Al-Lataminah M4000 Reconstruction

Background

In the Al-Lataminah chemical attack investigation (Syria, 2017), Forensic Architecture had to prove the origin of a fragmented munition from limited 2D evidence. This case demonstrates situating evidence within 3D space.

• Case study: Forensic Architecture
• Reference assets (GitHub Archive 41): github.com/forensic-architecture/models

How it was likely made

1. Modeling the M4000 body (certain): realized using leaked 2D technical blueprints (Russian MoD), hard-surface modeled from reference with the blueprints as a 1:1 "jig."
2. Shrapnel modeling (hybrid approach):
   • Manual geometry matching: estimating shrapnel geometry manually, light camera matching, then vertex manipulation to match the photo — highly time-consuming.
   • Photogrammetry: used intermittently when video walkthroughs of intact munitions became available (late 2019).
3. Texture mapping — Project from View: evidence photographs projected onto the 3D geometry.

Animation: shape keys morph shrapnel geometry back to the intact model, animating the transition to demonstrate original fragment positions.

Two likely workflows:

1. Model from blueprint → shape parts to match shrapnel (sculpt/vertex manipulation) → animate via shape keys.
2. Model from blueprint + photogrammetry of the shrapnel → morph via shape keys → animate. More accurate but more complex.

Open questions

• Which exact scanning techniques were used on the shrapnel?
• Some pieces have details that could not come from a single image; most parts have projected textures.

Related resources

To be filled in during the #45/#47 restructure — link to precision-modeling, camera-matching, photogrammetry.