The application of infrared chemical imaging to the detection and enhancement of latent fingerprints: Method optimization and further findings

Tahtouh, M; Despland, P; Shimmon, R; Kalman, JR; Reedy, BJ

The application of infrared chemical imaging to the detection and enhancement of latent fingerprints: Method optimization and further findings

Tahtouh, M Despland, P Shimmon, R

Kalman, JR Reedy, BJ

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Forensic Sciences, 2007, 52 (5), pp. 1089 - 1096
Issue Date:: 2007-09-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Tahtouh, M	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Despland, P	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Shimmon, R https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8763-991X	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Kalman, JR	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Reedy, BJ https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1797-8091	en_US
dc.date.issued	2007-09-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Forensic Sciences, 2007, 52 (5), pp. 1089 - 1096	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0022-1198	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/3538
dc.description.abstract	Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) chemical imaging allows the collection of fingerprint images from backgrounds that have traditionally posed problems for conventional fingerprint detection methods. In this work, the suitability of this technique for the imaging of fingerprints on a wider range of difficult surfaces (including polymer banknotes, various types of paper, and aluminum drink cans) has been tested. For each new surface, a systematic methodology was employed to optimize settings such as spectral resolution, number of scans, and pixel aggregation in order to reduce collection time and file-size without compromising spatial resolution and the quality of the final fingerprint image. The imaging of cyanoacrylate-fumed fingerprints on polymer banknotes has been improved, with shorter collection times for larger image areas. One-month-old fingerprints on polymer banknotes have been successfully fumed and imaged. It was also found that FTIR chemical imaging gives high quality images of cyanoacrylate-fumed fingerprints on aluminum drink cans, regardless of the printed background. Although visible and UV light sources do not yield fingerprint images of the same quality on difficult, nonporous backgrounds, in many cases they can be used to locate a fingerprint prior to higher quality imaging by the FTIR technique. Attempts to acquire FTIR images of fingerprints on paper-based porous surfaces that had been treated with established reagents such as ninhydrin were all unsuccessful due to the swamping effect of the cellulose constituents of the paper. © 2007 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Forensic Sciences	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1111/j.1556-4029.2007.00517.x	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Legal & Forensic Medicine	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Cyanoacrylates	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Dermatoglyphics	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Surface Properties	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Volatilization	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Porosity	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Image Processing, Computer-Assisted	en_US
dc.title	The application of infrared chemical imaging to the detection and enhancement of latent fingerprints: Method optimization and further findings	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	5	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	52	en_US
utslib.for	0399 Other Chemical Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	0699 Other Biological Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	1103 Clinical Sciences	en_US
dc.location.activity	ISI:000249321500014	en_US
dc.location.activity	United States
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CCET - Centre for Clean Energy Technology
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	5	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	52	en_US

Abstract:

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) chemical imaging allows the collection of fingerprint images from backgrounds that have traditionally posed problems for conventional fingerprint detection methods. In this work, the suitability of this technique for the imaging of fingerprints on a wider range of difficult surfaces (including polymer banknotes, various types of paper, and aluminum drink cans) has been tested. For each new surface, a systematic methodology was employed to optimize settings such as spectral resolution, number of scans, and pixel aggregation in order to reduce collection time and file-size without compromising spatial resolution and the quality of the final fingerprint image. The imaging of cyanoacrylate-fumed fingerprints on polymer banknotes has been improved, with shorter collection times for larger image areas. One-month-old fingerprints on polymer banknotes have been successfully fumed and imaged. It was also found that FTIR chemical imaging gives high quality images of cyanoacrylate-fumed fingerprints on aluminum drink cans, regardless of the printed background. Although visible and UV light sources do not yield fingerprint images of the same quality on difficult, nonporous backgrounds, in many cases they can be used to locate a fingerprint prior to higher quality imaging by the FTIR technique. Attempts to acquire FTIR images of fingerprints on paper-based porous surfaces that had been treated with established reagents such as ninhydrin were all unsuccessful due to the swamping effect of the cellulose constituents of the paper. © 2007 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

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