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Reference ballistic imaging database performance.
Jan De Kinder1, Frederic Tulleners, Hugues Thiebaut
1Institut National de Criminalistique et de Criminologie (NICC/INCC), Chaussée de Vilvorde 98-100, B-1120 Brussels, Belgium. jan.dekinder@just.fgov.be
Forensic Science International
|March 24, 2004
Summary
Creating a comprehensive ballistic image database for all firearms faces significant challenges. Current technology struggles to reliably link recovered cartridge cases, hindering its effectiveness as a law enforcement tool.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Science
- Firearms Examination
- Criminalistics
Background:
- Ballistic imaging databases aid law enforcement in linking crime scenes and firearms via cartridge cases.
- The success of current systems has prompted proposals for a universal reference ballistic image database (RBID) for all firearms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the performance and feasibility of a large-scale reference ballistic image database (RBID).
- To assess the effectiveness of an RBID in identifying firearm origins from fired cartridge cases.
Main Methods:
- Fired 4200 cartridge cases from 600 9mm Para Sig Sauer P226 pistols.
- Imaged one Remington cartridge per pistol in the RBID; fired additional cartridges of various brands.
- Correlated samples against the RBID, including same-make and different-brand cartridges, and expanded database scenarios.
Main Results:
- 72% of same-make (Remington) cartridges ranked in the top 10 when correlated against the RBID.
- 21% of different-brand cartridges ranked in the top 10.
- Ranking performance generally improved with increased RBID size and inclusion of class characteristics.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive reference ballistic image database for new firearms presents significant practical difficulties.
- Current RBID technology is not yet an effective or efficient tool for law enforcement investigations.
- Further research is needed to overcome limitations in ballistic evidence matching.