Rachael Carew

• PhD, MSc, BSc (Hons), ACSFS, FRAI (Cert FA-III) AFHEA
• Forensic Science Lecturer at Coventry University

Modern computed tomography (CT) databases are becoming an accepted resource for the practice and development of identification methods in forensic anthropology. However, the utility of 3D models created using free and open-source visualization software such as 3D Slicer has not yet been thoroughly assessed for morphoscopic biological profiling meth...

There is currently a lack of clear guidance setting out ethical best practice in 3D forensic science broadly, and for 3D printing human remains specifically. This paper presents nine ethical principles identified by Carew et al. [4,7] that provide a foundation for establishing ethical practice. The relevance of the nine key normative ethics princip...

3D printed human remains offer an alternative presentation format to traditional photographs, that could be more effective and less emotive. However, the perception of the public regarding key questions, such as the use, ownership, and disposal of 3D printed remains in courts of law has not yet been established.This study explored whether the creat...

The existing literature contains some exploration of the ethics concerning human remains in forensic and virtual anthropology. However, previous work has stopped short of interrogating the underlying ethical concepts. The question of how people understand and apply these concepts in practice, and what it means to act ethically, remain underexplored...

The evaluation of 3D printed osteological materials has highlighted the difficulties associated with accurately representing fine surface details on printed bones. Moreover, there is an increasing need for reconstructions to be demonstrably accurate and reliable for use in the criminal justice system. The aim of this study was to assess the surface...

3D printing has rapidly developed and been applied in forensic science due to its use in creating demonstrations for courts of law. Much of the literature on this specific topic has focused on the use of 3D printed models in academia, the potential influence on a jury, and its use as a long-term documentation process, but with few actual forensic c...

Three-dimensional (3D) printed human remains are being utilised in courtroom demonstrations of evidence within the UK criminal justice system. This presents a potential issue given that the use of 3D replicas has not yet been empirically tested or validated for use in crime reconstructions. Further, recent movements to critically evaluate the ethic...

Additive manufacturing technology has benefited many sectors, and its use in forensic sciences has opened up a variety of new opportunities for analysing and exhibiting forensic materials. However, to perform analytical procedures on 3D printed bones and teeth in forensic odontology, the metric and morphological precision of the printed replicas mu...

3D techniques are increasingly being used by forensic scientists in crime reconstruction. The proliferation of 3D techniques, such as 3D imaging and printing being employed across the various stages of the forensic science process, means that the use of 3D should be considered as a distinct field within forensic science. ‘3D Forensic Science’ (‘3DF...

3D printed reconstructions of skeletal material offer a novel, interactive and increasingly used tool to support courtroom testimony and aid juror interpretation of expert testimony. While research has begun to address the accuracy of 3D printed skeletal material, there has been little consideration of the diverse applications of prints to support...

In academia, funding for conference attendance is limited, and both students and early-career researchers are therefore only able to attend a limited number of conferences. This means that, typically, researchers need to choose between attending multiple local and, at times, more affordable conferences, or one or two large, expensive, international...

Objectives Modern computed tomography (CT) databases offer a valuable resource for obtaining skeletal reconstructions and contemporary population data. However, researchers may not utilise CT data due to limited funds for proprietary modelling software, or from a lack of awareness of visualisation techniques. This paper presents a step-by-step meth...

There has been a rapid development and utilization of three‐dimensional (3D) printing technologies in engineering, health care, and dentistry. Like many technologies in overlapping disciplines, these techniques have proved to be useful and hence incorporated into the forensic sciences. Therefore, this paper describes how the potential of using 3D p...

3D printed replicas of human remains are useful tools in courtroom demonstrations. Presently, little published research has investigated the surface quality of printed replicas for use in the presentation of forensic anthropology evidence. In this study, 3D printed replicas of nine human bones were reconstructed from computed tomography (CT) scan d...

Introduction Osteometric data may be obtained using digital imaging techniques, such as post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) and digital radiography, non-invasively and without ethical objection. Osteometric data from PMCT is known to be as accurate as taking direct measurements. Digital radiography is more accessible and affordable than PMCT but...

The Journal of Forensic Radiology and Imaging was launched in 2013 with the aim to collate the literature and demonstrate high-quality case studies on image-based modalities across the forensic sciences. Largely, the focus of this journal has been on the transmissive aspect of forensic imaging, and therefore a significant number of high-quality cas...

There is currently no published empirical evidence‐base demonstrating 3D printing to be an accurate and reliable tool in forensic anthropology, despite 3D printed replicas being exhibited as demonstrative evidence in court. In this study, human bones (n = 3) scanned using computed tomography were reconstructed as virtual 3D models (n = 6), and 3D p...

ABSTRACT: This research investigates the metrology of 3D modelling and additive manufacturing (3D printing) osteological samples from computed tomography (CT) scans. Three bones were CT scanned, virtually 3D modelled and 3D printed using two printing methods, SLS and FDM. The virtual and 3D printed models were measured and compared to the original...

Virtual (or computer) 3D modelling of osteological material has facilitated the production of high impact images with countless applications, including the demonstration of evidence in a court of law. This research investigated the metrology and methods behind producing 3D printed osteological models, in order to validate the process for use in co...

Background Crown-heel length (CHL) measurement is influenced by technique, training, experience and subject cooperation. We investigated whether extending one or both of an infant’s legs affects the precision of CHL taken using an infantometer. The influence of staff training and infant cooperation were also examined. MethodsCHL was measured in chi...