SWGFAST SWGFAST

Defining Level Three 

Defining Level Three 

ANSI / NIST Worksho

ANSI / NIST Worksho

Data Format for the Interch

Data Format for the Interch

Fingerprint, Facial, & Scar Mar

Fingerprint, Facial, & Scar Mar

(SMT) Information (SMT) Information

April 26 April 26

-28,2005 28,2005
Defining Level Three 

Defining Level Three 

 Background Background

• Development of AFIS techno

Development of AFIS techno

to achieve throughput and p

to achieve throughput and p

for large volume processing. for large volume processing.

 Primary focus on 10 Primary focus on 10

-print finge

print finge

 Started with minimal amount o

Started with minimal amount o

information, e.g. finger positio

information, e.g. finger positio

classification, minutiae (ending 

classification, minutiae (ending 

bifurcations bifurcations 

– limited level two 

limited level two 

 10

-print searching and matchin

print searching and matchin

promoted exploration into late

promoted exploration into late

searching and matching. searching and matching.
Defining Level Three 

Defining Level Three 

 Background continued: Background continued:

• Development of latent print 

Development of latent print 

and matching attempted to e

and matching attempted to e

existing data from 10 existing data from 10

-print A

print A

technology technology

 Very limited information availa

Very limited information availa

comparison to what and how t

comparison to what and how t

community utilizes. community utilizes.

 Resulted in limited application Resulted in limited application

• Not all latent prints could be proc

Not all latent prints could be proc

an AFIS an AFIS
Defining Level Three 

Defining Level Three 

 Background continued: Background continued:

• 10

-Print Fingerprint image q

Print Fingerprint image q

AFIS minutiae extraction alg

AFIS minutiae extraction alg

key factors in latent print pe

key factors in latent print pe

(accuracy) (accuracy)

 Early development was hampe

Early development was hampe

factors and politics. factors and politics.

 Image quality remains a key fa

Image quality remains a key fa

• Fingerprint quality vs. digital ima

Fingerprint quality vs. digital ima

(see part 2 of this present

(see part 2 of this present

Defining Level Three 

Defining Level Three 

 If we were to build a ALPIS 

If we were to build a ALPIS 

what approach would we ta

what approach would we ta

achieve: achieve:

• Accuracy Accuracy

 Selectivity / Reliability Selectivity / Reliability

• Throughput Throughput

• Connectivity Connectivity

• Interoperability Interoperability

• Future goals and objectives Future goals and objectives
Defining Level Three 

Defining Level Three 

 But, we can’t start from scr

But, we can’t start from sc

because of the legacy syste

because of the legacy syste

however, we could migrate 

however, we could migrate 

achieving those latent print 

achieving those latent prin

and start with a day and start with a day

-one fo

one fo

approach, approach,

TODAY IS AS GOOD AS 

TODAY IS AS GOOD AS 
Defining Level Three 

Defining Level Three 

 Applications of friction ridg

Applications of friction ridg

impressions impressions

• Criminal record keeping (Info

Criminal record keeping (Inf

• Forensic science (Investigati

Forensic science (Investigati

• Personal identification (Huma

Personal identification (Hum

• Security (Safety) Security (Safety)

• 1:n and/or 1:1 (identification 

1:n and/or 1:1 (identification 

verification) verification)

 Where do latent prints fall 

Where do latent prints fall 

picture? picture?
Defining Level Three 

Defining Level Three 

 Each and all are very impo

Each and all are very impo

 We need to provide a stand

We need to provide a stand

will support the needs of ea

will support the needs of ea

application without a detrim

application without a detrim

another. another.

 It all starts with the finger... It all starts with the finger...

