title: Automatic identification of bullet signatures based on consecutive matching striae (CMS) criteria.
abstract: The consecutive matching striae (CMS) numeric criteria for firearm and toolmark identifications have been widely accepted by forensic examiners, although there have been questions concerning its observer subjectivity and limited statistical support. In this paper, based on signal processing and extraction, a model for the automatic and objective counting of CMS is proposed. The position and shape information of the striae on the bullet land is represented by a feature profile, which is used for determining the CMS number automatically. Rapid counting of CMS number provides a basis for ballistics correlations with large databases and further statistical and probability analysis. Experimental results in this report using bullets fired from ten consecutively manufactured barrels support this developed model.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA. wei.chu@nist.gov
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Theodore V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Vorburger
keywords: Consecutive matching striae (CMS); Feature profile; Forensic science; Identification criteria; Toolmark identification; Topography measurement