.RAF Files from Register 360 and Forensic Workflows:

What is this file type used for and should I be creating one for each project?

The program Cyclone Register 360 uses highspeed data vaults to work from when we import scan data, register, then export that data. A project in that REG360 Vault holds the work you as an operator have done to that dataset. While the project data is held in the REG360 Vault on your local hard drive it can be accessed for more work or to republish a new LGS deliverable or if needed a different format point cloud type like an .e57 can be published.

While the data of the projects worked on sit in the REG360 Vault they take up valuable high speed hard drive space that is needed to keep that internal hard drive functioning at the highest efficiency and prevent software crashes. Best practice is to have a REG360 Vault that is only holding the cases you actively need to work on or may need to revise for a pending trial.

The .RAF file is a standalone zipped archive file of all the project’s imported data, your registration work, point cloud cleaning, and files generated. The purpose of the .RAF is to allow users to remove the project data from the REG360 Vault on your local high speed hard drive to free up space and to also share the work you have done with other users.

The entire project will need to be done again from a RAW Data import if the REG360 Vault file is not present or a .RAF file is not available to import by placing it in the REG360 Archive Folder. If a case has been purged from the REG360 Vault and needs editing, the .RAF file can be placed in the designated “Archive Folder” and imported into Register 360 for editing or republishing any old or new deliverables.

Freeing up space:

Having a digital back up of the project data held inside your REG360 Vault(s) is recommended. Mirror it or duplicate it to a separate spinning hard drive. The task of exporting individual case .RAF archive files allow for the older cases to be deleted from the REG360 Vault. Users move this data to a slower and less expensive internal hard drive or push it to a network server to meet agency digital evidence file retention requirements.

It is rare but clients have seen data loss from REG360 Vaults.

• SSD Hard Drive Failure: Recovery not possible from this type of hard drive.

• Accidental Deletion: Any User Can Permanently Erase a Project File from the REG360 Vault. There is no recovery possible without a backup of the REG360 Vault.

• IT removal and destruction of REG360 Vault: IT Support Staff do not know the value of the data and in computer servicing sometimes staff erase a user’s profile and the REG360 Vault associated with a configured windows user is lost.

• Corruption of the data in the REG360 Vault.

Sharing the Project:

There are key data differences between the "ARCHIVE" .RAF file and the "DELIVERABLE" .LGS file. A typical investigation when fully competed and prosecuted will have a folder structure where the RAW Scan data is maintained, a single .RAF file of the project, a folder where copies of the imbedded digital assets (GeoTags - Photographs) are kept and one or two .LGS versions. (Investigative & Final)

Discovery:

Prosecution / Defense requests for Discovery are a key use for the .RAF file. When a full request for all work product and analysis is received the .RAF file is the data file that needs to be provided from work done in Cyclone Register 360. Any work done in Legacy Cyclone would provide the .IMP file.

• .LGS File: The .LGS deliverable viewed in Truview does not hold the operator's work done in Register 360 or all the scanner data. The .LGS is a viewable file of the assembled, cleaned data with embedded asset (GeoTags).

  • • Many Law Enforcement agencies elect to set policy for normal discovery request to only provide the currently published .LGS file and copy of the free Truview viewer software.

    • It is important to know that the .LGS file can be imported into legacy Cyclone* for additional analysis work but has limitation on what can be created from the file because the parent scan data is not included.

• • • .LGS files cannot be imported into Register 360 and edited.

• Version Documentation: The .RAF file is a written file that documents the project at that point in time and all alterations at the time of .LGS deliverable creation. If authenticity is challenged or alteration of the original file distributed as discovery, the published .RAF file can provide supporting documentation to the date and contents of the created .LGS file in question.

• Editing / Republishing: The .RAF file must be imported to view or edit a project. Cyclone Register 360 with a license will be required. Project data files removed from your vault need to be imported to edit or reproduce deliverables.

  • • • GeoTags, remove or add

      • Assets in library, remove or add

      • Quick Limit Boxes, modify, remove or add

      • Restore Deleted Points

      • Modify a Registration, remove a station, fix a misalignment

      • Republish data to a different file type.

In summary:

• Agencies that do not have a routine automated back up of their REG360 Vault need to produce .RAF files as back up files on each project. The case folder with all project data should be stored on a different hard drive than the REG360 Vault if possible.

• The choice on when to produce the .RAF file and remove a Register 360 project from the REG360 Vault (Delete or Migrate to a different Vault) should be setup as routine done monthly to review current active investigations. The amount of data retained will be based on available high speed hard drive space where the REG360 Vault resides on the internal SSD hard drive.

• The use of a slower hard drive as a COLD STORAGE Vault is a desired workflow especially when high speed storage space is at a premium.

• LG PSG recommend the creation and archiving of a .RAF file as the optimal original evidence for Leica Geosystems Cyclone Register 360 workflow and is the preferred file format to accommodate back up needs and accurately fulfill discovery requests for all original data and work product files when provided with original RAW Scanner Data.

• LG PSG do not recommend using the feature Export Fast Archive – for .RAF creation.