Page 20 - Index

Virtual Wreckage Mapping Using Public Media Photos

(This article was adapted By Jacob Zeiger, Senior Air Safety Investigator, Boeing Commercial Airplanes
with permission from the
author’s technical paper
Virtual Wreckage Mapping hindered in their ability to paper—while the source of
Using Public Media Photos Introduction
presented during ISASI 2021, In the early stages of any arrange timely travel to an the photos is normally verified
a virtual seminar hosted from aircraft accident investigation, accident site, despite local and trustworthy, the team
Vancouver, B.C., Canada, from one critical task is the security citizens having immediate can instead be faced with a
Aug. 31–Sept. 2, 2021. The theme and collection of perishable access to the site. While the large number of images from
for the seminar was “Staying evidence, particularly with re- reasons for travel restrictions investigators that must then
Safe, Moving Forward.” The full spect to the airplane wreckage may stem from diplomatic or be sorted on a larger scale.
technical paper is available on itself. The hours immediately political circumstances at the The information in this pa-
ISASI’s website, www.isasi.org, after an investigative team is site, international and domes- per is intended to provide an
in the Library section under the tic travel can also be restricted overview of one example event
Publications and Governance/ notified of an event represent
Technical Papers tabs. A blank a critical time in which the by internal company or agency in which professional and so-
version of the photo review team is managing multiple travel policies, or by a variety cial media provided valuable
catalogue discussed in this logistical tasks. Travel to the of other reasons. information into understand-
presentation is available for free accident site must be ar- The COVID-19 pandemic ing a wreckage field that could
from the author. Please e-mail ranged, and the local official demonstrates one major way not be accessed by an investi-
Jacob.N.Zeiger@boeing.com agencies must be contacted to in which site access can be gation team in the initial days
to request a copy. Suggestions help secure the site in prepa- restricted to local citizens and after an event. In the January
for improvements or feedback ration for the team’s arrival. press in the initial hours after 2020 accident involving a
from “field” use is strongly an accident takes place. Even Ukraine International Airways
encouraged.—Editor) During this period, local
authorities are also busy with in cases in which the investi- B-737-800, Boeing collected
handling potential disruptions gation team can deploy to an publicly available photos and
to infrastructure (roads, power accident site rapidly, wreckage videos for review in order to
lines, etc.) and managing a in populated areas can be create a virtual wreckage map
potentially large number of disturbed by civilians prior that could be studied within
casualties. to first responders’ or investi- Boeing. The virtual wreckage
Professional news media gators’ arrival. In these cases, map also provided an efficient
is normally quick to seek out the available media from method for Boeing’s obser-
information about an accident professional outlets and social vations of the wreckage field
(including photos and videos) posts can still be valuable in to be shared with the govern-
as well to provide critical ini- viewing a wreckage field and ment investigation.
tial information to the general making observations about
public. As social media posts the components that are pho- Investigation Protocol
receive increased attention tographed. As an airframe manufacturer,
and wider distribution, both In nearly all accident cases, Boeing assists government in-
on their own and with the help a minimum of an investiga- vestigations by providing tech-
of professional news media, tor-in-charge or a designated nical advisors to the U.S. Na-
the general public becomes representative can visit the tional Transportation Safety
incentivized to document wreckage site and gather Board under the protocols and
and post information about relevant photos and evidence. reporting structure of ICAO
newsworthy events that they As long as an official resource Annex 13. This participation
encounter. The collective re- is given access to a secure site, also allows Boeing to review
sult of these combined media restricted travel on the part of investigative findings as part
can be a wave of photos and a particular support organi- of a formal internal safety
video being published about zation can be easily resolved process to identify and correct
an event like an aviation ac- with good communication safety-related findings quickly.
cident in the very early hours and the sharing of investiga- For the event discussed in
after it happens, during the tive data in accordance with this paper, Boeing used the ob-
time when the investigative International Civil Aviation servations from media photos
team may still be gathering Organization (ICAO) Annex to help inform that safety
information and preparing to 13. These cases can present process in the early stages
travel. a different set of challenges of the investigation. Those
Additionally, investiga- for an investigative team observations were shared with
Jacob Zeiger tion teams are occasionally from those discussed in this the Annex 13 investigation as
20 • January-March 2022 ISASI Forum