Feasibility Study on Measurement System Interoperability of the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN)

Published

December 11, 2024

Author(s)

Johannes Soons, Xiaoyu Zheng, Robert Thompson

Abstract

This report describes a feasibility study on realizing interoperability of the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) with third-party data acquisition systems, focusing on cartridge case data. NIBIN is the only national network in the United States for the acquisition, archiving, and search of ballistic images. NIBIN aids in solving and preventing crimes by identifying connections between crime scenes or between crime scenes and confiscated firearms. NIBIN is managed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). NIBIN relies on a commercial product: the Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS®). Due to a lack of standards for data exchange and image quality, the ATF cannot integrate third-party imaging systems into NIBIN. Interoperability may promote innovation and competition, while avoiding possible gaps in NIBIN coverage due to local deployment of third-party systems not connected to NIBIN. In theory, interoperability is facilitated by the proliferation of systems that acquire three-dimensional (3D) topography images. Compared to traditional 2D microscope images, 3D images are less affected by differences in sample setup, lighting, and reflectivity. A data exchange specification was developed for systems that are not part of the NIBIN-IBIS ecosystem. Interoperability experiments were conducted at NIST using an IBIS 3.1 system, modified to enable the import/export of images that meet the specification. The testbed was used to evaluate the impact on search performance of differences in instruments and sample setup. The evaluation focused on 9 mm caliber test fires obtained from approximately 90 pistols each from 4 major manufacturing brands. Test fires were measured by four different instruments, including the IBIS BRASSTRAX HD3D system. The project database was seeded by Forensic Technology with IBIS HD3D images from 4,136 cartridge cases with a Glock-type firing pin impression and 23,461 cartridge cases with a circle-type firing pin impression. The observed third-party, intra-instrument, search performance was similar to that for IBIS images. Inter-system performance was up to 17 % lower for top-30 ranking results and up to 21 % for top-5 ranking results. The reduced performance is due to: 1) differences in 3D images, mainly of the firing pin impression, and 2) the importance of 2D (side light) images for IBIS search performance. Current instruments require modifications to replicate IBIS (side) lighting conditions for 2D images. Exploratory experiments with 2D images rendered from 3D images indicate that the 3D images contain information for improving the reduction in search performance when 2D images are omitted. Visible differences in 3D images from different instruments may affect the comparison of high-ranking images during correlation review. Increased accuracy requirements, both for search and 1-1 case work comparisons, are expected to reduce differences in 3D images through improved measurement and calibration methods. Experiments were conducted during August 2017 – November 2020 using an IBIS 3.1 system for cartridge case imaging and search. Results cannot be used to make inferences about bullets and do not address advances in metrology and search of newer IBIS or third-party systems.

Citation

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) - 8548

Report Number

8548

NIST Pub Series

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8548

Local Download

Keywords

Ballistic identification, ballistic search, cartridge case, data exchange, firearm identification, forensics, IBIS, interoperability, NIBIN, toolmark.

Citation

Soons, J. , Zheng, X. and Thompson, R. (2024), Feasibility Study on Measurement System Interoperability of the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8548, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=958983 (Accessed January 13, 2025)