Surveillance Methods & Technology Flashcards
7 cards from real CFI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Surveillance Methods & Technology flashcards as text
A cell phone tower records showing a suspect's device pinging near a fire scene are BEST described as what type of evidence?
Answer: Digital circumstantial evidence
Cell tower location records are digital circumstantial evidence that can corroborate or contradict a suspect's stated location without directly proving guilt.
When preserving DVR evidence at a fire scene, the chain of custody requires the investigator to:
Answer: Document the device serial number, date, time, and all persons handling it
A proper chain of custody requires meticulous documentation of every person who handles evidence and all associated identifying information.
Which surveillance technique involves analyzing the pattern of false alarms prior to a fire to identify potential arson pre-planning?
Answer: Temporal pattern analysis
Temporal pattern analysis of alarm histories can reveal rehearsal behavior or deliberate testing of detection systems by an arsonist.
Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) data collected near a fire scene is obtained through:
Answer: Law enforcement databases, private networks, or subpoena of commercial systems
ALPR data may be accessed through police databases, private parking or tolling networks, or legal process such as subpoenas served on commercial operators.
A fire investigator reviewing ATM camera footage notes the image is distorted near the edges. This is MOST likely caused by:
Answer: Wide-angle or fisheye lens barrel distortion
Wide-angle and fisheye lenses commonly used in ATM cameras introduce barrel distortion that curves straight lines near image edges.
In fire investigation surveillance, the term 'canvass' refers to:
Answer: Systematic contact with area residents and businesses to locate witnesses and footage
A canvass involves systematically interviewing nearby residents, businesses, and visitors to locate eyewitnesses and uncover available surveillance footage.
What phenomenon can cause a surveillance camera's recorded time to drift significantly from actual time over months of operation?
Answer: Internal clock drift without NTP synchronization
Without synchronization to a Network Time Protocol server, a camera's internal clock can accumulate significant drift, undermining the evidentiary value of timestamps.