Evaluation of mobile eye tracking for forensic analysis of pedestrian falls

Abstract

The forensic analysis of falls is most commonly reliant on the application of generalized non-case specific research to support whether a person would be likely to gaze in the direction or area of a hazard prior to a fall event. The recent developments of mobile eye tracking systems may allow for direct, on-site evaluations, to assess probability of detection of claimed hazardous conditions. Herein, an evaluation of a mobile eye tracking system is provided based on the application to a forensic case study that involved a transition from one space to another through a door. The results of the initial study were further evaluated in three other areas, with similar settings. The results of two studies demonstrate support for the hypothesis that a person would not look down at the landing area when stepping. However, in achieving these results, we found both support for the utility of the device as well as certain limitations for future use.

Examining the Relationship between Construction Workers’ Visual Attention and Situation Awareness under Fall and Tripping Hazard Conditions: Using Mobile Eye Tracking

“…Workers obtain feedforward information about potential sources of tripping hazards several feet ahead of them by directing their gaze downward (Land 2006;Kuzel et al 2013;Ayres and Kelkar 2006;Buckley et al 2011). This distance-or "effective visual field"-is often 3 m ahead and slightly below horizontal (Whetsel and Campbell 2016).…”

“…Although the role of attention in identifying tripping hazards has been inferred in the previous literature (e.g., Bentley et al 2003;Mitropoulos et al 2009;Bentley 2009;Segev-Jacubovski et al 2014), it has been difficult to test this hypothesis empirically due to the absence of a reliable measure of attention. Fortunately, it is well established that visual scanning behavior is highly correlated with human attention, such that where one looks is often indicative of where they are attending (e.g., Kuzel et al 2013;Duchowski 2007). Thus, understanding where and when one looks helps identify which visual inputs the brain is using to make decisions and execute behaviors (Kim et al 2016).…”

“…To study attention, one well-established measurement technique is to track the oculomotor behavior of subjects. Tracking eye movements of individuals provides insights into their attentional allocations, visual search strategies, and cognitive processes, which all serve as inputs to be organized and prioritized in the brain and executed as behavior (Kuzel et al 2013;Tatler et al 2016). Previous attempts to use eye tracking in construction safety (e.g., Bhoir et al 2015;Hasanzadeh et al 2017a, b, c, d) almost exclusively relied on two-dimensional (2D) displays in a laboratory setting, where images of scenes are displayed on computer screens.…”

The science behind codes and standards for safe pedestrian walkways: Lighting and visual cues

“…Similar results were obtained when the floor was painted with yellow stripes 30 cm wide and 30 cm apart. However, it was noted, but not yet conclusively proven, in a recent pilot study conducted in the field that a relatively thin, 1.5" (3.81 cm), white stripe freshly painted along a sidewalk uplift went unnoticed by pedestrians wearing mobile eyetracking equipment (Kuzel et al, 2013). Therefore, the relative criticality of stripe size versus color remains undetermined.…”

Research-Based Forensic Analysis of a Vehicle Crash When Limited Information is Available: A Case Study

“…This data-driven approach to investigating personal injuries has applicability to a variety of incident types. Indeed, several recent publications have addressed novel approaches to forensic analyses of incidents and events involving human factors issues related to slips and falls, missteps, and traffic crashes (e.g., Hartman, Whetsel Borzendowski, & Campbell, 2020;King & Morgan, 2019;Kuzel, Cohen, Rauschenberger, & Cohen, 2013;Whetsel Borzendowski & Campbell, 2017). A continued reliance on empirical research and data regarding human capabilities and limitations serves to not only strengthen the opinions offered by expert witnesses but also to continue to add to our understanding of human behavior.…”