Pilot study of automated bullet signature identification based on topography measurements and correlations

Journal of Forensic Sciences
Wei ChuBenjamin Bachrach

Abstract

A procedure for automated bullet signature identification is described based on topography measurements using confocal microscopy and correlation calculation. Automated search and retrieval systems are widely used for comparison of firearms evidence. In this study, 48 bullets fired from six different barrel manufacturers are classified into different groups based on the width class characteristic for each land engraved area of the bullets. Then the cross-correlation function is applied both for automatic selection of the effective correlation area, and for the extraction of a 2D bullet profile signature. Based on the cross-correlation maximum values, a list of top ranking candidates against a ballistics signature database of bullets fired from the same model firearm is developed. The correlation results show a 9.3% higher accuracy rate compared with a currently used commercial system based on optical reflection. This suggests that correlation results can be improved using the sequence of methods described here.

References

Mar 24, 2004·Forensic Science International : Synergy·Atsuhiko BannoKatsushi Ikeuchi
Jan 18, 2006·Forensic Science International : Synergy·Fernando Puente León
Jan 1, 2004·Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology·J SongM Ols

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Citations

May 21, 2013·Forensic Science International : Synergy·S Yammen, P Muneesawang
Jul 31, 2013·Forensic Science International : Synergy·Wei ChuTheodore V Vorburger
Oct 22, 2011·Forensic Science International : Synergy·J SongM Ols
Jun 29, 2011·Scanning·Carol GambinoNicholas D K Petraco
May 21, 2011·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Serge Lévesque, John W Bond
Apr 28, 2017·Journal of Forensic Sciences·John E MurdockEric R Collins
Nov 22, 2018·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Saeed Bigdeli, Mohsen Ebrahimi Moghaddam
Dec 31, 2019·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Kiegan RiceHeike Hofmann
Nov 18, 2018·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Ganesh Krishnan, Heike Hofmann
Aug 5, 2020·Applied Optics·Hengzheng WeiYiyi Li
Feb 15, 2020·Forensic Science International : Synergy·Susan VanderplasHeike Hofmann

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