Evaluation of Data Treatment Techniques for Improved Analysis of Fingerprint Images

• NCJ Number: 158068
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 40 Issue: 5 Dated: (September 1995) Pages: 826-837
• Author(s): G P Vigo; D M Hueber; T Vo-Dinh
• Date Published: 1995
• Length: 10 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

This study evaluated four data treatment techniques for digital images of fingerprints.

Abstract

Lee's method and the Iterative Automated Noise Filtering method remove signal-independent additive noise from digital images of fingerprints. The low-pass and high-pass wavelet filtering methods, based on the wavelet transform, are used to reduce noise, as well as to enhance the information of the fingerprints, particularly details at the ridges. Experimental results, using data supplied by the Knoxville Police Department and recorded digitally, showed that the methods are effective in diverse cases and may have potential as forensic fingerprint analytical techniques. 9 figures, 1 table, and 29 references