Digital Data Acquisition, Recovery and Analysis – Autonomous Vehicle Forensics
This individual coursework for the Digital Data Acquisition, Recovery and Analysis module requires students to produce a 1,500-word technical research paper critically investigating autonomous vehicle (AV) forensics. The assignment focuses on the challenges, methodologies and tools involved in extracting, preserving, analysing and interpreting digital evidence from autonomous vehicles and their associated systems. The work specifically considers how forensic evidence can be used to reconstruct events and establish accountability following accidents, security breaches or system malfunctions. The assignment examines the increasing importance of digital evidence generated by intelligent transportation systems and smart vehicles. Students are expected to consider data produced by different sources within an autonomous vehicle ecosystem, including LiDAR, radar and GPS sensors, vehicle control units and connected infrastructure. The report should explore how these different forms of information can be collected and forensically preserved while maintaining their evidential value for subsequent investigation and analysis. The coursework requires a detailed technical analysis rather than a general overview of autonomous vehicles or digital forensics. Students are expected to engage with academic literature, industry frameworks and technical examples, while providing critical insights into the subject. The report should analyse the practical challenges associated with AV forensics and critically examine the tools and methodologies that can be applied to obtain and interpret evidence from autonomous vehicle environments. Legal, ethical and privacy considerations form an important part of the assignment. The report should examine issues surrounding the use of autonomous vehicle evidence, including legal responsibility, regulatory considerations, privacy implications and ethical challenges associated with collecting and analysing potentially sensitive vehicle and user data. These considerations should be connected to the wider forensic investigation process and the reliability and admissibility of digital evidence. The required report should follow an academic research-paper structure, including a cover page, abstract, keywords, table of contents, clearly organised sections and subsections, references and an appendix where required. The brief requires APA referencing and a reference list at the end of the paper. Students are expected to use their own words and critically analyse the literature rather than simply summarising existing research. The assessment evaluates five equally weighted areas: structure and presentation with supporting references; balance, objectivity, critical evaluation and original insight; identification of AV-forensics challenges and quality of analysis; analysis of tools and methodologies used in AV forensics; and understanding of AV forensics together with its legal, professional and ethical considerations. Each area contributes 20% to the assessment.
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