Secure digital data collection

Abstract

Systems and methods for generating certified images and incident reports are disclosed. An image capture device can be used to capture an image and integrate metadata from camera sensors as well as other ancillary device sensors into the image. The image and its metadata can then be certified upon a check that the image and its metadata are authentic and unaltered. The image and its metadata can then be included in or as a part of an incident or other report describing an incident or event such as an accident or a crime. The image and/or incident report may be maintained at a cloud-based server for viewing, authorized editing, and subsequent distribution.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for generating an incident report, the method comprising:
 receiving a digital image;   receiving a sensor data set associated with the digital image;   executing instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor:
 determines that the digital image is authentic and unaltered, 
 determines that the sensor data set is authentic and unaltered, 
 determines that the sensor data set includes readings from a predetermined list of required sensor readings, and 
 generates a certified image by digitally joining the digital image with one or more of the sensor data set or a subset of the sensor data set; 
   receiving a description of an incident;   generating the incident report, the incident report including the certified image and the description of the incident; and   transmitting the incident report to a network based server for further management.