Forensic Photographic
Forensic Photographic
Comparison Analysis
Comparison Analysis
Richard W. Vorder Bruegge, Ph.D. Richard W. Vorder Bruegge, Ph.D.
Examiner of Questioned Photographic Evidence Examiner of Questioned Photographic Evidence
FBI
FBI –– Operational Technology DivisionOperational Technology Division
Forensic Audio, Video and Image Analysis Unit Forensic Audio, Video and Image Analysis Unit Building 27958A, Pod E, Quantico, VA 22135 Building 27958A, Pod E, Quantico, VA 22135
703
703--985985--11921192
Forensic Photographic Comparisons
Forensic Photographic Comparisons
Outline
Outline l
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Recognized discipline
Recognized discipline
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What is it?
What is it?
ll Brief HistoryBrief History
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How is it done? (Technique)
How is it done? (Technique)
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Examples
Examples
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Limitations
Limitations
ll What it is notWhat it is not
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ASCLD/LAB
ASCLD/LAB
and
and
Digital & Multimedia Evidence
Digital & Multimedia Evidence l
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ASCLD/LAB now recognizes
ASCLD/LAB now recognizes
“
“
Digital
Digital
and Multimedia Evidence
and Multimedia Evidence
”
”
as a
as a
discipline subject to accreditation.
discipline subject to accreditation.
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Subdisciplines of
Subdisciplines of
“
“
DME
DME
”
”
include:
include:
ll Computer ForensicsComputer Forensics
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l Forensic AudioForensic Audio
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l Video AnalysisVideo Analysis
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SWGIT & Forensic Image Analysis
Forensic Image Analysis
Forensic Image Analysis
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l Information Extraction (through processing)Information Extraction (through processing)
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l License plate numbers, clothing markings, etc.License plate numbers, clothing markings, etc.
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l Photogrammetric examinationsPhotogrammetric examinations
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l Image Authenticity examinationsImage Authenticity examinations
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l Forensic Photographic ComparisonsForensic Photographic Comparisons
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l Facial/personFacial/person--toto--person comparisonsperson comparisons
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l Object comparisons (clothing, vehicles, Object comparisons (clothing, vehicles, weapons, etc.)
weapons, etc.)
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SWGIT & Photographic Comparisons
Forensic Photographic Comparisons
Forensic Photographic Comparisons
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l ImageImage--toto--image comparisons not new, or image comparisons not new, or unique to forensics:
unique to forensics:
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l AstronomyAstronomy
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l Change Detection (planet searches)Change Detection (planet searches)
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l Geology (Photo-Geology (Photo-geology)geology)
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l InterInter--comparisons (Tectonic/impact processes, etc.)comparisons (Tectonic/impact processes, etc.)
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l Change Detection (volcanism/water/dust)Change Detection (volcanism/water/dust)
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l Military/Intelligence/Security ApplicationsMilitary/Intelligence/Security Applications
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l Cuban Missile CrisisCuban Missile Crisis
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l Imposter DetectionImposter Detection
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Forensic Photographic Comparisons
Forensic Photographic Comparisons
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l ImageImage--toto--image or imageimage or image--toto--object object comparisons not new to forensics: comparisons not new to forensics:
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l Latent printsLatent prints
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l Footwear impressionsFootwear impressions l
l Tire impressionsTire impressions
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l Questioned DocumentsQuestioned Documents
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l Firearm and Toolmark examsFirearm and Toolmark exams
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l Firearm identifications from photographsFirearm identifications from photographs l
l Subject Matter Experts Draw Conclusions Subject Matter Experts Draw Conclusions –– and and they must understand the photographic process they must understand the photographic process
Forensic Photographic Comparisons
Forensic Photographic Comparisons
Historical Highlights (1/2)
Historical Highlights (1/2)
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l FBI Conducted since 1960FBI Conducted since 1960’’s (and earliers (and earlier……))
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l JFK AssassinationJFK Assassination
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l Rifle in backyard photos to recovered weapon (WC)Rifle in backyard photos to recovered weapon (WC)
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l Photo to camera comparisons (WC)Photo to camera comparisons (WC)
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l SA Shaneyfelt testified that he had conducted SA Shaneyfelt testified that he had conducted ““100 to 300 100 to 300 photographic examinations
photographic examinations”” prior to JFK case (WC)prior to JFK case (WC)
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l Facial comparisons of Oswald (HSCA)Facial comparisons of Oswald (HSCA)
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l Bank Protection Act of 1968Bank Protection Act of 1968
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l Camera in banks Camera in banks –– source of evidentiary photossource of evidentiary photos
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Forensic Photographic Comparisons
Forensic Photographic Comparisons
Historical Highlights (2/2)
Historical Highlights (2/2)
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l Case law dating from the 1970Case law dating from the 1970’’s to today s to today
demonstrates court acceptance of photographic demonstrates court acceptance of photographic
comparison testimony. comparison testimony.
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l Daubert challenges met and passed in this decade.Daubert challenges met and passed in this decade.
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l Most publications in law enforcement journals, Most publications in law enforcement journals, conference proceedings, forensic journals, or conference proceedings, forensic journals, or
as chapters in books addressing broader areas. as chapters in books addressing broader areas.
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l Many Many ““case studiescase studies””..
