Development and Assessment of Analysis Tools for Examination of Microscopic Fracture Surface Topology and Degradation for Evidence Physical Match

• NCJ Number: 252785
• Date Published: June 2018
• Author(s): Ashraf F. Bastawros
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Grant Report
• Award: Quantitative Tools for Examination of Microscopic Fracture Surface Topology and Degradation for Physical Match Analysis of Evidence

Annotation

The findings and methodology are presented for a project with the goal of developing a science-based measurement and mathematical correlation algorithm for the forensic analysis of fracture surfaces.

Abstract

The study addressed the need for advanced methods to aid in the analysis and comparison of fracture and torn surfaces. The machine-based computational methodology provides a quantitative assessment of fracture surfaces for forensic comparison, combined with a statistical expression of the comparison. This protocol is expected to improve the ability of forensic scientists to capture, visualize, and analyze fracture patterns, and then express the likelihood of a match between patterns in statistical terms that support the qualitative and quantitative judgment of the examiner. Three-dimensional (3D) microscopy was used to achieve the height measurement at x-y positions of the fracture surfaces within the field of view. The frequency of features occurring can be assessed and correlated mathematically. Samples generation, surface characterization, and physical matching by spectral analysis and image correlation algorithm are discussed. 9 figures, 1 table, and the listing of 11 scholarly products from the study