Standardizing fingerprint minutiae: A comprehensive inventory and statistical analysis based on Brazilian data

This study introduces a comprehensive inventory of 54 fingerprint minutiae and their variations aimed at standardizing characteristic point identification within forensic science. By analyzing a strategically sampled collection of fingerprints from the Brazilian Federal Police database, stratified by sex and geographic location, our research uncovers the complex interplay between various levels of fingerprint details (L1D, L2D, and L3D) and demographic factors such as sex and finger type. The sample encompassed the entire proposed list of minutiae, affirming the diversity and representativeness of the Brazilian populace, which had, for the first time, its minutiae frequency distributions studied. This investigation proposes a systematic approach for enhancing fingerprint identification accuracy by minimizing data categorization losses and lays the groundwork for more uniform comparative studies in the field. Our findings, derived from a review of contemporary studies and traditional identification manuals, suggest a step towards establishing a universally accepted standard for fingerprint minutiae classification.