MILESTONE SUMMARY
Between October 2024 and January 2025, The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and Boston University (BU) led a series of strategic initiatives to develop and implement the IoT Training Program under the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) grant. The team established a structured training curriculum, integrating real-world IoT forensic challenges with practical laboratory components. Monthly meetings facilitated discussions on device procurement, curriculum development, and forensic tool evaluation, ensuring alignment with law enforcement investigative needs. Key milestones included the selection and testing of IoT devices, such as Meta Glasses and toy robots, the establishment of assessment protocols in collaboration with WestEd, and the initiation of industry partnerships, particularly with Boston Dynamics. Additional discussions focused on refining AI-driven forensic methodologies, ensuring robust pre- and post-training evaluation mechanisms, and securing high-quality training materials. Recruitment strategies were further defined to maximize participation in the pilot training scheduled for March 2025. The team also addressed any potential challenges, including IoT data extraction and forensic tool compatibility testing. As the program progresses, the team remains committed to refining methodologies, enhancing investigative tools, and ensuring law enforcement professionals are equipped with the skills necessary to navigate the evolving landscape of IoT forensics.
Monthly Team Meetings
Through a series of strategic meetings between October 2024 and January 2025, the team established a comprehensive project structure and achieved several key milestones in IoT training development and technical implementation.
• October 4th, 2024: UTSA and Boston University
• October 4th, 2024: Boston University and WestEd
• October 18th, 2024: UTSA and Boston University
• November 6th, 2024: UTSA and Boston University
• December 4th, 2024: UTSA and Boston University
• January 15th, 2025: UTSA and Boston University
Project Leadership Team
The project team was carefully assembled to leverage expertise from both University of Texas San Antonio, Boston University, and WestEd, ensuring a balanced approach to curriculum development and program implementation.
• Principal Investigator: Dr. Kim-Kwang Raymond Choo (UTSA)
• Co-Principal Investigators:
o Dr. Kyung-Shick Choi (Boston University)
o Dr. Lou Chitkushev (Boston University)
• Lead Instructors:
o Oren Upton (UTSA)
o Jean Costello (UTSA)
• Evaluation Team:
o WestEd’s Justice and Prevention Research Center (WestEd)
• Support Staff:
o Erin Stephens (Boston University - Graduate Student Support)
TEAM MEETING: UTSA AND BU – October 4th, 2024
The team convened to introduce and discuss the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) grant supporting the IoT National Training and Technical Assistance Program. This meeting focused on setting project objectives, establishing a working timeline, and identifying initial resource requirements. Discussions covered the importance of securing appropriate IoT forensic tools, refining the curriculum structure, and ensuring that law enforcement professionals receive hands-on investigative training. The team emphasized collaboration with WestEd to maintain data confidentiality in assessment protocols. Additionally, early considerations were made for potential partnerships with industry leaders to supplement training materials.
Grant Introduction
The Principal Investigator (PI) provided an overview of the newly acquired BJA grant, emphasizing the team’s prior experience with BJA since 2019. The discussion underscored the importance of technical documentation for the project.
One of the Co-Instructors noted that the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) had recently obtained IoT media devices, including Virtual Reality (VR) technology, to enhance the training activities.
The Co-PI stressed the need to evaluate the technical proficiency of trainees to ensure appropriate curriculum adjustments.
Grant Timeline and Meetings
• A face-to-face team meeting was deemed essential to solidify the course curriculum and lab training activities.
• A project kick-off event was tentatively scheduled for October 17th, 2024, at UTSA.
• Monthly video conferences via Zoom were proposed to maintain communication between the BJA program leadership and the team.
IoT Training Plan
The training plan involved recruiting key informants from law enforcement agencies to assess training fidelity. The team outlined training cycles, including a pilot training in March 2025, followed by three full training cycles in May, August–September, and December 2025 – January 2026.
• Pilot Training: Scheduled for March 2025, including 40 participants.
• Full Training Cycles:
o Cycle 1: April–May 2025
o Cycle 2: August–September 2025
o Cycle 3: December 2025–January 2026 (in-person training)
To ensure effective implementation, the team discussed developing a recruitment and retention strategy, creating training manuals, and determining the feasibility of Zoom versus alternative platforms.
