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                            Library & Multimedia
 Success Story: Improving Detection of Crime Scenes
NCJ Number
              304571

Date Published

April 2022
Annotation
              This is a report on the achievements and anticipated future applications of a thermal infrared (IR) camera that can rapidly and selectively identify blood stains in ambient lighting without the use of reagents.
Abstract
              With the funding support of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), chemist Stephen Morgan and his team at the University of South Carolina in Columbus developed the prototype thermal IR camera. The camera, which can be operated by a person with minimal technical knowledge, highlights blood stains by filtering out wavelengths that are not characteristic of blood proteins. The prototype has been refined for forensic use, with complete automation of image processing and enhanced sensitivity. In addition, a novel IR lamp was developed by using a heated alumina emitter for active thermal IR imaging. The principal investigators are continuing to validate the technology in both laboratory conditions and with real-world crime scenes. With further development, the camera could also be used to identify other biological materials, such as sweat or semen, or trace materials. As profiling technologies advance (e.g., low copy number DNA testing), technologies like the IR camera that can find small concentrations of biological materials will become even more critical in crime-scene forensics.
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2016-MU-BX-K110
                                2011-DN-BX-K564


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Research (Applied/Empirical)


  
  
        
  Award
        Forensic Science Training Development and Delivery Program
                                Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) FY17
    
  
  
Date Published: April 15, 2022
    
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      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Forensic Technology Center of Excellence
        Forensic sciences
        Equipment and technology
        Blood stains
        Camera technology



  
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