Pilot Study of Automated Bullet Signature Identification Based on Topography Measurements and Correlations

Published

March 1, 2010

Author(s)

Wei Chu, Jun-Feng Song, Theodore V. Vorburger, James H. Yen, Susan M. Ballou, Benjamin Bachrach

Abstract

A procedure for automated bullet signature identification is described based on topography measurements using confocal microscope and correlations calculation. Automated search and retrieval systems are widely used for comparison of firearms evidence. In this study, 48 bullets fired from six different barrel manufacturers are classified into different groups based on the width class characteristic for each land engraved area of the bullets. Then the cross-correlation function is applied both for automatic selection of the effective correlation area, and for the extraction of a 2D bullet profile signature. Based on the cross-correlation maximum values, a list of top ranking candidates against a ballistics signature database of bullets fired from the same model firearm is developed. The correlation results show 9.3 % higher accuracy rate compared with a currently used commercial system based on optical reflection. This suggests that correlation results can be improved using the sequence of methods described here.

Citation

Journal of Forensic Sciences

Volume

55

Issue

2

Pub Type

Journals

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DOI Link

Keywords

forensic science, ballistics identification, class characteristics, individual characteristics, cross correlation function

Citation

Chu, W. , Song, J. , Vorburger, T. , Yen, J. , Ballou, S. and Bachrach, B. (2010), Pilot Study of Automated Bullet Signature Identification Based on Topography Measurements and Correlations, Journal of Forensic Sciences, [online], https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2009.01276.x (Accessed October 11, 2025)