FEATURES & BENEFITS
- Reduction of manhours and increase in the effectiveness of ballistic evidence examination and investigation due to comprehensive information and tools available to experts
- Unrestricted database size
- Forensic-quality imaging of the bullet and shell casing surfaces with the use of live ballistic scanners
- Generation of forensic-quality data arrays: bullets, cartridge cases, fragmented specimens, smoothbore ammunition components
- Storage of an extensive amount of information concerning each object in the database – comprehensive history, administrative information and forensic data
- Identification of bullets and cartridge cases, fired by rifled firearms, and projectiles, fired by smoothbore guns
- Differentiation between various types of firearms at the time of registration (military weapons, service weapons, special guns, etc.)
- Automatic mapping of driving and driven edges on the bullet’s circumference image
- Interactive outlining on the bullet:
- Skid (primary) marks
- Land impressions
- Groove impressions
- Automatic extraction of characteristic marks on the cartridge case head:
- Firing pin impression
- Breech face mark
- Interactive labeling on the cartridge case head:
- Interactive labeling of toolmarks produced on the cartridge case side from contact with:
- Extractor
- Slide hole
- Magazine edge at loading and ejecting
- Chamber wall
- Breech edge
- Cartridge loading
- Breech-block bottom
- WSQ image compression for database storage (FBI certified)
- Automatic 3D imaging and profile of scanned surfaces
- Execution of automatic database searches for each characteristic mark coded on the images
- Initiation of high-priority searches, if required
- Generation of candidate lists
- Diverse operations over database objects: ad-hoc selection and sifting, retrieval, side-by-side comparisons, etc.
- Printouts of any database information requested
- Import/export of database files via IP networks
- Creation and control of access rights and data security
- Generation of statistic reports
- Multi-level access distribution, automatic compliance with secure communications and storage protocols
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IMAGE ACQUISITION
ARSENAL lets you store together with images an extensive amount of information concerning each object – its comprehensive history, administrative information and forensic data.
Ballistic images are acquired from fired specimens of all kinds by scanning with a unique PAPILLON Surface Scanner.
The seamless image of the entire surface is generated in the process of scanning, which makes a valuable advantage this method
provides versus fragmentary techniques where the final image is a result of “pasting together“ separate fragments with elimination of
inevitable borderline defects and compensation for light differences on neighboring areas with significant differentials in relief altitudes.
The outcome of each scanning session presents exact digital copies of an object’s surface:
- 2D grayscale image (65,536 gray shades) of optimal for ballistic examination resolution of 3 μm/pixel, reproducing all informative and identifiable features of the microrelief without any blur through fine noise (“nanonoise”) coming from the structure of metal and other random factors relating to properties which are not essential to the target of investigation
- 3D image of the surface, with the resolution of 10 μm/pixel on all axes.
The declared resolution in any place of any surface, including distorted and those with salient relief, is ensured by the “layer-by-layer” scanning technology applied with the small depth of focus along the entire profile of an object’s deformation. Every next layer is scanned with the optical system automatically shifted. After all layers are captured, the best fragments from all layers are automatically selected and assembled into a high-quality, evenly crisp image accurately reproducing every portion of the surface, whatever the deformation.
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Predefined picklists
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PAPILLON Surface Scanner
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The side surface of a bullet or cartridge case is scanned in oblique light while the object is rotated. Deformed and fragmented exhibits, smoothbore projectiles are fixed rigid when being scanned in oblique light.
To acquire cartridge case head images, orientation-independent direct annular lighting and 45°-sectored lighting at different angles are used. Thus, for a cartridge case head there can be captured up to 9 images (1 annular and 8 sector-lighted).
Sectored lighting has allowed ARSENAL to significantly improve the results of automatic comparison of breechface and ejector marks on cartridge cases of certain types (e.g. TT and Glock’s firearms).
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Cartridge case head scanning
in annular light
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Automatic dial-type cartridge case holder
for continuous scanning
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Using specialized algorithms, ARSENAL automatically extracts unique digital signatures from ballistic images. Thus, automatically defined are:
- rifling angles, land width, location of leading and trailing edges on the bullet’s circumference
- location of the breechface and firing-pin impressions, outline of the full headstamp and primer area on the cartridge case image
The interactive coding software allows the operator to highlight other identifiable characteristic marks that will be also taken into account at automatic searches of the database.
