VIDOCQ
VIsual
DOcumentation for
Criminal
Queries
In this page:
Purpose
* Data content
* Data operations
* User interface
* Software implementation
Purpose
This database was created as part of the
IITiS-MECH project, within the European
CRIT-2 research
programme. It constitutes the part of the project most directly relevant
to forensic investigation.
Images of striated toolmarks are stored and annotated with data
such as criminal case and sample number. For a given image,
the database can be automatically searched to reveal potential
matches. Those are then submitted to the human expert
for verification.
Purpose
* Data content
* Data operations
* User interface
* Software implementation
Data content
Some types of data stored in the database are:
- Crime scene toolmark:
- 2D image
- 1D projection (greylevel profile) and its location in image
- type of tool
- case number and date
- person responsible for collecting the evidence and acquiring
the image
- Comparative (laboratory made) toolmark:
- 2D image
- 1D projection (greylevel profile) and its location in image
- type of tool
- case number and date
- person responsible for creating the mark
- Putative toolmark match:
- reference to the two images involved
- relative position of images when matched
- degree of matching
- case number and date
- confirming expert
Purpose
* Data content
* Data operations
* User interface
* Software implementation
Data operations
The following operations are supported:
- Reviewing and adding of crime-scene and comparative
toolmark images
- Toolmark image matching (using various criteria)
- Removal of outdated toolmark images (subject to
human confirmation)
Purpose
* Data content
* Data operations
* User interface
* Software implementation
User interface
The user can page through the set of secured
toolmarks using the crime scene toolmark window:
A similar window, with fewer administrative data fields,
is used to annotate comparison toolmarks made in the laboratory:
Parameters for the two automated matching algorithms are set
in a dialog box:
Purpose
* Data content
* Data operations
* User interface
* Software implementation
Software implementation
The application was written in C++, using the Microsoft Foundation
Class Library and image handling procedures from the
Classman
software by the I3D laboratory.
The program uses an external database server via the ODBC interface.
The server used during implementation and testing was Microsoft Access;
the DB2 (by IBM) is also being tried.
Purpose
* Data content
* Data operations
* User interface
* Software implementation