Workshop at Technical University of Munich on Visual-Based Flight Data Reconstruction for Flight Accident Investigation

A dynamic workshop took place at Technical University of Munich (TUM), focusing on visual and witness-based flight data reconstruction as a tool for accident investigation. The event brought together students of the chair of Ergonomics to discuss cutting-edge methodologies for uncovering the causes of aviation incidents and how safety can be further improved.
Throughout the workshop, students delivered insightful presentations on a variety of topics related to flight data reconstruction. These included the integration of witness testimonies, the use of AI to recreate flight paths and the role of visual data such as video recordings or photographs. The students agreed that visual data is more reliable than witness data, however not always observations are digitally recorded.
The highlight of the event was a presentation by Dr. Marcus Bauer from the company iwiation, who shared invaluable experiences gathered through several published accident investigations. Dr. Bauer emphasized the importance of data collection that support the investigation and root cause analysis. He showcased the innovative techniques of iwi® methodology to enhance the accuracy and reliability of data reconstruction.
A critical discussion point during the workshop was the capability of immersive visualization for human factor analysis, which is increasingly recognized as a pivotal aspect of accident investigations. Human errors remain the leading root cause of accidents in the aerospace sector, and the ability to analyze behavioral and decision-making patterns through such methods is crucial for further improving aviation safety.
The workshop concluded with a Q&A session, where attendees exchanged ideas and explored the future potential of combining visual data and human factor insights to improve aviation safety. This event not only deepened the participants’ understanding of accident reconstruction but also underscored the importance of bridging academic knowledge with industry expertise.