Canadian researchers developing new fingerprint scanning process

A research team at the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada is currently developing a new technology it says could potentially enhance the process of fingerprint scanning for police, military and border services, according to a report by CBC.ca.

The researchers have developed a new biometric system at the Institute for Diagnostic Imaging Research in Windsor that can scan a finger into a 3-D image 2 mm from the skin’s surface.

“What we do here is unlike current, existing fingerprint devices in market which are optical,” said Aryaz Baradarani, a member of the research team. We are talking about something so advanced… “it’s reconstructing fingerprint patterns from the surface of the skin. We are going to do this process from the internal layers.”

The biometric system can still read those fingerprint patterns that have been damaged through work, an accident or on purpose, said Baradarani. “For example criminals are simply able to manipulate the surface of the skin, for that reason we are actually planning to offer fingerprint patter not from the surface of the skin, but from internal layers,” said Baradarani, pointing out that this is a function that existing optical fingerprint machines are incapable of performing.

The technology has great potential for use when it comes to security personnel at a nuclear power plant, the borders or military,” added Baradarani.

According to another research team member, Fedar Seviaryn, the group first began developing ultrasonic images of the skin for medical purposes before soon realizing the technology’s potential in fingerprinting application.

“The main difference from existing systems is that it can take an image of some structures inside the skin and that makes it a much more…solid, much more secure device,” said Seviaryn. “I believe that this technology will work very well in high-security areas. Of course it’s a little more expensive than the existing one, but it provides much more higher level of security.”

The team has already built a second prototype of the machine that can already be used for basic purposes, but it will continue to develop a final version of the system, said Seviaryn.

The researchers have already demonstrated the biometric system for the FBI at a defence biometric conference in Washington, D.C., and will soon present it to the Canadian government.

If the federal government approves of the project, the technology could be implemented in borders or airports to randomly check travelers, said Baradarani.

Article Topics

3D  |  biometrics  |  biometrics research  |  border security  |  Canada  |  fingerprint biometrics  |  fingerprint scanners  |  law enforcement