IBIS+TRAX 3D+Brings+New+Added+Value MedRes

7/27/2019 IBIS+TRAX 3D+Brings+New+Added+Value MedRes

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IBIS TRAX-3D Brings New AddedValue to Firearm Examiners:See more Link more Do more


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Introduction

Forensic firearm examiners rely upon the unique microscopic markings left on fired ammunition

components bullets and cartridge cases to identify similarities between them, to link onebullet or cartridge case to another, and to link them to the gun from which they were fired.

By linking ballistics evidence from two crimes, police can leverage the existing informationknown about each crime to further advance their investigations. Even cases long gonecold can be re-energized when a gun taken from a suspect is linked to a prior crime orseries of crimes.

The field of forensic ballistics is not without its inherent difficulties and inconsistencies. Somefirearms do not mark well for example, those with a blowback mechanism using lowpressure calibers, such as 9mm Makarov and 380 Auto.

In addition, some ammunition types do not mark well, such as cartridges made with steelcases and primers, and those with thick primer sealant for example, 7.62x39mm ammunition.

This paper presents four examples of common problems associated with certainammunition types and firearms. These examples demonstrate how IBIS TRAX-3D

products, namely IBIS BRASSTRAX-3D and IBIS MATCHPOINT+, can help thefirearm examiner see more, link more, and do more to help advance the investigation ofcrimes involving firearms.

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CONTENTS:

Example 1 9mm Makarovcartridge cases fired from aMakarov firearm with ablowback mechanism p.3

Example 2 7.62x39mmcartridge cases, with steelcase and primer, fired froman AK-47 type rifle p.6

Example 3 380 Autocartridge cases fired fromfirearm with a blowback

mechanism p.9

Example 4 Distinguishingfirearm types within the samecaliber group (AK-47 type riflevs. SKS type rifle) p.13

Summary p.16


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Example 1:9mm Makarov cartridge cases fired from a Makarov firearm with a blowbackmechanism

The Makarov pistol can be particularly troublesome for firearm examiners because both thefirearm and the cartridges do not mark well.

IMAGE 1-1

IMAGE 1-1 is a two-dimensional photomicrograph from a modern comparison microscope.It shows a side-by-side comparison of two 9mm Makarov caliber cartridge cases, eachwith steel cases and primers, which have been fired from the same gun.

The lack of sufficient visible marks in this photomicrograph could prevent a firearm examinerfrom concluding that these exhibits were or were not fired from the same gun.

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IMAGE 1-2

IMAGE 1-2, is a computer screen capture from a MATCHPOINT+ analysis station showing the

same two 9mm Makarov cartridge cases in a two-dimensional perspective and focusing moreclosely on the side-by-side comparison of the firing pin impressions.

From this perspective, the firearm examiner can see more information than in IMAGE 1-1,thephotomicrograph.

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IMAGE 1-3

IMAGE 1-3, is another computer screen capture from a MATCHPOINT+ analysis stationshowing the same two 9mm Makarov cartridge cases now in a three-dimensionalmodel focusing more closely on theside-by-side comparison of both the breech face marksand the firing pin impression.

Remarkably, the breech face marks and the firing pin impression are in focus. Thisall-in-focus feature is unique to the IBIS TRAX-3D technology and is a key differentiator frommodern comparison microscopes and other ballistics analysis systems.

Much more information can be seen now that was not apparent in the previous two images

- seven of the visible areas of similarity are highlighted. This new information could promptthe firearm examiner to consider these marks or other available marks in order to increasethe probability of making a match.

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Example 2:7.62x39mm cartridge cases, with steel case and primer, fired from an AK-47type rifle

IMAGE 2-1

IMAGE 2-1, is a two-dimensionalphotomicrograph from a modern comparison microscope.It shows aside-by-side comparison of two 7.62x39mm caliber cartridge cases, each withsteel cases and primers, which have been fired from the same gun.

The lack of sufficient visible marks in thisphotomicrograph could prevent a firearm examinerfrom concluding that these exhibits were or were not fired from the same gun.

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IMAGE 2-2

IMAGE 2-2, is a computer screen capture from a MATCHPOINT+ analysis station showingthe same two 7.62x39mm cartridge cases in a two-dimensional perspective and focusingmore closely on theside-by-side comparison of the firing pin impressions.

From this perspective, the firearm examiner can see more information than in IMAGE 2-1thephotomicrograph.

