The Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) has changed its name to the New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (PHF Science) as of 1 July 2025. The website address is now www.phfscience.nz. Visitors are automatically redirected to the new address. Please check and update any links and bookmarks.

Forensic virtual reality training simulator

08 January 2018

VR In Action Forensic 2018
VR In Action Forensic 2018

Please note: As of 1 July 2025, the New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (PHF Science) is the new name for the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR). Articles and information published before this date may reference the organisation's former name.

ESR has partnered with Staples Virtual Reality – a multidisciplinary creative technology company – to build a crime scene training simulator.

Created as a training tool for Police detectives, the mock crime scene environment uses virtual reality where users gets to practice the key skills required for gathering and logging evidence at a crime scene.

Filmed at ESR’s “crime house”, a dilapidated house used by ESR’s forensic scientists to practice and refine forensic techniques, Staples VR then layered LiDar scanning, photogrammetry and interactive controllers to create a realistic environment for training purposes.

Click here to find out more about Staples VR.