Comparing the Performance of IBIS and BulletTRAX-3D Technology Using Bullets Fired Through 10 Consecutively Rifled Barrels

• NCJ Number: 223394
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 53 Issue: 3 Dated: May 2008 Pages: 677-682
• Author(s): Toni B. Brinck M.Sc.
• Date Published: May 2008
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study assessed the abilities of the Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS) and BulletTRAX-3D electronic imaging systems to identify bullets fired by the same weapon in a large database of images.

Abstract

The findings suggest that BulletTRAX-3D is more effective than IBIS in the analysis of a wider range of bullet types, and it also produced images of superior quality. For copper-jacketed bullet correlations, both IBIS and BulletTRAX-3D identified all reference samples to their known matches within the top 10 positions. For lead bullets, BulletTRAX-3D identified all reference samples to their known match in the top 10 positions; IBIS identified only 30 percent. For intercomposition comparisons, BulletTRAX-3D was more successful than IBIS, identifying 100 percent of reference samples to their known match in the top 20 for copper-jacketed to lead comparisons and 90 percent for lead to copper-jacketed comparisons. IBIS is a screening tool used in forensic firearms examinations, allowing for the rapid acquisition of digital images of fired ammunition components. Digital images of ammunition components are uploaded onto the IBIS system, and their signatures are mathematically compared with a correlation score that is used to rank them by degree of similarity. BulletTRAX-3D is an automated, bullet-evidence acquisition station that is similar to IBIS, but unlike IBIS, uses both 2D and 3D imaging technology. It uses a specially designed 3D topographic model of the surface of a bullet. As well as taking images, it allows the user to make quantitative measurements of a bullet's surface. Ten consecutively rifled handgun barrels were test-fired to obtain reference sample and known match sample pairs for upload onto both bullet acquisition systems. Both copper-jacketed and lead bullets were uploaded. Ranked correlation lists were examined and evaluated. 1 table, 7 figures, and 9 references