Patent ID: 7796810

Claim:
A method of mapping a surface of a ballistic piece of evidence (BPOE), wherein said surface of the BPOE comprises a plurality of regions, the method comprising: acquiring a plurality of z(x,y) regional reliefs each comprising a measured surface with corresponding depth values z, where (x,y) are surface coordinates of the measured surface, each z(x,y) regional relief corresponding to a three-dimensional measurement of one of said plurality of regions, said acquiring comprising obtaining multiple two-dimensional light intensity images of said measured surface at different heights to provide said depth values z; removing from said z(x, y) regional reliefs distortions due to a curved surface of the BPOE; assembling said plurality of regional reliefs into a mosaic for obtaining a relief map of said surface, thereby obtaining the 3-dimensional mapping of said surface of the BPOE; providing a user with said relief map of said surface; and also providing said user with a two-dimensional light intensity image as complementary information to said relief map of said surface, said two-dimensional light intensity image having been acquired with a same set of x,y coordinates as said plurality of regional reliefs.