Tom Flynn

MSc PEng

Senior Engineer

contact

tom.flynn@meaforensic.com
905.595.8593
905.595.8593
Toronto
Download v-Card
Connect with me
Refer Tom

project coordinator

Print
Download PDF
Share

Thomas Flynn leads MEA Forensic’s Video Analysis group in Canada. Tom has reconstructed hundreds of crashes and injury-producing events, is a registered professional engineer, and has testified in court as an expert witness. Since joining MEA in 2012, Tom has been doing collision reconstruction work, applying his engineering knowledge to evidence like tire marks, black box data, and vehicle crush, to determine collision severity, vehicle speed and dynamics, occupant movement, and driver response. Tom has specialized in analyzing video evidence, and has received hundreds of hours of dedicated training from authoritative organizations like the Law Enforcement & Emergency Services Video Association (LEVA).

Tom has analyzed video recorded by dashcams, traffic cameras, surveillance system, onboard bus cameras, and cell phones. Often, his task is to quantify the positions, motions and speeds of objects in a video. A fundamental understanding of video, combined with an engineering approach to analysis, means that Tom can accurately stabilize video, determine frame rate, correct for lens distortion and track object positions. These are key steps in determining a car’s speed, for example. The analysis of video can also involve recreating events in a virtual 3D environment. This simulation can be used as a demonstrative tool, and to show the unique perspective of a particular driver or witness.

Tom holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Engineering and Rehabilitation Science from Queen’s University. His Master’s degree involved building a computational model of forces and moments in the lower limbs. His background in engineering, mathematics, and modeling helps him interpret traditional and modern crash evidence.

Tom is involved in various aspects of MEA’s research. He has published papers on the accuracy and limitations of “black box” data from cars, and how drivers accelerate during turns. He is currently studying the accuracy and limitations of video evidence in collision reconstruction. “Black box data and video are both increasingly common”, he points out. “They provide new evidence and new ways to answer questions about who is responsible for a crash.”

expertise

  1. Collision Reconstruction
  2. Video Analysis

areas of specialization

  1. Collision reconstruction
  2. "Black box" crash data records
  3. Seat belt investigation
  4. Slips, trips, and falls

education

  1. Masters of Science, Rehabilitation Science, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, 2010-2012.
  2. Bachelor of Science Engineering, Mathematics and Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, 2004-2008.

professional status

  1. Professional Engineer, Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia, since 2023.
  2. Professional Engineer, Professional Engineers Ontario, since 2015.
  3. Certified Forensic Video Technician, Law Enforcement & Emergency Services Video Association, 2021.

professional associations

  1. Law Enforcement & Emergency Services Video Association (LEVA), since 2021.
  2. Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), since 2016.

Scholarly Activities

  1. Peer Reviews for the following conferences: Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Annual Congress, Europäische Vereinigung für Unfallforschung (EVU)- European Association for Accident Research.

Professional Experience

  1. MEA Forensic Engineers & Scientists
    Senior Engineer, 2012 to present

    Conducts technical investigations of motor vehicle accidents including determining collision severity, collision sequence, occupant kinematics, seatbelt use and effectiveness, vehicle speed and causes of mechanical failure.

  2. Human Performance Laboratory, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON
    Research Assistant, 2010 to 2012

    Developed, coded, and tested software for measuring neck strength in a paediatric population to study the effects of muscle strengthening programs. Processed the results of several subjects for analysis and future publication.

  3. School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON
    Teaching Assistant, 2011 to 2012

    Lectured on the topic of Ergonomics and Biomechanical Analysis to physiotherapy and occupational therapy graduate students.

  4. Vorum Research Corporation, Vancouver, BC
    Biomedical Product Support Engineer, 2008 to 2010

    Provided remote and on-site product support for medical device manufacturing hardware and software. Performed quality control on existing products and conducted research into novel methods, materials, and equipment.

  5. Self-Employed
    Software Engineer, 2008 to 2010

    Developed patient-tracking and statistical analysis software for Canadian fertility clinics.

  6. Digital Ergonomics & Shoulder Evaluation Laboratory, University of Waterloo, ON
    Research Assistant, 2006 to 2008

    Created a graphical user interface for providing an ergonomic and biomechanical assessment of manual tasks in the workplace. Optimized existing code for ease of use and computational efficiency.

