Application of 3D Imaging Technology to Latent Fingermark Aging Studies

Abstract

In most latent fingermark aging studies, two-dimensional (2D) features are obtained from photo images, scans, or inked impressions. However, some relevant information is possibly being missed because fingermarks are three-dimensional (3D) objects that age in all three dimensions. A feature that has not been carefully examined is how the height of ridges changes over time. In this report, a 3D imaging technology-called optical profilometry-is introduced as a tool for the visual examination of the aging process. Optical profilometry is a nondestructive technology that allows the visualization and data acquisition of unprocessed latent fingermarks. Detailed ridge images and spatiotemporal data were successively obtained on the x-, y- and z-axis, delivering 3D topographical information. OP was able to detect the loss of ridge heights over time. The feasibility of employing this technology to collect data on the aging process of ridges has been proven.

Methodologies Applied to Fingerprint Analysis

“…Around 40% of publications on new developers encompass some form of nanotechnology (see Table S4 in supplementary material) (). In addition to these methods, studies such as Alcaraz‐Fossoul allow the study of aging using three‐dimensional images by optical prophylometry, a nondestructive method that enables the visualization and acquisition of latent and revealed fingerprints and evaluation of the minutiae over time ().…”

Evaluation of latent fingermark color contrast as aging parameter under different environmental conditions: A preliminary study

“…However, changes in color contrast alone are not enough to realistically estimate the age of a fingermark, as shown by the moderate coefficients of correlation across all conditions analyzed. This method, instead, should be used only in combination with other aging parameters, such as ridge width or ridge height variations [10,25], to provide a more reliable picture of what occurs to latent fingermarks when exposed to the environment. Research is currently being conducted to include larger sample sizes (males and females) that can provide more definite degradation patterns within a small population.…”

Repeatability and reproducibility of the color contrast technique for fingermark age estimation applications

“…Despite the many advances in visualization and enhancement techniques for optimal detection, researchers have only recently started to investigate a variety of techniques to extract additional information from these valuable pieces of evidence including the biological sex of the donor [1][2][3][4][5] and the time since deposition [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. The latter requires first an understanding of the changes that occur to latent fingermarks as they age, which has been explored from both the chemical [6][7][8] and topographical [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] perspectives. While a chemical analysis will be interested in changes to the sweat residues over time, a visual analysis will attempt to quantify topographical changes to the latent fingermark ridges using morphometry, a measurement of form [17].…”