A tentative in-person meeting was scheduled for October 17th, 2024, at UTSA.
TEAM MEETING: BU AND WESTED – October 4th, 2024
Boston University (BU) and WestEd convened for an initial kickoff meeting to align objectives regarding participant assessment and evaluation methodologies. The meeting emphasized WestEd’s role in gathering interview data, evaluating pre- and post-test questions, and ensuring the confidentiality of participant information. Discussions centered on refining assessment metrics, maintaining compliance with data privacy protocols, and integrating structured evaluation frameworks to measure the program's effectiveness. This collaboration reinforced a commitment to data integrity, methodological rigor, and continuous program enhancement.
MEETING: TRACKING PROJECT MILESTONES AND PROGRESS – October 18th, 2024 (Kickoff Meeting at UTSA)
The official program kickoff took place at UTSA, where the team refined the curriculum framework and outlined the recruitment strategy for pilot training participants. The session highlighted the integration of AI-assisted forensic methodologies into training modules, ensuring real-world applicability. Key discussions included the development of a multi-tiered training model—basic, intermediate, and advanced—and the importance of aligning training methodologies with evolving IoT threats. The team reviewed options for hosting training sessions, including virtual and in-person formats, to maximize accessibility.
Project Objectives
Key goals included:
• Enhancing the quality of IoT forensic investigations.
• Developing specialized training modules.
• Collaborating with law enforcement stakeholders.
• Integrating advanced methodologies such as AI-based analysis.
Training Structure and Recruitment
The training was structured into three levels—basic, intermediate, and advanced. The team discussed recruitment strategies and the need to expand outreach beyond the initial 100 trainees. A repository of training materials was proposed for continued accessibility.
Course Recruitment and AI Integration
• The team emphasized balancing course content across levels.
• Advanced topics such as AI-enhanced artifact extraction were to be included in later courses.
• AI tools would assist in forensic data analysis.
• A repository for forensic images was planned, with outreach to the National Computer Forensics Institute (NCFI) for additional datasets.
Training Platform and Tools
To address training delivery challenges, cloud-hosted Virtual Machines (VMs) were considered as a solution. Open-source tools like FTK Imager and SQLite Browser were prioritized to ensure cost-effectiveness.
Intellectual Property (IP) Considerations
The team discussed student agreements to protect training content. A student non-disclosure agreement (NDA) was proposed to prevent unauthorized distribution of course materials.
MEETING: TRACKING PROJECT MILESTONES AND PROGRESS – November 6th, 2024
The team met to review critical aspects of IoT training development, device acquisition, and potential partnerships to enhance the program’s impact. A significant portion of the discussion focused on ensuring that the selected IoT devices align with the instructional goals and that the necessary hardware is procured for training and forensic analysis.
IoT Devices and Training Considerations
The team evaluated the feasibility of incorporating IoT-enabled eyeglasses, specifically Meta Glasses, into the curriculum. There were concerns about compatibility, storage capacity, and forensic extraction potential. The Co-PI confirmed that testing on Meta Glasses was ongoing to determine whether they met the technical requirements for inclusion in the training program.
Children’s toy robots were also identified as key training components. The team examined different models, emphasizing the importance of Bluetooth security vulnerabilities and data storage capabilities. A market analysis indicated that many toy robots lacked cloud integration but still posed security risks due to their ability to collect limited user data. Some models, including the Emo robot, were found to store facial recognition and image data, making them suitable for forensic training scenarios.
• Meta glasses were identified as a suitable choice for training.
• Toy robots were recognized as key training components due to security vulnerabilities.
• Extensive discussion regarding lab testing of toy robots and home robots and how offenders may utilize robots to access children.
o Toy and home robots was affirmed as having great value and secured as a portion of training for law enforcement.
Industry Collaboration
The team explored collaboration opportunities with Boston Dynamics, particularly regarding their advanced robotic systems, such as Spot, a quadruped robot utilized in law enforcement operations. Boston Dynamics expressed interest in working with both UTSA and BU to explore forensic applications of robotic technology in criminal investigations. The discussion covered the integration of forensic tools to analyze robotic logs, movement patterns, and onboard data storage, which could be useful in law enforcement operations.
Next Steps
• Device Procurement: Finalizing the selection and acquisition of training devices, including IoT glasses and robots.