• What does that mean to eac

What does that mean to eac

each application??? each application???
Defining Level Three 

Defining Level Three 

 All 10 fingers, rolled and plain, All 10 fingers, rolled and plain, 

intentionally (controlled) record

intentionally (controlled) record

 Two fingers, one from each ha

Two fingers, one from each ha

impressions, intentionally reco

impressions, intentionally reco

 One fragmentary portion of a f

One fragmentary portion of a f

intentionally recorded intentionally recorded

 One friction ridge impression o

One friction ridge impression o

size, unintentional impression 

size, unintentional impression 

print)

 Many, many more variations Many, many more variations
Defining Level Three 

Defining Level Three 

 It is time to move beyond j

It is time to move beyond j

ending ridges and bifurcati

ending ridges and bifurcati

any and all of these applica

any and all of these applica

 So, what else is there? So, what else is there?

• Three levels of detail Three levels of detail

 Limitations of two dimensional 

Limitations of two dimensional 

• Is there a fourth, fifth level? Is there a fourth, fifth level?

 Three dimensional images Three dimensional images
EXHIBIT 10a EXHIBIT 10a

Levels of Friction Ridge 

Levels of Friction Ridge 

 Level 1, Ridge Flow Level 1, Ridge Flow

• Orientation Orientation• Classification Classification

 arch, loop, whorl arch, loop, whorl ridge count ridge count

• Focal areas Focal areas

 core, delta core, delta

 Individualization Individualization 

can NOT occur at occur at 

this level this level

• However, However, 

EXCLUSIONS EXCLUSIONS 

ibl
EXHIBIT 10b EXHIBIT 10b

Levels of Friction Ridge D

Levels of Friction Ridge D

 Level 2, Ridge Path Level 2, Ridge Path

• Characteristics Characteristics (Galton

Points) Points)

 ending ridge ending ridge bifurcation bifurcation dot combinations combinations Location, type, direction Location, type, direction 

and relationship and relationship

• Absence of Absence of 

characteristics characteristics

 Individualization Individualization 

CAN occur at this occur at this level with level 1 level with level 1 

dtil
EXHIBIT 10c EXHIBIT 10c

Levels of Friction Ridge D

Levels of Friction Ridge D

 Level 3, Ridge Level 3, Ridge 

Features Features

• pores• edge shapes edge shapes• width• relationship relationship

 Individualization Individualization 

CAN occur at this occur at this level with levels 1 level with levels 1 and 2 detail and 2 detail
EXHIBIT 17

Methodology of Friction 

Methodology of Friction 

Identification Identification

EXHIBIT 17

A nalysisC omparisonE valuationV erification
Analysis Analysis

 Level 1 Detail: Ridge Flow Level 1 Detail: Ridge Flow

• core, delta(s), scars, classificatio

core, delta(s), scars, classificatio

orientation orientation

 Level 2 Detail: Ridge Path Level 2 Detail: Ridge Path

• characteristics (endin characteristics (ending ridge, bif

g ridge, bif

dot)

