Fingermark detection and identification: current research efforts

Abstract

Fingermark deposits are left on surfaces touched with the bare hands, and these traces can be exploited as potential evidence. While many methods exist for the detection of fingermarks on common substrates, significant ongoing research is being directed at improved sensitivity via new approaches or the optimization of existing methods. Research is also being directed at obtaining a more fundamental understanding of fingermark residues, their physical and chemical properties, and how they behave on various substrates over time. The aim is to improve detection success rates to increase the chance of developing and recording potentially identifiable fingermarks in any given situation. The fingerprint identification process – where recorded fingermarks are compared against known fingerprints to determine if there is a common source – has come under increased scrutiny over the last 15 years, particularly with respect to the perceived lack of fundamental research and the subjective nature of current practices. Related research is being pursued by a number of research groups around the world. The International Fingerprint Research Group (IFRG) holds biennial meetings to discuss current research related to fingermark evidence. This article summarizes the fingermark detection and identification research presented at the 2015 and 2017 meetings of this group.

Keywords:

• Fingermark detection
• fingerprint evidence
• identification
• development methods
• research
• IFRG

Acknowledgements

The author would like Dr Xanthe Spindler, University of Technology Sydney, for helpful feedback on the draft manuscript and the IFRG steering committee for permission to summarize the presentations delivered at the 2015 and 2017 IFRG meetings.