An Introduction and Evaluation of Apple iOS Device Data for Use in Crash Reconstruction

The integration of mobile device data in accident/crash/collision reconstruction methodologies offers significant potential in analyzing collision events. This study evaluates the utility of iPhone-recorded data, specifically Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) position and speed data, along with Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) based time and date information associated with application usage and device activity events. By conducting controlled tests, the accuracy, precision, and reliability of iPhone GNSS data were compared against high-accuracy reference systems, including a Racelogic VBox Video HD2 25 Hz GPS data logger and VBox Sport 25 Hz GPS data logger. The synchronicity between recorded app events and device activities with physical events was also analyzed to assess the temporal resolution of the data. Results highlight the strengths and limitations of iPhone data for reconstructing crash events, including potential discrepancies in GNSS accuracy under varying conditions and the reliability of UTC timestamps in corroborating event timelines and driver actions.