Free Webinar - Speed Determination Using Audio Analysis - We have not been hearing the evidence - Henry Vega

ABSTRACT

Audio of recordings of vehicle collisions with other vehicles or stationary objects has not been evaluated to determine if characteristics of the collisions may offer the investigator or practitioner an additional method to calculate vehicle speed in their investigation. This presentation will cover prior research results from Crash Day 2025, and real-world vehicle collision investigation incidents where audio assisted the investigator review critical aspects recorded audio. The limitations encountered with recorded audio will also be discussed with examples.

In the following presentation, various vehicle collisions conducted under control conditions were analyzed to determine vehicle speeds based on audio of the vehicle approaching and through impact. This study demonstrated that an audio signal generated by an internal combustion engine of a passenger vehicle and recorded by an interior audio and video-recording device was a reliable source to determine vehicle speed. However, an external audio and video-recording device had limitations by the crosswind noise masking the approaching test vehicle.

This presentation will also discuss research correlating audio frequencies generated by rotating vehicle tires with the travel speed of the vehicle. How the research was conducted and how to determine vehicle speed from dash camera audio for your case.

Mr Vega is a licensed Professional Mechanical Engineer, an ACTAR accredited accident reconstructionist, and a certified FAA U

AV Pilot, and an Associate Member of the Audio Engineering Society. Mr Vega has been working in failure analysis and accident reconstruction since 1998 and holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Northern Illinois University.

He has extensive experience investigating accidents involving commercial and passenger vehicles, motorcycles, farm equipment, ATV’s, and pedestrians. He has used forensic audio/video analysis in shooting and forensics reconstructions. And published three methods and developed the equation to determine vehicle speed from dash camera audio. Also developed and published a method of combining sUAV (drone) or terrestrial images with laser scans to produce high-quality colonized and accurate three-dimensional computer models that are used in accident reconstruction and forensics settings.

Mr Vega is also actively conducting joint research with collision investigators in the United Kingdom regarding audio from staged vehicle collisions and e-Scooters as well as conducting joint research with a Canadian forensics’ investigator regarding firearm audio analysis using body worn cameras and other consumer available video camera recording devices.