Method and system for three dimensional imaging and analysis
The inventive systems and methods relate to the field of matching toolmarks for firearm forensics having a retrographic sensor to provide a three dimensional representation of a surface of an object for heatmapping analyzed matching geometric features.
1. A method of matching toolmarks for firearm forensics comprising:
pressing an object into a retrographic sensor thereby producing a three dimensional surface of the object;
illuminating the three dimensional surface with a set of lights;
capturing at least one image of the three dimensional surface;
rendering the captured images into a three dimensional image having a resolution ranging from about 0.5 microns per pixel to about 7 microns per pixel;
measuring the three dimensional image for the geometric features;
removing the influence of surface reflectivity on the measured three dimensional surface topography;
comparing the geometric features to known geometric features; and
providing evaluation of the comparison between the geometric features and known geometric features.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the object is a cartridge casing.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface is a breech face surface.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the analyzing step is performed by a computer.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the geometric features have continuously variable slope.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of heatmapping the three dimensional image based on the comparison evaluation.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of 3D printing the three dimensional image.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of 3D printing the heatmapped three dimensional image.