“Photo interpretation is defined as the process of identifying objects or conditions in aerial photographs and determining their meaning or significance. This process should not be confused with photo reading, which is concerned with only identifications. As such, photo interpretation is both reading the lines and reading in between the lines.”

Ebert and Associates has developed an approach to environmental sites which involves photointerpretation (we spell it as one word!), digital mapping, and knowledge of human industrial behavior to develop defensible and strategic legal arguments concerning liability for site contamination.

We also know that finding the correct photographs, especially aerial photographs, is an important as developing legal arguments based on map information. We have 25 years of experience and skill in obtaining and processing photographs.

In police shootings,for example, the types of information that can be obtained include the precise locations and spatial relationships among the subject, officers, witnesses, buildings, vehicles, trees and vegetation, and lighting. Cases that initially appear cut-and-dried often reveal a rich 3-dimensional context that affect both the visibility and perceptions of those involved.

1. “improving the visual appearance of images to a human viewer, and

2. “preparing images for measurement of the features and structures present.

Image enhancement is especially important in criminalistics in order to facilitate the identification of an individual in a blurry photograph or video capture, but is also important in civil forensic to identify the exact location or dimensions of objects in photographs of an accident or fire scene. Enhanced digital images are also used to produce compelling visual evidence such as boundary locations in a land rights dispute. For 25 years, Ebert and Associates has used digital enhancement techniques in evaluating legal evidence.

As a result, it is possible to quickly produce highly accurate maps for a range of purposes. These maps can be engineered to retain important visual information — obtained directly from photographs — as well as to depict the spatial relationships among objects in the map. Using state-of-the-art digital mapping and CAD software, Ebert and Associates specializes in creating maps to be used as exhibits in legal disputes and can produce maps of any size.

Forensic animations help make presentations clear and compelling, and can be used in both civil and criminal litigation. Many cases can benefit from animation. We also believe that if animation evidence is determined to be appropriate, its evidentiary value depends on accurate 3-d information that is rendered into an accessible and intuitive story. We base our animations on precise spatial modeling with CAD and GIS software.

Because we work closely and directly with attorneys, there is no “middle man” that results in increased costs. Likewise, no time is expended on meetings between animation contractors and expert witnesses. Often, “still” exhibits can be produced at minimal costs by clipping frames directly from an animation and adding visual components such as bullet paths.

Link to:
Ebert, Jim
2000 Shadowy Defense: 3D Modeling at the Scene of the Crime. Geospatial Solutions,
Vol. 10, No. 7, pp 28-33. Advanstar Communications, Eugene, OR, July 2000.

Jim Ebert’s comprehensive treatment of the role of photogrammetry, photointerpretation and digital imaging and mapping technologies in environmental forensics provides in-depth coverage of basic principles, instruments, and analytical products and exhibits and then goes far beyond technology, into the realm of Ebert & Associates’ approach to the study of human industrial behavior using historic aerial photographs and other supportive data. This approach is illustrated with four major case studies, using stereo anaglyphic images derived from aerial photographs. Red/blue glasses are even included in a pocket at the back of the volume. Eleven other chapters by prominent environmental scientists cover many of the important components of environmental forensic studies.

From the Academic Press website:

“This is a textbook that would prove useful to a range of disciplines, including environmental scientists involved in water and air pollution, contaminated land and geographical information systems; and archaeologists, hydrochemists and geochemists interested in dating sources of pollution.”
– Annals of Occupational Hygiene

“…the authors and editors are to be commended! The book contains 12 chapters written by recognized experts, each focused on a different aspect of environmental forensics.”
– Organic Chemistry