New hi-tech fingerprint scanner boosts forensics
THE CSIR has unveiled a newgeneration fingerprint sensing technology to aid in law enforcement and forensic areas.
The device, funded by the Department of Science and Technology, is the first prototype and the next step will be to reduce its size to a hand-held gadget and prepare it for commercialisation.
The system is capable of exploring the internal features of an object.
Laser scientist Ann Sigh said optical coherence tomography used light to capture in 3D the finest of details from biological tissue and could be likened to an ultrasound, but using light.
She said it was important to note the light source of the system did not destroy DNA when extracting the latent fingerprint.
“The differentiating factor of our technology is that the CSIR team has enabled higher-resolution fingerprint acquisition by capturing more substrates of seen and unseen fingerprints left at crime scenes.”
Sigh also said the result was a significantly more accurate and tamper-proof fingerprint representation.
Senior biometrics research engineer Rethabile Khutlang said the contact-less nature of the system meant it could acquire latent fingerprints without destroying potential useful DNA material for forensics.
The device can also detect sweat glands and if the subject scanned was dead or alive. These advanced qualities enhance security features for high-end applications such as military, national security and forensics, he said. Crime scene personnel would also be able to use the device to scan areas and lift fingerprints without the use of dusting and the risk of contamination.
“Multiple acquisitions are possible and since the device is nondestructive, secondary analyses can be performed and used to identify criminals.”
The system would solve the problem of elastic distortion in conventional slap scan finger acquisition devices, caused by the pressure of a finger on a surface.
“It is also hygienic and its residual fingerprints are not left on a scanner surface, and it is not influenced by moisture and conditions or skin damage,” said Ameeth Sharma, electronic engineer at the CSIR.
The system is capable of acquiring external and internal fingerprints. Sharma said combining both the internal and external fingerprint allowed for a hybrid fingerprint and a better biometric experience.