Quantitative Assessment of the Discriminative Power of Handwriting

The goal of this project is to develop algorithms for use in analyzing handwriting in questioned documents. In previous phases of this research the principal investigator, in collaboration with Forensic Document Examiners (FDEs), developed algorithms for a subset of the handwriting features used by FDEs in the examination of evidence. A software system (known as CEDAR-FOX) automatically extracts and analyzes handwriting features and can compare a handwriting sample to a database (writer identification) or compare two handwriting samples to each other (writer verification). This project will now focus on further optimization, refinement, and testing of eighteen algorithms for extracting handwriting features. The software structure will also be re-designed to avoid system crashes and improve user interfaces for better navigation. This work will continue to be performed in close collaboration with FDEs at the State and Federal levels. The deliverable will be a prototype software containing 18 tested and validated algorithms for use in extracting and analyzing handwriting features in questioned documents. Objectives: 1. Improve the algorithms used to extract writing elements. 2. Re-design and optimize the software system. 3. Collaborate with forensic science laboratories to evaluate, test, and refine the software to increase its forensic utility. ca/ncf