3D Digital Forensics: How to Detect Cheats in Sports Equipment
In the elite sports arena, some competitors seek to alter their equipment to gain an unfair advantage that violates the rules. To identify these practices, 3D scanning and inspection technology has become the definitive tool. 🔍
The First Step: Digitize Without Destroying
The process begins with a micro-computed tomography scanner (Micro-CT). Equipment like Nikon CT or Zeiss Metrotom systems capture hundreds of X-rays of the object from all angles. By reconstructing this data, a precise 3D volumetric model of its internal and external structure is generated, without the need to cut or disassemble it. This preserves the piece as intact evidence.
Key Advantages of Microtomography:- Allows seeing inside solid objects like bats or rackets without damaging them.
- Generates a complete dataset for in-depth analysis.
- Captures details down to microns, revealing inclusions or minimal voids.
Microtomography transforms a physical object into a digital model that we can virtually dissect.
Analyze the Volume: Search for the Hidden
The obtained 3D model is loaded into volumetric analysis software like Volume Graphics VGSTUDIO MAX. Here, forensic technicians process the data to isolate materials, measure densities, and locate anomalies. They can make virtual sections in any plane or make outer layers transparent to inspect the core.
What the Software Can Reveal:- A cork-filled cavity inside an aluminum baseball bat to lighten it.
- Undeclared graphene fibers or reinforcements in a racket frame.
- Density differences in the material suggesting adulterations.
The Definitive Proof: Compare with the Original Design
The final and most conclusive phase consists of comparing the scanned model with the official specifications. Using metrology software like Geomagic Control X, the 3D scan is automatically aligned with the reference CAD file approved by the federation. The program performs a dimensional comparison and produces color deviation maps.
These maps show, with millimeter precision, every area where the real object deviates from the permitted design. A detailed technical report with these measurements serves as objective and irrefutable evidence before a disciplinary committee, eliminating any subjectivity. 🏆
Thus, when an athlete claims their equipment behaves strangely due to natural causes, forensics can present a clear 3D image proving otherwise, keeping the piece completely intact for any counter-expertise.