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Some Labs Where Photographic
Some Labs Where Photographic
Comparisons are Performed
Comparisons are Performed
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l FBI FBI –– Forensic Audio, Video and Image Forensic Audio, Video and Image Analysis Unit
Analysis Unit
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l U.S. Army Criminal Investigation LaboratoryU.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory
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l Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory in WausauWisconsin State Crime Laboratory in Wausau
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l The Centre of Forensic Sciences (Ontario)The Centre of Forensic Sciences (Ontario)
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l Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
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l Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI)Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI)
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Forensic Photographic Comparisons
Forensic Photographic Comparisons
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l Technique Technique –– ACEACE--V model (like latent prints)V model (like latent prints)
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l Image acquisition (film, video, digital still)Image acquisition (film, video, digital still)
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l Image processing (enhance images)Image processing (enhance images)
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l ≠≠ Photographic Comparison by itself!Photographic Comparison by itself!
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l Image Image AnalysisAnalysis/observation (note features)/observation (note features)
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l Comparison (correspondence of features?)Comparison (correspondence of features?) l
l Evaluation (meaning of correspondence/lack)Evaluation (meaning of correspondence/lack)
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l Sometimes can be supported by statistics (not required)Sometimes can be supported by statistics (not required)
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l VerificationVerification
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Forensic Photographic Comparisons
Forensic Photographic Comparisons
Examples
Examples
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l Facial Comparisons/Human ID from ImagesFacial Comparisons/Human ID from Images
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l Vehicle Identification/Comparisons Vehicle Identification/Comparisons
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l Clothing ComparisonsClothing Comparisons
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Applying Statistics to
Applying Statistics to
Patterned Clothing Characteristics
Patterned Clothing Characteristics
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l One seam One seam –– 1/30 chance of specific alignment 1/30 chance of specific alignment (1/30 more conservative than 1/36)
(1/30 more conservative than 1/36)
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l Two seams Two seams –– 1/30 * 1/30 = 1/9001/30 * 1/30 = 1/900
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l Three seams Three seams –– 1/30 * 1/30 * 1/30 = 1/27,0001/30 * 1/30 * 1/30 = 1/27,000
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l (More than number manufactured(More than number manufactured……identification)identification)
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l 4 seams 4 seams –– 1/810,0001/810,000
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l 5 seams 5 seams -- 1/24,300,0001/24,300,000
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l In one robbery, saw 11 seams/piecesIn one robbery, saw 11 seams/pieces……
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l (1/30)^11 = 1/1.77 E+16 (1/30)^11 = 1/1.77 E+16
(17,714,700,000,000,000) (17,714,700,000,000,000)
Camera Identification/Individualization
Camera Identification/Individualization
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Questioned images all exhibited same
Questioned images all exhibited same
defective pixels (15 total identified).
defective pixels (15 total identified).
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Total number of pixels in image 2048 x
Total number of pixels in image 2048 x
1536 = 3,145,728 (3.1 million).
1536 = 3,145,728 (3.1 million).
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Chance of two images having same
Chance of two images having same
single bad pixel at random ~ 1 in 3.1
single bad pixel at random ~ 1 in 3.1
million squared (~ 1 in 10 to the 12
million squared (~ 1 in 10 to the 12
ththpower).
power).
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15 pixels?
15 pixels?
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< 1 in 10 to the 50
< 1 in 10 to the 50
ththpower.
power.
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Forensic Photographic Comparisons
Forensic Photographic Comparisons
Limitations
Limitations
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l Why is the field more prominent today?Why is the field more prominent today?
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l Increase in image and video evidence in society (and need Increase in image and video evidence in society (and need
for law enforcement analysis)
for law enforcement analysis)
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l Surveillance video (public and private sector)Surveillance video (public and private sector)
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l Digital Cameras (including cell phones)Digital Cameras (including cell phones)
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l Internet (including webcams)Internet (including webcams)
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l Increase in ability of law enforcement agencies to Increase in ability of law enforcement agencies to processprocess digital images and video
digital images and video
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l Increase in computer power/reduction in cost makes equipment mucIncrease in computer power/reduction in cost makes equipment much h cheaper (FBI not only ones who can afford equipment)
cheaper (FBI not only ones who can afford equipment)
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Forensic Photographic Comparisons
Forensic Photographic Comparisons
What is needed?
What is needed?
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l InfrastructureInfrastructure
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l Full time personnel, dedicated to this fieldFull time personnel, dedicated to this field
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l Peer review Peer review –– Opinion based conclusions demand itOpinion based conclusions demand it
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l EducationEducation
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l Image ScienceImage Science
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l Anyone can Anyone can ““looklook”” at a picture at a picture –– one needs to be trained one needs to be trained to
to ““analyzeanalyze””
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l Comparison AnalysisComparison Analysis
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l What characteristics are most meaningful?What characteristics are most meaningful?
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Forensic Photographic Comparisons
Forensic Photographic Comparisons
What is needed?
What is needed?
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l Education in StatisticsEducation in Statistics
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l Can’Can’t have statistical tables for everything.t have statistical tables for everything.
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l Photo comparisons may involve ANYTHING.Photo comparisons may involve ANYTHING.
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l Models often developed on a case-Models often developed on a case-byby--case basiscase basis
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l Research Research
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l Statistics of Facial Minutiae (including ear patterns)Statistics of Facial Minutiae (including ear patterns)
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l Biometrics (black box) vs. Forensic Science (why Biometrics (black box) vs. Forensic Science (why does a technology work)
Forensic Photographic
Forensic Photographic
Comparison Analysis
Comparison Analysis
Questions?
Questions?
Richard W. Vorder Bruegge, Ph.D. Richard W. Vorder Bruegge, Ph.D.
Examiner of Questioned Photographic Evidence Examiner of Questioned Photographic Evidence
FBI
FBI –– Operational Technology DivisionOperational Technology Division
Forensic Audio, Video and Image Analysis Unit Forensic Audio, Video and Image Analysis Unit Building 27958A, Pod E, Quantico, VA 22135 Building 27958A, Pod E, Quantico, VA 22135
703
703--985985--11921192
