Forensic Video Image Analysis: A Powerful Tool for Law Enforcement, Security, and the Courts

1. Forensic Video Image Analysis An Emerging Tool for Law Enforcement, Industrial Security, and the Courts

2. Original Image - VHS Format Man wearing hat & carrying purse - Boston

3. Magnification X2 - Deblurred Man wearing hat, glasses & carrying purse - Boston

4. Forensic Video Image Analysis No one recognizes themselves better in enhanced video than the perpetrator. ergo - plea bargains and cost savings for the investigator and the Court

5. Magnification X4 - Deblurred Man with hat, glasses, thick eye brows & purse - Boston

6. Magnification X8 - Deblurred Man with hat, glasses & thick eyebrows - Boston

7. Facial Marking - Original Image Perpetrator at ATM machine - Reno

8. Facial Marking - Image Deblurred Perpetrator at ATM machine - Reno

9. Magnification X2 - Deblurred Facial marking is more distinct Perpetrator at ATM machine - Reno

10. Magnification X4 - Deblurred Facial marking distinct Perpetrator at ATM machine - Reno

11. LESSON: SYNCHRONIZATION PARTIAL FRAMES CAN BE CAPTURED

12. Original Image - 24 Hour Mode First image captured at 21:18:05 There are 5 frames in one second in 24 hour mode & 10 fields! very dark hard to see perp Tape very difficult to sync on one frame

13. Original Image - 24 Hour Mode Second image captured at 21:18:05 There are 5 frames in one second in 24 hour mode &10 fields! very dark hard to see perp Tape very difficult to sync on one frame

14. Original Image - 24 Hour Mode Third image captured at 21:18:05 There are 5 frames in one second in 24 hour mode & 10 fields! very dark hard to see perp Tape very difficult to sync on one frame

15. Original Image - 24 Hour Mode Fourth frame captured at 21:18:05 There are 5 frames in one second in 24 hour mode & 10 fields! very dark hard to see perp Tape very difficult to sync on one frame

16. LESSON: Splitting Frames into Fields

17. One frame of video is composed of odd & even lines. The odd lines are called the “Odd Field” The even lines are called the “Even Field” Splitting Frames into Fields Vertical Magnification enlarges fields to full frames The computer can display the odd & even fields separately

18. Video Frame 525 Lines even lines odd lines NTSC Format 2 to 1 Interlace 30 frames/second

19. Video Frame Field Split 1 3 5 7 Odd Field 9 11 13 15 211 2 4 6 Even Field 8 10 12 14 210 212 60 fields/second 212.5 lines/field

20. Original VHS Continuous Tape Ghost Perpetrator Perp in upper right corner of convenience store. He is every other line of video.

21. Ghost Perp Odd Field 212.5 lines Ghost Perp Even Field 212.5 lines

22. Ghost-Even Field Magnified Vertically X2

23. Software Time Base Correction The perp’s head is now in alignment

24. Ghost - Even Field Magnified X2

25. Ghost Even Field Magnified X4 Aspect Ratio Corrected Mug Shot of Perpetrator

26. LESSON: MOTION BLUR – A Solution

27. One frame of video is composed of odd & even lines. The odd lines are called the “Odd Field” The even lines are called the “Even Field” Splitting Frames into Fields removes MOTION BLUR! Vertical Magnification enlarges fields to full frames The computer can display the odd & even fields separately

28. Original VHS Tape - Motion Blur Perpetrator Running Through Convenience Store.

29. Motion Blur Magnified X2 Brightened

30. Original Image Brightened & Time Base Corrected

31. Frame Split Into Odd & Even Field This process removes motion blur

32. Odd Field Magnified Vertically X2

33. Odd Field Magnified X2

34. VHS / SVHS Continuous or Time Lapse 8mm ~ VHS Hi-8 ~ SVHS Thermal / IR Images Still Photos - Positive & Negative All formats are acceptable!

35. Premeditated Murder ? Perp holds gun to clerk outside window. White rag held over weapon.

36. Premeditated Murder ? Perp enters store holding weapon covered by rag .

37. Premeditated Murder ? Magnification X2 - Notice rag over weapon.

38. Premeditated Murder ? Magnification X4 Notice rag over weapon & powder burn in rag.

39. LESSON: TAPE COPY

40. Video Tape Copy 1. DO NOT copy VHS to VHS. Resolution & Intensity are lost. 2. DO make a VHS to SVHS, 8 mm to Hi 8 mm, SVHS to HI 8 mm, BETA to 3/4” or 1” format. 3. DO NOT make several copies of VHS to VHS, i.e., second and third generation tapes. The copies loose more resolution with each generation. 3/4”

41. Original tape Copy tape Note loss of detail in copy First generation VHS Third generation VHS

42. First Generation VHS Third Generation VHS Magnification X2

43. Color Burst - Wavy Distortion Loss of Image Detail

44. Color Burst Signal Eliminated Wavy Distortion Removed

45. LESSON: Remove Color Burst Signal Split SVHS 4 pin mini DIN to Y/C BNC For Highest Resolution, Finest Detail Images

46. Definition: Image Enhancement To heighten; intensify; make greater; increase Source: Webster’s Dictionary Court Room Acceptable

47. Definition: Image Edit To prepare; assemble; alter; adapt; refine Source: Webster’s Dictionary Court Room Unacceptable

48. LESSON: To T or Not to T Do not use BNC T’s on Video Signal T’s causes intensity degradation

49. VHS / SVHS Continuous or Time Lapse 8mm ~ VHS Hi - 8 ~ SVHS Thermal / IR Images Still Photos - Positive & Negative All formats are acceptable!

50. Original Image Good Video A Rare Case excellent video looking for a scar pattern on forehead Pattern not apparent