AFTE Store - Measurement of Bullet Hole Locations and Trajectories in Vehicles Using a Planar Projection Method

Documenting the location of bullet holes and trajectories of bullets shot into vehicles typically requires creating a reference “box” around the vehicle against which locations and trajectory angles can be measured. The vehicle is “squared” by creating a rectangle around the vehicle with string and tripods. Locations of bullet holes and trajectory angles are measured relative to a coordinate system set up with the reference strings. Measurement of trajectory azimuth angles requires setting up and photographing directly above where the trajectory rod or string intersects the reference string [1]. The method presented in this paper is an alternative to setting up a string coordinate reference and allows for easier measurements of bullet hole locations and azimuth angles.