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Exploring technologies to better link physical evidence and digital information for disaster victim identification

Disaster victim identification (DVI) entails a protracted process of evidence collection and data matching to reconcile physical remains with victim identity. Technology is critical to DVI by enabling the linkage of physical evidence to information. However, labelling physical remains and collecting...

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Autores principales: Lovell, David, Vella, Kellie, Muñoz, Diego, McKague, Matt, Brereton, Margot, Ellis, Peter
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Taylor & Francis 2022
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9639522/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36353313
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20961790.2021.2023418
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author Lovell, David
Vella, Kellie
Muñoz, Diego
McKague, Matt
Brereton, Margot
Ellis, Peter
author_facet Lovell, David
Vella, Kellie
Muñoz, Diego
McKague, Matt
Brereton, Margot
Ellis, Peter
author_sort Lovell, David
collection PubMed
description Disaster victim identification (DVI) entails a protracted process of evidence collection and data matching to reconcile physical remains with victim identity. Technology is critical to DVI by enabling the linkage of physical evidence to information. However, labelling physical remains and collecting data at the scene are dominated by low-technology paper-based practices. We ask, how can technology help us tag and track the victims of disaster? Our response to this question has two parts. First, we conducted a human–computer interaction led investigation into the systematic factors impacting DVI tagging and tracking processes. Through interviews with Australian DVI practitioners, we explored how technologies to improve linkage might fit with prevailing work practices and preferences; practical and social considerations; and existing systems and processes. We focused on tagging and tracking activities throughout the DVI process. Using insights from these interviews and relevant literature, we identified four critical themes: protocols and training; stress and stressors; the plurality of information capture and management systems; and practicalities and constraints. Second, these findings were iteratively discussed by the authors, who have combined expertise across electronics, data science, cybersecurity, human–computer interaction and forensic pathology. We applied the themes identified in the first part of the investigation to critically review technologies that could support DVI practitioners by enhancing DVI processes that link physical evidence to information. This resulted in an overview of candidate technologies matched with consideration of their key attributes. This study recognises the importance of considering human factors that can affect technology adoption into existing practices. Consequently, we provide a searchable table (as Supplementary information) that relates technologies to the key considerations and attributes relevant to DVI practice, for readers to apply to their own context. While this research directly contributes to DVI, it also has applications to other domains in which a physical/digital linkage is required, and particularly within high stress environments with little room for error. KEY POINTS: Disaster victim identification (DVI) processes require us to link physical evidence and digital information. While technology could improve this linkage, experience shows that technological “solutions” are not always adopted in practice. Our study of the practices, preferences and contexts of Australian DVI practitioners suggests 10 critical considerations for these technologies. We review and evaluate 44 candidate technologies against these considerations and highlight the role of human factors in adoption.
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spelling pubmed-96395222022-11-08 Exploring technologies to better link physical evidence and digital information for disaster victim identification Lovell, David Vella, Kellie Muñoz, Diego McKague, Matt Brereton, Margot Ellis, Peter Forensic Sci Res Regular Papers Disaster victim identification (DVI) entails a protracted process of evidence collection and data matching to reconcile physical remains with victim identity. Technology is critical to DVI by enabling the linkage of physical evidence to information. However, labelling physical remains and collecting data at the scene are dominated by low-technology paper-based practices. We ask, how can technology help us tag and track the victims of disaster? Our response to this question has two parts. First, we conducted a human–computer interaction led investigation into the systematic factors impacting DVI tagging and tracking processes. Through interviews with Australian DVI practitioners, we explored how technologies to improve linkage might fit with prevailing work practices and preferences; practical and social considerations; and existing systems and processes. We focused on tagging and tracking activities throughout the DVI process. Using insights from these interviews and relevant literature, we identified four critical themes: protocols and training; stress and stressors; the plurality of information capture and management systems; and practicalities and constraints. Second, these findings were iteratively discussed by the authors, who have combined expertise across electronics, data science, cybersecurity, human–computer interaction and forensic pathology. We applied the themes identified in the first part of the investigation to critically review technologies that could support DVI practitioners by enhancing DVI processes that link physical evidence to information. This resulted in an overview of candidate technologies matched with consideration of their key attributes. This study recognises the importance of considering human factors that can affect technology adoption into existing practices. Consequently, we provide a searchable table (as Supplementary information) that relates technologies to the key considerations and attributes relevant to DVI practice, for readers to apply to their own context. While this research directly contributes to DVI, it also has applications to other domains in which a physical/digital linkage is required, and particularly within high stress environments with little room for error. KEY POINTS: Disaster victim identification (DVI) processes require us to link physical evidence and digital information. While technology could improve this linkage, experience shows that technological “solutions” are not always adopted in practice. Our study of the practices, preferences and contexts of Australian DVI practitioners suggests 10 critical considerations for these technologies. We review and evaluate 44 candidate technologies against these considerations and highlight the role of human factors in adoption. Taylor & Francis 2022-03-25 /pmc/articles/PMC9639522/ /pubmed/36353313 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20961790.2021.2023418 Text en © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Taylor & Francis Group on behalf of the Academy of Forensic Science. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) ), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
spellingShingle Regular Papers
Lovell, David
Vella, Kellie
Muñoz, Diego
McKague, Matt
Brereton, Margot
Ellis, Peter
Exploring technologies to better link physical evidence and digital information for disaster victim identification
title Exploring technologies to better link physical evidence and digital information for disaster victim identification
title_full Exploring technologies to better link physical evidence and digital information for disaster victim identification
title_fullStr Exploring technologies to better link physical evidence and digital information for disaster victim identification
title_full_unstemmed Exploring technologies to better link physical evidence and digital information for disaster victim identification
title_short Exploring technologies to better link physical evidence and digital information for disaster victim identification
title_sort exploring technologies to better link physical evidence and digital information for disaster victim identification
topic Regular Papers
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9639522/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36353313
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20961790.2021.2023418
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