A robbery with no apparent signs of forced entry on a door with an electronic lock presented a forensic challenge. The investigation focused on the lock's internal mechanism, suspecting sophisticated sabotage. To preserve evidence and search for microscopic forensic marks, a non-destructive analysis using industrial computed tomography was chosen, initiating a technical workflow that would reveal the intrusion method.
From CT Scanner to Digital Evidence: Reconstructing the Sabotage 🔍
The lock was scanned with a Nikon CT system, obtaining a high-resolution data volume. In VGSTUDIO MAX, this data was processed, isolating the key component: the magnetic motor clutch. The virtual inspection showed anomalous wear marks on surfaces that should not have them. Using Geomagic Design X, reverse engineering was performed to obtain a precise parametric CAD model of the part and the marks. This model was exported to Blender for clear forensic visualization, contrasting the original state with the damaged one.
The Tool's Fingerprint: Objectivity for the Expert Report ⚖️
The final 3D model constitutes objective and incontrovertible digital evidence. The wear marks, their specific location, and their geometry demonstrated the use of a custom torsion tool, designed to lock the clutch and disable the motor. This methodology not only identifies the modus operandi but also generates a permanent probative resource, elevating traditional physical analysis to a quantifiable and easily presentable level in a judicial process.
How can the 3D forensic analysis of a compromised smart lock reconstruct the cyber-physical attack and reveal digital and physical evidence not visible in a traditional forensic investigation?
(PS: In scene analysis, every scale witness is a small anonymous hero.)