Awards

  1. NSERC CREATE Scholarship for Bone & Joint Health Technology, $32,000.

Lectures & Presentations

  1. August 24, 2022 – Application of Toyota Vehicle Control History Data to Accident Reconstruction, CATAIR 2022 National Conference, Aylmer, ON.
  2. June 23, 2022 – Acting as the Plaintiff’s Expert Witness for the Insurance Law Section of Anatomy of a Trial: Successful Trial Strategy, the Ontario Bar Association, Toronto, ON.
  3. June 14, 2022 – Investigation of Truck and Bus Accidents, MEA Webinar Series, Online.
  4. February 10, 2021 – Video Analysis & Reconstruction of Events, Ontario Insurance Adjusters Association (OIAA) Webinar Series, Online.
  5. September 23, 2020 – Video Analysis & Reconstruction of Events, MEA Webinar Series, Online.
  6. October 2019 – MEA Toronto: Let the Evidence Speak Seminar, Barrie, Toronto, and London, ON.
  7. October 2018 – MEA Toronto: Let the Evidence Speak Seminar, Barrie, Toronto, and London, ON.
  8. August 21, 2018 – An Introduction to the 2017 MEA Forensic Steer Induced Rollover Tests. Canadian Association of Technical Accident Investigators and Reconstructionists (CATAIR) Annual General Meeting, Aylmer, ON.
  9. June 2012 –Development and Implementation of an Optimization-Based Modeling of Weight-Bearing Loads on the Knee Joint in Paediatrics. Canadian Medical and Biological Engineering Conference, Halifax, NS.
  10. July 2011 – Computational Modeling of the Weight-Bearing Joint Contact Forces at the Knee, Canadian Physiotherapy Association Congress, Whistler, BC.
  11. March 2011 – An Optimization Based Kinetic Lower Limb Model and its Application to Understanding the Development of Articular Knee Cartilage, Queen’s University School of Rehabilitation Therapy Seminar Series, Kingston, ON.

Training & Professional Development

  1. April 16-19, 2024 – Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress, Detroit, MI.
  2. October 23-27, 2023 – LEVA Digital Multimedia Evidence Training Symposium, Portland, ME.
  3. October 5-7, 2023 – European Association for Accident Research and Analysis Annual Congress, Limassol, Cyprus.
  4. June 27-28, 2023 – CloudCompare Training, ai2-3D Forensics, Euguene Liscio, Online.
  5. May 25, 2023 – Crash Data Retrieval Technician Update Course, Kent E. Boots & Associates, MEA.
  6. May 1-5, 2023 – LEVA Level 4: Advanced Forensic Video Analysis and the Law, Online.
  7. Nov 29, 2022 – PC-Crash Webinar: Super Scenes, Online.
  8. March 28-31, 2022 – iNPUT-ACE 2022 Video Evidence Training Symposium, Online.
  9. February 2022 – Photogrammetry: Forensic Applications Using Photomodeler, DCM Technical Services, Online.
  10. January 19-20, 2022 – Point Clouds in Collision Reconstruction: Speed from Video and Crush from Photos, Lightpoint, Online.
  11. July 26-30, 2021 – LEVA Level 3: The Principles of Forensic Video/Image Compare and Contrast, Online.
  12. July 12-16, 2021 – LEVA Level 2: Digital Multimedia Evidence Processing, Online.
  13. April 19-23, 2021 – LEVA Level 1: Forensic Video Analysis and the Law, Online.
  14. March 22–25, 2021 – iNPUT-ACE Video Evidence Symposium 2021, Online.
  15. June 26-27, 2019 – Forensic Video Analysis Workflow Training, iNPUT-ACE, Toronto, ON.
  16. May 28-31, 2019 – Motorcycle Collision Reconstruction, York Regional Police, East Gwillimbury, ON.
  17. May 21-23, 2018 – SAE Applied Vehicle Dynamics Course, Greer, SC.
  18. November 10, 2017 – ADAS Application: Automatic Emergency Braking, Troy, MI.
  19. November 8-9, 2017 – Introduction to Highly Automated Vehicles, Troy, MI.
  20. October 13-16, 2015 – Access and Interpreting Heavy Vehicle Event Data Recorders, Oxnard, CA.
  21. September 13-17, 2015 – Advanced Crash Reconstruction Utilizing Human Factors Research, Phoenix, AZ.
  22. July 6, 2015 – Building Code Overview, Ontario Society of Professional Engineers, Mississauga, ON.
  23. February 4, 2015 – Forensic Infotainment Analysis, NYSTARS, Yorktown Heights, NY.
  24. April 8-10, 2014 – Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress, Detroit, MI.
  25. April 7-8, 2014 – Introduction to Brake Control Systems: ABS, TCS, and ESC, Detroit, MI.
  26. June 2013 – CDR Systems Operators and CDR Analysis and Applications Course, Winnipeg, MB.
  27. May 2013 – PC-Crash Animations II Online Workshop
  28. May 2013 – PC-Crash Animations I Online Workshop
  29. November 2012 – PC-Crash Expert Online Workshop
  30. November 2012 – PC-Crash Essentials Online Workshop

Tom's news and
upcoming events

upcoming events

View all Tom's events