Advanced techniques for latent fingerprint detection and validation using a CWL device

Andrey Makrushin; Mario Hildebrandt; Robert Fischer; Tobias Kiertscher; Jana Dittmann; Claus Vielhauer

doi:10.1117/12.922235

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3 May 2012 Advanced techniques for latent fingerprint detection and validation using a CWL device

Andrey Makrushin, Mario Hildebrandt, Robert Fischer, Tobias Kiertscher, Jana Dittmann, Claus Vielhauer

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Proceedings Volume 8436, Optics, Photonics, and Digital Technologies for Multimedia Applications II; 84360V (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.922235
Event: SPIE Photonics Europe, 2012, Brussels, Belgium

Abstract

The technology-aided support of forensic experts while investigating crime scenes and collecting traces becomes a more and more important part in the domains of image acquisition and signal processing. The manual lifting of latent fingerprints using conventional methods like the use of carbon black powder is time-consuming and very limited in its scope of application. New technologies for a contact-less and non-invasive acquisition and automatic processing of latent fingerprints, promise the possibilities to inspect much more and larger surface areas and can significantly simplify and speed up the workflow. Furthermore, it allows multiple investigations of the same trace, subsequent chemical analysis of the residue left behind and the acquisition of latent fingerprints on sensitive surfaces without destroying the surface itself. In this work, a FRT MicroProf200 surface measurement device equipped with a chromatic white-light sensor CWL600 is used. The device provides a gray-scale intensity image and 3D-topography data simultaneously. While large area scans are time-consuming, the detection and localization of finger traces are done based on low-resolution scans. The localized areas are scanned again with higher resolution. Due to the broad variety of different surface characteristics the fingerprint pattern is often overlaid by the surface structure or texture. Thus, image processing and classification techniques are proposed for validation and visualization of ridge lines in high-resolution scans. Positively validated regions containing complete or sufficient partial fingerprints are passed on to forensic experts. The experiments are provided on a set of three surfaces with different reflection and texture characteristics, and fingerprints from ten different persons.

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Andrey Makrushin, Mario Hildebrandt, Robert Fischer, Tobias Kiertscher, Jana Dittmann, and Claus Vielhauer "Advanced techniques for latent fingerprint detection and validation using a CWL device", Proc. SPIE 8436, Optics, Photonics, and Digital Technologies for Multimedia Applications II, 84360V (3 May 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.922235

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