planning, matching the right system to your budget, software and release schedules. We help with test criteria, budgetary quotes and supporting documentation for tender approvals or formal tender requirements when needed.
Document the method, preserve the source data, and make every measurement reproducible.
These questions come up in nearly every evaluation conversation.
Most investigators become proficient with basic scanning in a few days of hands-on practice. The handheld scanners give real-time coverage feedback on screen, so operators can see what they have captured as they work. Forensic anthropology programmes report that students pick up the workflow quickly.
Yes. Artec Spider II resolves fine detail at 3D accuracy up to 0.05 mm and resolution up to 0.1 mm, which suits tool marks, bite marks and detailed impressions. For the very highest precision the Metrology Kit reaches 0.002 mm. Validation with reference objects confirms accuracy for your own case work.
Yes. The scanners project their own structured or laser light, so they do not depend on ambient lighting. Artec Ray II captures large indoor and outdoor scenes day or night, and the handheld scanners work in low light at the scene. We provide practical capture recommendations for difficult conditions.
3D data is objective and reproducible, with no operator angle choices to question. Judges have accepted Artec 3D scan models as criminal evidence, and the National Institute of Justice recognises contactless 3D documentation as a key benefit for investigations. Admissibility still depends on the court, so operator qualification, validation and chain of custody all matter.
Artec Studio exports the industry-standard formats: OBJ, PLY, STL, WRL, PTX, ASCII, E57 and more. These integrate with the analysis, measurement and reconstruction software forensic laboratories already use, so the data does not become locked to one vendor.
Yes. We offer evaluations so you can test the workflow on your own representative samples. You will receive guidance on validation, sample datasets and reporting outputs to help your team make an informed decision.
Tell us about your needs and we will come back with a forensics application specialist.
