Forensic Chemistry – Automated System Of Fingerprint Identification
This System (AFIS) uses modern digital technology to scan, store, and analyze fingerprints in order to identify a person and also use this data, to compare a set of fingerprints with a database of previously known prints.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
- A fingerprint is scanned by the AFIS, which then digitizes the image.
- The fingerprint’s distinctive features, such as ridge ends and bifurcations, are then extracted from this image by further processing.
- The resulting information is entered into a database alongside the person’s name, birth date, and criminal background information.
- When a fingerprint is submitted for identification, the system uses a complex algorithm to compare the attributes of the print to those in its database.
- The system will return the identifying details linked to the fingerprint, such as the person’s name and criminal background if a match is made.
USES OF AFIS
Law enforcement agencies, immigration services, and other governmental organizations utilize AFIS to identify people for a variety of purposes, including
- criminal investigations
- border security
- and national security.
Private enterprises also employ the technology for security and access control, as shown in the biometric authentication systems for laptops and smartphones.