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IMAGE 2-3

IMAGE 2-3, is another computer screen capture from a MATCHPOINT+ analysis stationshowing the same two 7.62x39mm cartridge cases now in a three-dimensionalmodel focusing more closely on theside-by-side comparison of both the breech face marksand the firing pin impression.


Much more information can be seen now that was not apparent in the previous two images four of the visible areas of similarity are highlighted. This new information could promptthe firearm examiner to consider these marks or other available marks in order to increasethe probability opportunity of making a match.

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Example 3:380 Auto cartridge cases fired from a firearm with a blowback mechanism

IMAGE 3-1

IMAGE 3-1, is a two-dimensionalphotomicrograph from a modern comparison microscope.It shows aside-by-side comparison of two 380 Auto caliber cartridge cases which havebeen fired from the same gun.

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IMAGE 3-2

IMAGE 3-2, is a computer screen capture from a MATCHPOINT+ analysis station showingthe same two 380 Auto cartridge cases in a two-dimensional perspective and focusing moreclosely on theside-by-side comparison of the firing pin impressions.

From this perspective, the firearm examiner can see more information than in IMAGE 3-1,thephotomicrograph.

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IMAGE 3-3

IMAGE 3-3 is another computer screen capture from a MATCHPOINT+ analysisstation showing the same two 380 Auto cartridge cases now in a three-dimensionalmodel focusing more closely on theside-by-side comparison of both the breech facemarks and the firing pin impression.


Much more information can be seen now that was not apparent in the previous two images two visible areas of similarity are highlighted. This new information could prompt the

firearm examiner to consider these marks and other available marks, such as chambermarks, in order to increase the probability of making a match.

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IMAGE 3-4

IMAGE 3-4, is a two-dimensional photomicrograph from a modern comparison microscope.It shows aside-by-side comparison of the two 380 Auto cartridge cases and the visiblechamber marks which provide sufficient evidence to conclude that the cartridge cases havebeen fired from the same gun.

This positive conclusion might have been missed if similarities had not been made evident byIBIS TRAX-3D technology, prompting the firearm examiner to continue the analysis.

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Example 4:Distinguishing firearm types within the same caliber group(AK-47 type rifle vs. SKS type rifle)

IMAGE 4-1

IMAGE 4-1, is a two-dimensionalphotomicrograph from a modern comparison microscope.It shows aside-by-side comparison of the firing pin impressions of two 7.62x39mm calibercartridge cases, each with steel cases and primers, which have been fired from two differentguns.

The visible marks on the firing pin impressions on the cartridge cases provide sufficientevidence to conclude that the cartridge cases were fired from different guns. However,based on the visible marks alone, the firearm examiner would not be able to determine thatthe cartridge cases were fired from different types of firearms.

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IMAGE 4-2

IMAGE 4-2, is a computer screen capture from a MATCHPOINT+ analysis station showingimages of the base areas of the firing pin impressions of two 7.62x39mm cartridge cases,each with steel cases and primers, in a three-dimensional reverse perspective. They werefired from two different guns of the same type: both AK-47 type rifles.

The unique MATCHPOINT+ 3D reverse visualization feature, allows firearm examiners to clearlysee the profiles of the firing pin impressions.

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IMAGE 4-3

IMAGE 4-3, is a computer screen capture from a MATCHPOINT+ analysis station showingimages of the base areas of the firing pin impressions of two 7.62x39mm cartridge cases,each with steel cases and primers, in a three-dimensional reverse perspective. They werefired from two different guns of differing types: one an AK-47 type rifle and the otheran SKS type rifle.

Here we can clearly see the value and application of the MATCHPOINT+ 3D reversevisualization feature it enables firearm examiners to see that the profiles of the two firingpin impressions are distinctly different. This reverse visualization feature is unique to theIBIS TRAX-3D technology and is a key differentiator from modern comparison microscopesand other ballistics analysis systems.

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Summary

With IBIS TRAX-3D, the firearm examiner can do more to help detectives by providing themwith useful information, such as indicating that two different guns of the same caliber wereused in a murder.

The 3D visualization features including all-in-focus and 3D reverse visualization thatare unique to IBIS TRAX-3D, help forensic firearm examiners to see more marks.

The ability to see more data prompts the forensic expert to continue looking,thereby increasing the probability of linking more crimes and guns.

More useful information about crimes and guns helps firearm examiners andpolice detectives do more in terms of stopping armed criminals before more harmcan be done.

IBIS TRAX-3D: See more Link more Do more

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IBIS+TRAX 3D+Brings+New+Added+Value MedRes

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