Qualification & Course Specification for Module 1 – The Draw Program by North West Technical Services Limited

Qualification & course specification

Introduction

This qualification is designed to develop the learner’s understanding of the use of PC-Crash to produce 2D plans, suitable for use in Report writing and/or distribution to Jurors and Court Officials.

It forms the first of four modules which are designed to take the learner through different stages of the PC Crash program. Modules 1 and 2 are suitable for all Road Traffic Investigators, whilst it is recommended that Modules 3 and 4 should only be available to Senior Road Traffic Investigators with at least three to four years unsupervised experience.

Qualification regulation

The course has been developed by North West Technical Services Ltd (NWTS Ltd), who are the UK agents for Dr. Steffan Datentechnik (DSD), and has been approved by the Forensic Collision Investigators Network (FCIN), as an award for completion of the first module in PC-Crash training. It is open to both serving Police Officers and to Private Practitioners.

Qualification overview and objective

This qualification is intended for those who wish to produce 2D plans suitable for inclusion in Police or Private Practitioner reports or for distribution to Jurors or Court Officials. The training leads to an understanding of the principles and practices necessary to generate accurate plans from laser scans.

Entry requirements

In order to complete this qualification, learners are required to hold a minimum of either:

City and Guilds Institute Certificate in Road Accident Investigation
University Certificate of Professional Development in Forensic Road Collision Investigation
An equivalent certificate in the subject

In addition to the above and prior to registration, those who wish to take Module 1 of the PC-Crash course are likely to be active members of either a Police Collision Investigation Unit, or practising Private Practitioners working in the area of Road Traffic Accident Investigation or equivalent.

The following are essential requirements for joining course:

A working knowledge of the English language
A sufficient level of numeracy for simple sums
A working knowledge of a Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawing package
An understanding of 3D laser scanning or photogrammetry
A basic understanding of Dynamics (Newtonian Principles)

Geographical coverage

This qualification is suitable for learners throughout the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland). It is also open to international learners.

Special needs

Every effort will be made to support learners with special needs (religion, disability etc). These need to be flagged up on the attached application form, and at the earliest opportunity, in order that there is sufficient time for suitable arrangements to be made.

Training venues

Because of the present Covid situation training will be undertaken using Zoom, with the number of learners restricted to 6, with the option in an emergency to increase this number to 7.

When Covid restrictions do not apply, the course can be supplied to up to 24 learners (with Classroom Assistants) within suitable training facilities, supplied by the Police, or at a suitable Hotel or Conference Centre. The venue for this training programme can be found on the Application Form.

For validation purposes, the course sessions will be recorded, and copies of coursework and exam papers will be held in secure storage, at least up to the revalidation of the learner after three years.

Certification and re-validation

The successful learner will be Certificated for this module for a period of three years. Thereafter the validation can be renewed by the presentation of two projects, which have been certified by a Senior Officer or Trainer, as completed by the applicant without the assistance of a third-party.

The first project will demonstrate an ability to produce a 2D plan suitable for inclusion in a Report or for distribution to Jurors or Court Officials. The second project will demonstrate an ability to add sightlines or mirrors to a 3D model of a vehicle. The projects will be assessed by NWTS Ltd to determine whether the Certified applicant has maintained the necessary level of competence.

Where the expected level is not achieved, either in Module 1 or at a later application for renewal, NWTS Ltd will make every effort to assist the applicant to obtain the necessary standard.

The cost for the revalidation of the Module will be £100.00 plus VAT.

Guidance on delivery

The total qualification time and guided learning hours for this qualification are listed below:

The course consists of a two-day classroom programme followed by the production of two small projects by the learner. Thereafter there is a revision day including a written exam.

TQT is an estimate of the total number of hours it would take an average learner to achieve and demonstrate the necessary level of attainment to be awarded with the qualification, both under direct supervision (forming guided learning hours) and without supervision (all other time). TQT and GLH values are advisory and assigned to the qualification as guidance.

NWTS Award in “Using the Draw Program in PC-Crash”

Credit Value: 5

Guide learning hours (GLH): 18

Total Qualification Time (TQT): 22

Assessment Method: Classroom Training and Project

Guidance on assessment

These qualifications will be assessed informally throughout the presentation of the course and formally by both assessment of the submitted project and the written examination on the revision day.

50% of the marks will be credited to the project work, with the remaining 50% based on the answers to the written examination. The pass rate will be set at 75% with a minimum pass rate in both sections of 60%.

