I have prepared the beta version of a software kit for generating rotatable
representations of multiple human bodies and skeletons (BODROT). The humans
are represented as stick figures.

One specific purpose of such representations is searching for 3-D pattern in
the distribution of dumps of bodies in mass graves. Such overall patterns
may not have been recognised during an exhumation, if each body was exhumed
as soon as it was uncovered.

There are three steps towards getting such representations:

1. Collecting the 3-D coordinates of a body; BODROT uses twelve anatomical
landmarks on each body - cranium, shoulders, elbows, wrists, pelvis, knees
and ankles. This survey job can be done by any instrument that outputs 3-D
coordinates.

2. Parsing the survey data for errors and generating a formatted data file
for use by the rotating software.

3. Rotating the data file using 3-D software.

The package BODROT carries out step 2 above, with the aim of displaying the
3-D file on the program ROTATE in step 3.

The program ROTATE is written by Marijke van Gans and downloadable from

http://www.silicon-alley.com/cat/rotate.html.

I am happy to email the beta version of BODROT to anybody who requests it,
and will welcome comments. There is no charge.

The package was prepared during intervals between forensic exhumation work
for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). An
advantage for evidentiary purposes is that the ROTATE software can be freely
distributed on a disk with the data file generated by BODROT, i.e. no
installation of a CAD program is required on the recipient's computer.

Richard Wright

_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at
http://profiles.msn.com.