Investigating the effectiveness of a portable episcopic coaxial illumination device on fingermarks in a crime scene

Abstract

This project aimed to evaluate the optimised portable episcopic coaxial Illumination (pECI) device based on how it performed on latent, powdered and bloody fingermarks under pseudo-operational conditions, including variabilities in donor strength, fingermark age and substrate type. Additionally, the pECI device was tested in comparison to the current enhancement sequences for latent, powdered and bloody fingermarks as established by past research. Furthermore, this project aimed to test the ease of use and practicality of the pECI device under pseudo-operational conditions. It was concluded that the pECI device provided complementarity to diffused reflection photography for latent and powdered fingermarks and that the device can be a good alternative for recording bloody fingermarks, where FLS’s aren’t available. It was also determined that pECI was quicker and easier to use in comparison to diffused reflection photography and the use of alternate light sources. It is therefore proposed that the pECI device should be added to the enhancement sequences for latent, powdered and bloody fingermarks as an additional non-destructive technique for non-porous, reflective surfaces. During the evaluation of the pECI device under pseudo-operation conditions, an alternative mode was discovered. It was found through further investigation and experimentation that the pECI can be operated in darkfield illumination mode. Fingermarks under this mode exhibited better enhancement than either diffused reflection or pECI, especially on highly reflective substrates such as the mirror. This has provided an avenue for future research.

Date of Thesis submission	2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Western Sydney University
Supervisor	Val Spikmans (Supervisor) & Robert Ebeyan (Supervisor)