Crime scene reconstruction: a scoping review

Abstract Background Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) has become a key specialty in contemporary criminal justice, driven by the application of science, legal criteria, and innovative technologies for analysing physical evidence and reconstructing crimes. 3D reconstruction technologies, such as laser scanning, photogrammetry, and virtual reality (VR), have become inseparable from forensics due to the increased precision and support for evidence preservation driven by recent advances. Based on the scoping review method by Arksey and O'Malley, as well as the Joanna Briggs Institute, this paper discusses the scope and implications of such technologies in the field of forensic science. Main Body Examining 34 studies published between January 1, 2008, and July 31, 2025, in 17 nations, the review concludes that 3D technologies have high precision and non-invasive documentation accuracy. These have helped enhance spatial analysis, court presentations, and training by employing immersive visualizations, particularly in bloodstain pattern analysis and injury confirmation. Its limitations, however, exist in the high costs, environmental constraints, complexities of data processing, and the absence of uniform protocol standards, which restrict scalability and the legality of admissibility. Conclusion 3D reconstruction technologies are valuable in enhancing and complementing forensic work, providing accurate, non-destructive, and immersive systems for analysing and displaying evidence. It will be essential to address the existing challenges with automation, cost-efficient implementations, and standardized procedures that ensure their practicality, dependability, and adoption in global forensic practice.