The ECTEG Vehicular Forensics course addresses the challenges of recovering digital evidence or data stored in a vehicle’s modules, networks, and messages sent across operating systems. It focuses on two types of vehicles: manned vehicles (such as a car, with people inside it operating its controls) and unmanned vehicles (such as a drone that can be controlled remotely, operating without a person onboard). Both types of vehicles are used to commit crimes, leaving digital traces that can be paramount to investigators.
To attend to the LEA needs in the field, ECTEG and its experts create a set of course modules covering:
– Automotive Forensics
– Unmanned Vehicles Forensics (flying, terrestrial, marine, submarine drones)
The developments include theoretical and practical training, such as securing and preserving a vehicle at a crime scene, acquiring data, and being aware of data sources and networks in the vehicle — all while ensuring practitioners’ security.
The modularisation approach guarantees the modules will be made available as an ECTEG package and as standalone, allowing for ease of updates and coordination of content development. A realistic scenario-based use-case dataset, related to the Scenario Dataset project, provides the materials for exercises in the course modules, aiding participants in “connecting the dots”.
The project aims to incorporate additional content later, such as specifics on other vehicles (bicycles, scooters, shared use or rental systems).
Target audience
The initial attendees of this course are intermediate and advanced investigators who have an affinity for computer and vehicle investigations and have dedicated tasks assigned to this type of investigation. The ECTEG Digital Forensics Investigator, or similar training course, serves as a baseline formation needed for the course´s audience.
Project partners and contributors
French Police, Belgian Federal Police, French Gendarmerie, Dutch Police, Dutch Police Academy, University College Dublin (Ireland), Hellenic Police (Greece), Carabinieri (Italy), Danish Police, Europol, DG HOME and DG JRC (European Commission).