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Pilot Study of Automated Bullet Signature Identification Based on Topography Measurements and Correlations

NCJ Number
230714
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 55 Issue: 2 Dated: March 2010 Pages: 341-347
Author(s)
Wei Chu, Ph.D.; John Song, M.S.; Theodore Vorburger, Ph.D.; James Yen, Ph.D.; Susan Ballou, M.S.; Benjamin Bachrach, Ph.D.
Date Published
March 2010
Length
7 pages
Annotation

A procedure for automated bullet signature identification is described based on topography measurements using confocal microscopy and correlation calculation.

Abstract

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 percent 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. Figures, tables, and references (Published Abstract)