With HoloLens, police can now take the crime scene back to the station

Black Marble, a member of the Microsoft HoloLens Mixed Reality Partner Program (MRPP), is one of many agencies creating ground-breaking applications for the device.

It has seen the potential benefits that mixed reality brings to an enterprise by blending virtual and physical worlds, enabling revolutionary experiences to improve business processes and efficiency. By using HoloLens, employees are able to transform the way they communicate, create and collaborate to provide a better customer experience, improve how they work and much more.

Through Microsoft’s Universal Windows Platform (UWP), Black Marble has developed an award-winning application, tuServ, which is transforming the approach to digitising modern policing. The company wanted to push the boundaries of what is possible with a Universal Windows Application, and has developed an innovative proof of concept solution that gives police forces the ability to capture content at a crime scene in real time.

tuServ’s Scene of Crime application has been developed with operational police officers for operational police officers. It is revolutionising how officers in the field and staff in police stations are approaching the scene of a crime. Today, evidence contamination is a key concern for crime scene investigation teams, and transparency in the investigation process is vital for maintaining public confidence in police activity. Using Microsoft HoloLens, officers in the field can place virtual markers, trace 3D objects and gather multimedia evidence, drastically cutting the risk of disturbing the physical evidence at a scene. tuServ gives crime scene investigators more accurate and tangible evidence, and virtually transports officers back to the scene of a crime at any time – markers and evidence can be viewed as they were at the time of investigation, giving an accurate view of the scene.

However, it’s not just officers at the scene of a crime who reap the benefits of HoloLens applications. Back at the station, officers can view the captured media evidence with tuServ via Windows devices in real time or on-demand, or through the tuServ HoloLens Command and Control App. This bolsters a force’s ability to collaborate even when working remotely, and enhances communication by allowing officers to not only be verbal but also demonstrative. The application is redefining the ways in which police forces operate, ensuring improved data quality and the efficient use of resources. Yet still, Command and Control Units are going one step further. tuServ’s HoloLens Command and Control App allows units to go completely portable, harnessing the power of HoloLens to view officers and incidents on a map, and giving a comprehensive overview of everything happening in an area.

Everything you need to know about HoloLens

Nick Lyall, Superintendent at Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Police, said: “Having looked at the kit, as a public order and firearms commander I can say that without a doubt its use, through tuServ, will revolutionise policing. As a detective, I can also say that its ability to scan crime scenes and create a mapped 3D version will allow for a reduction in cross-contamination issues and allow investigators to visualise in real-time the scenes of major crime. The vision and innovation of Black Marble is groundbreaking and I look forward to taking this forward on behalf of UK policing and policing worldwide.”

Communication, collaboration and cooperation are the basis of any police operation, and through tuServ’s HoloLens Command and Control App, Command and Control units are rapidly mobilised to react to an incident at a moment’s notice. Units can assign officers to incidents, communicate with those on the ground, and build a clear and inclusive view of every component in play at a scene. Combined, these features deliver the agility that a force needs to be responsive and reactive in a high-pressure environment where every minute counts.

This is just the beginning for mixed reality in the public sector, with huge potential for HoloLens applications to change how police work. By transforming data into visual information, HoloLens can revolutionise the way we think and work.