• location, type, direction, and rel

location, type, direction, and rel

• absence of characteristics absence of characteristics

 Level 3 Detail: Ridge Attributes Level 3 Detail: Ridge Attributes

• edge shape, width, and pores edge shape, width, and pores
The Latent Prin

The Latent Prin
Le

Rid
Lev

Ridg

DetailRelati
Known Exempla

Known Exempl
Right Thumb Right Thumb
Le

Rid
Detail

Relati

Lev

Ridg
Comparison Comparison
EE EE

BB

BB

BB

BB

BB

EE 

E 

BB 

BB 

BB

B BB B

EE

EE

DD 

LATENT E INKED
Level 3: Ridge Attrib

Level 3: Ridge Attrib

LATENT IN
Qualitative and Quan

Qualitative and Quan

Process Process

The quality quality of the ridge 

of the ridge 

along with the along with the quantity quantity 

three levels of detail is 

three levels of detail is 

effect an individualizatio

effect an individualizatio
Evaluation Evaluation

 Level 1 Detail Level 1 Detail

• Approximately 18 ridges in 

Approximately 18 ridges in 

in both prints, with no discr

in both prints, with no discr

 Level 2 Detail Level 2 Detail

• 14 characteristics which are 

14 characteristics which are 

same location, direction, an

same location, direction, an

relationship, with no discrep

relationship, with no discrep

 Level 3 Detail Level 3 Detail

• Several features in agreeme

Several features in agreeme

prints, with no discrepancie

prints, with no discrepancie
Verification Verification

 All identifications are verifie

All identifications are verifie

another qualified examiner another qualified examiner

 Quality Assurance Quality Assurance  Peer Review Peer Review - part of the s

part of the s

process process
Defining Level Three 

Defining Level Three 

 How do we define: How do we define:

• Ridge path Ridge path

 With deviations (endings, bifurcations

With deviations (endings, bifurcations

 Without deviations (continuous ridges

Without deviations (continuous ridges

• Ridge paths in sequence Ridge paths in sequence• Dots• Incipient ridges Incipient ridges• Ridge attributes Ridge attributes

 Ridge widths, edge shapes, pores Ridge widths, edge shapes, pores

• Scars• Creases Creases• Other (warts, blisters, etc.) Other (warts, blisters, etc.)
Defining Level Three 

Defining Level Three 

 Current standard defines m

Current standard defines m

• X,Y, Theta X,Y, Theta

 Type 9 Minutiae data record Type 9 Minutiae data record

• Lacks ridge path Lacks ridge path

• Absence of minutiae is not a

Absence of minutiae is not a

addressed addressed
SWGFAST SWGFAST

Minimum Scan Reso

Minimum Scan Reso

ANSI / NIST Worksho

ANSI / NIST Worksho

Data Format for the Interch

Data Format for the Interch

Fingerprint, Facial, & Scar Mar

Fingerprint, Facial, & Scar Mar

(SMT) Information (SMT) Information

April 26 April 26

-28,2005 28,2005
Minimum Scan Reso

Minimum Scan Reso

 Simply stated Simply stated 

- the current stan

the current stan

print fingerprint capture at 500p

print fingerprint capture at 500p

WSQ compression: WSQ compression:

• hampers the ACE hampers the ACE

-V methodology f

V methodology 

examinations; examinations;

• does not capture detail with suffic

does not capture detail with suffic

the confidence needed by an expe

the confidence needed by an expe

• Was a compromise based on 1993 

Was a compromise based on 1993 

politics. politics.

• 1000ppi is merely a “strong recom

1000ppi is merely a “strong recom
Minimum Scan Reso

Minimum Scan Reso

 1000ppi capture technology 

1000ppi capture technolog

available and affordable available and affordable

 Storage is affordable Storage is affordable Transmission is affordable Transmission is affordable JPEG2000 is compression o

JPEG2000 is compression o

 10:1 compression reduces, 

10:1 compression reduces, 

eliminates, image clarity lo

eliminates, image clarity lo

attributable to a attributable to a lossy tech

tech
Minimum Scan Reso

Minimum Scan Reso

 SWGFAST PROPOSAL SWGFAST PROPOSAL

• The normal mode of finger The normal mode of finger

- a

print image capture should b

print image capture should b

minimum scan resolution. Im

minimum scan resolution. Im

should be compressed using 

should be compressed using 

not to exceed 10:1 compress

not to exceed 10:1 compress

compatible 500ppi image cap

compatible 500ppi image cap

processing should be permitt

processing should be permit
Minimum Scan Reso

Minimum Scan Reso

 Day one forward proposal Day one forward proposal Image capture, storage and Image capture, storage an

transmission is focus transmission is focus

 AFIS technology at 500ppi 

AFIS technology at 500ppi 

still workable still workable
Defining Level Three 

Defining Level Three 

and 1000ppi Capture Re

and 1000ppi Capture Re

 QUESTION QUESTION

How important is preventin

How important is preventin

acts and solving crimes? acts and solving crimes?