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Bullet circumference coding screen
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Cartridge case head coding screen
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ANALYSIS & VISUALIZATION TOOLS
The ABIS provides an ample kit of controls and tools for visual and comparative analysis of images:
- Scaling, repositioning, rotation
- Brightness/contrast adjustment
- Distance and angle measurement
- Choice of images allowing the operator to select the most informative one
- Profile visualization
- 3D-imaging
- Tools for side-by-side comparison of two objects including their 3D images
All of the above-listed capabilities and tools are available for the firearm examiner at any step of the ARSENAL session:
- scanning
- coding
- data retrieval
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 Examination of bullet side image
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Examination of cartridge case head image
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Side-by-syde comparison of 3D images of cartridge cases
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Side-by-side comparison of 3D images of bullets
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WORK WITH OBJECTS FIRED FROM WEAPONS OF DIFFERENT TYPES
ARSENAL delivers a variety of advanced features to meet firearm examination demands, namely capabilities and tools for examining projectiles fired from smoothbore:
- All types of missiles: bullets, pellets, shots
- Ad hoc object holder
- Specially developed comparison algorithms
- Separate data array
- Special mechanism imitating the gun firing by pulling a projectile through the barrel allowing to save the projectile and to acquire the most realistic picture of markings
ARSENAL provides also a valuable service to solve cases related to non-lethal guns. The workflow is similar to that with cartridge cases fired from rifled firearms.
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Marking images on missiles fired from smoothbore gun
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Special mechanism imitating the gun firing
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OBJECT CLONING
ARSENAL allows the examiner to create clones of bullets and cartridge cases under study. Ensuring congruent information value for originals and clones, this capability helps to protect important evidence while providing same efficiency of automatic searches.
- Creation of clones (bullets and cartridge cases) to ensure protection of important evidence
- Congruent information value of markings found on original images and on clones
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Original bullet is on the left, its clone is on the right
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Original cartridge case is on the left, its clone is on the right
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DATABASE VIEWER CAPABILITIES
- Retrieval and viewing of 2D and 3D ballistic images and any and all descriptive information
- Editing of descriptive data associated with any object stored in the database
- Filtering and sorting of any lists of objects
- Easy-to-use functions aiding in verifying search results (candidate lists can be displayed in text and graphic formats)
- Variety of tools for visual comparative analysis
- Any object can be re-coded and a new search can be initiated
- Printing out of any viewable information
- Data sharing (import/export) through electronic channels over IP or on any mediums (such as USB flash drives, disks, etc.)
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Simultaneous view of candidates matching the cartridge case
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Side-by-side comparison of regions of interest on two bullets
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Visualization and comparison of profiles of two cartridge cases
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Consecutive matching striae on buckshot and test bullet fired both
by smoothbore gun
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SOFTWARE & HARDWARE FEATURES
Originally ARSENAL was designed to run on Linux. At present, all of its interactive modules (scanning, coding and analysis) are embodied in cross-platform applications for both Linux and Windows operating systems.
ARSENAL’s software for image comparison is based on a pinpoint algorithm with a proven track record from thousands of PAPILLON Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems that are in the field for decades. Combination of 2D and 3D information has provided an increase in the search accuracy.
Image compression in ARSENAL is achieved through PAPILLON’s proprietary method of FBI certified WSQ lossless compression.
The ARSENAL hardware platform is configured with a number of built-in safeguards that ensure high reliability and performance while being cost-effective and providing:
- Easy scalability
- Modular expandability
- Upgradeability at a minimum cost
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SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE
ARSENAL configuration is determined by throughput requirements, database size and the number of terminals within the network. Designed as a client-server system, it can be part of a LAN or any other type of networks supporting IP connection.
ARSENAL’s Server Functions
- Storage of ballistic image files
- Receiving and processing of workstation requests
- Conducting of searches
- Compilation and delivery of search results
- Preparation of text data for storage in SQL DBMS
The server functions can be provided either by a dedicated computer or partitioned between workstations. The SQL-array locates either on the server, or on one of the networked workstations allotted for that.
Systems with large-sized databases are configured using ad hoc computers (so-called memboxes) for storing objects’ images, whereas smaller databases can be stored on the workstations computers.
Automatic comparisons are based on the parallel computing technology. The ARSENAL software uses multiple matchers as an integrated computational resource. In smaller systems, the processing functions are distributed between workstations.
Alphanumeric data entry, image acquisition and encoding, analysis of candidate lists and viewing objects in the database are operations available at the ABIS workstations.
Modular design allows for flexible network set up. Online control over ABIS performance, archiving, file backup, permissions, monitoring and database management are administrator functions.
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ADD-ON CAPABILITIES
- Examination of trace evidence left by crime weapons and other tools
- Forensic-quality image capture for impressions found on cylinder-shaped objects
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Scanning of a non-ballistic object for toolmarks
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Side-by-side imaging of toolmarks
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Scanning of a latent impression detected on an ampoule
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Resultant image
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