A holistic approach will be taken with respect to the assessment of the learner in both the classroom and project stages of the module.

Please note: The course structure can be found in Appendix 1.

Recognition of prior learning (RPL)

Where appropriate recognition of prior learning or prior achievement will be taken into account in the presentation of the module.

Required equipment for the training programme

The following is a list of the minimum equipment which is required by the learner in order to ensure that the training programme can take place within the allotted time, and to ensure that the learner can obtain the greatest benefit from Module 1. The items in red below are necessary for Web-based training, as this inevitably requires extra resources.

Training Program – Required resources for the Learner

A valid DSD dongle
1. Giving access to PC-Crash version 12.0 or newer.
2. If a dongle is not available for the learner please contact NWTS, who can make suitable arrangements.
A Computer
1. With the following capabilities, as a minimum:-
  1. A Pentium or higher computer running Microsoft Windows 10 or above
  2. 64-bit capability preferred
  3. VGA card with a minimum resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels and 32-bit colour depth
  4. Video card to support Direct X 10 graphics acceleration for viewing 3D scenes
PC-Crash Software
1. The computer needs to have been loaded with the PC Crash software from the discs at least 48 hours before the course. A check should be carried out to ensure that:
  1. The program loads as a valid copy, not as Demonstration Version. If there is a problem then contact NWTS immediately to solve this, before the training begins.
  2. The 3D DXF images (3D models of cars et cetera) has been installed. If in doubt please contact NWTS prior to the training so this can be verified.
A Mouse
1. It is virtually impossible to move the pointer on the screen with sufficient accuracy using the Touch Pad. Users attempting that method will cause disruption to the training, as it will slow progress down.
Access to PDF files
1. The PC-Crash manual, which will be referred to in the training is a PDF document. Previously time has been lost arranging for computers to have access to Adobe.
Local Hard drive
1. Saving to a remote server takes time when dealing with large point clouds. Whilst this may be a requirement when dealing with real cases, it will again slowdown the training process. Training projects should be saved locally.
Notepad
1. Whilst a downloadable manual will be available from Dropbox, there will inevitably be some points that the learner would like to note for future reference.
Project
1. There will be a requirement for the learner to submit one or more projects, covering the training programme, and these need to be sent to NWTS via a link. The preferred system would be Dropbox
Calculator (advisable only)
Network connection
1. With the training carried and over the Internet the quality of the network connection is extremely important. It may be advisable to speak with your IT department to ensure that the best possible network connection can be given to the learner.
Web Cam
1. The Zoom courses are limited to 6 learners to ensure that the trainer can see each person on the course and monitor them, to make certain that no one is falling behind. A Web Cam is essential.
Access to Dropbox
1. The course materials will be available for download from Dropbox vis a link sent by email. Obviously, the learner needs to be able to access this information. You may need to speak with your IT department to ensure that course materials can be downloaded. The course materials will be available at least one week before the course. If the dropbox link is causing difficulties please contact NWTS at the earliest opportunity.
Two Monitor Screens
1. The learner will need two screens, one for the Zoom training and the second for working through the training examples in PC-Crash.

Appendix 1: Course content – Module 1: Using the Draw Program in PC-Crash

Section	Learning Outcomes	Assessment Criteria
Section of Module:	The Learner will:	The Learner can:
1. Set up PC-Crash	Understand how to set up PC-Crash	Set Global parameters Find File Locations Set up Right Hand Drive
2. Customise PC-Crash	Understand how to customise the program and save settings	Set quick access toolbar Customise keyboard Save personal settings
3. Overview of ribbon	Understand the basic structure of PC-Crash ribbons	Navigate around the program Find the functions for use in the Draw program
4. The Draw menu	Understand the purpose for all the Draw tools	Find different tools Use different tools Save a project
5. Importing a scan	Understand how to import a laser scan into PC-Crash	Import a scan Filter a scan Reposition a scan Add North Realign scan Split scan into layers
6. Generate a drawing	Understand how to use the Draw tools to generate a 2D plan	Set a draw Draw road markings Draw kerb edges Add vehicles and forensic markers
7. Sight lines	Understand the Fan tool	Clean a vehicle scan Add sight line fan Import the model into a project
8. Project work	Understand how to apply the training with both a small 2D plan and a demonstration model of sightlines, or mirrors added to a vehicle	Produce a workable 2D plan. Produce a usable 3D model demonstrating either sightlines or mirrors views.

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