• Forensic Tool Testing: Evaluating existing forensic tools for compatibility with new IoT devices.
• Boston Dynamics Collaboration: Scheduling follow-up discussions to define potential areas of joint research and training integration, particularly for their robot "Spot the Dog" which has applications in law enforcement.
A follow-up meeting was scheduled for December 4th, 2024.
MEETING: TRACKING PROJECT MILESTONES AND PROGRESS – December 4th, 2024
During this session, the team focused on finalizing curriculum content and conducting preliminary IoT device testing. Toy and home robots were confirmed to store user data, with significant findings regarding their vulnerability to unauthorized access. A technical review was conducted on forensic software tools to determine their efficacy in data extraction from these devices. Additionally, recruitment strategies were refined to target law enforcement professionals who would benefit most from IoT forensic training. The session concluded with a discussion on pilot training logistics and promotional materials, ensuring a comprehensive outreach strategy for the program.
IoT Device Testing
• Toy robots were confirmed to store minimal profile data but remained vulnerable via Bluetooth connectivity.
• Emo robots demonstrated data storage capabilities, including facial recognition and photo storage.
• The team planned to use forensic tools like Emba for data decompression.
Course Content Updates
• The Co-Instructors led efforts to finalize course titles and descriptions by the end of December 2024.
• Potential collaboration with Boston Dynamics was explored for forensic artifact contributions.
Pilot Training Planning
• Scheduled for March 2025, with sessions split over two weeks.
• Recruitment strategies were discussed, focusing on engaging federal and local law enforcement agencies.
The next meeting was scheduled for January 15th, 2025.
MEETING: TRACKING PROJECT MILESTONES AND PROGRESS – January 15th, 2025
The team reviewed final curriculum updates and confirmed training schedules for the upcoming pilot session. Pre- and post-training evaluation methodologies were finalized in collaboration with WestEd, ensuring robust assessment mechanisms for participant progress. Further refinements were made to forensic analysis exercises, integrating emerging trends in IoT crime investigations. The discussion also revisited industry partnerships, with an emphasis on leveraging collaborations with Boston Dynamics to enhance the technical depth of training modules. The meeting concluded with action items to complete all pilot training preparations by the end of January 2025.
Curriculum Updates
• The UTSA team progressed in developing lab exercises and device testing protocols.
• Pre- and post-test questions were finalized.
• Course 2 was updated to include Meta glasses.
IoT Forensics and Robot Analysis
• Emo robots were confirmed to contain a microSD card with forensic artifacts retrievable via FTK Imager.
• Miko robots demonstrated minimal data retention, requiring further analysis.
• Flipper devices exhibited Bluetooth signal modification capabilities relevant to criminal methodologies.
Training Schedule and Promotion
• Pilot Training: March 2025
• Full Training Cycles: May 2025
• The pilot training promotion was set to begin by the end of January 2025.
A follow-up meeting was scheduled for February 12th, 2025.
CONCLUSION
Both UTSA and BU have demonstrated a sustained commitment to advancing and refining the IoT Training Program through strategic planning, rigorous evaluation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Led by the highest-level instructors in the field, key areas of focus include curriculum development, industry partnerships, AI-driven forensic methodologies, IoT device analysis, and the logistical framework for effective training delivery. By integrating real-world forensic challenges into the curriculum and leveraging expert insights, the program is designed to provide law enforcement professionals with the most current and practical IoT forensic training available.
The collaboration with WestEd ensures that assessment protocols, pre- and post-training evaluations, and participant data confidentiality are maintained at the highest standards, further reinforcing the program’s credibility and impact. In addition, partnerships with industry leaders such as Boston Dynamics present valuable opportunities to enhance forensic applications of emerging robotic technologies.
As the field of IoT forensics continues to evolve, the program remains dedicated to adaptability, ensuring that training content is continuously refined to reflect advancements in technology and investigative techniques. Future meetings will focus on evaluating training efficacy, expanding industry collaborations, and further strengthening forensic methodologies to align with emerging law enforcement needs. This initiative serves as a critical step toward establishing a nationally recognized standard for excellence in IoT forensic investigation, ensuring law enforcement professionals are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of digital evidence in an increasingly connected world.
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