ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 May 1998
Page Count: 7

Automated Firearms Evidence Comparison: A Forensic Tool for Firearms Identification—An Update
Tontarski, RE
Program Manager, Fire Investigation, Research and Education (F.I.R.E.) Center, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, DC

Thompson, RM
Firearms and toolmark examiner, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, San Francisco Laboratory Center, CA

(Received 5 September 1996; accepted 5 September 1997)

Abstract

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) laboratories is applying the new technology of computerized image analysis for the identification of bullets and cartridge casings recovered in open cases, and to a database of test fired weapons. The Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS) accomplishes these comparisons in minutes, when the same task using conventional microscopical techniques would require weeks to carefully sort through the firearm evidence. The networking of remote Data Acquisition Stations (DAS) can build a regional firearms evidence database, making the IBIS a powerful resource for the investigation of violent firearm crimes from multiple jurisdictions. A technical overview of the IBIS image acquisition hardware, image storage, case data input, “surface signature” analysis, and correlation scoring to an image database is reported.

Keywords:
forensic science, Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS), computerized bullet comparison, computerized cartridge casing comparison, automation, firearms identification

Paper ID: JFS16196J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS16196J
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