Project: A handheld spectral-imaging system for forensic typing and aging of blood stains, wounds and bodily fluids.
BACKGROUND_x000D_Accurate recording of the crime scene and subsequent localization and analysis of biological evidence is essential to the processing of a crime scene. Unfortunately, the detection and identification of biological traces like bodily fluids left at crime scenes is time consuming and often destructive. Currently used methods include white light imaging and alternate light sources, if necessary supported with chemical contrast enhancement agents. These methods lack specificity and still require sampling and analysis in a forensic lab. _x000D__x000D_Ideally, ‘traces’ are judged, recorded and interpreted in the original context, at the crime scene. It is crucial to minimize the risk of contamination and destruction of traces and so there is a need for techniques that allow for non-contact identification of evidence. The AMC group of Prof. Maurice Aalders in Amsterdam developed a spectral technique for identification and age determination of blood stains which is unique worldwide and therefore has a worldwide market. However, existing hardware is very expensive (50 - 100 k€) and too complex for in-field applications. The aim of HAWKEYE is to solve this reCOing roadblock by making a robust handheld spectral-imaging device at an affordable price (5 - 10k€) for professional end-users._x000D__x000D_OBJECTIVE_x000D_Within this project, a Pship of highly complementary SMEs and the Biomedical Forensics Group of the AMC (Amsterdam Medical Center) will join forces in developing a new type of handheld spectral-imaging system for professional use in medical forensics and dermatology. Due to its excellent price-performance ratio, the Ps expect that the HAWKEYE camera will become an important professional tool for police, crime scene investigators, first-line medical practitioners and dermatologists. _x000D__x000D_APPROACH OF THE HAWKEYE PROJECT_x000D_A technically-proven, high-end spectral imaging device of the company SPECIM (Finland) will be thoroughly miniaturized and integrated into a handheld unit in collaboration with AVANTES BV (Netherlands) and COSINE BV (Netherlands). In addition, the technology will be designed to extract one other important feature from the remitted light besides the spectroscopic content, namely information on the polarization state. This will make medical and forensic spectral-imaging even more powerful. Dedicated software will be developed for rapid processing of the spectral data. The medical-forensics application is implemented and tested by the forensics group at the AMC, the Netherlands Forensics Institute and the Finnish Forensic Institute (Finland). The duration of the project will be 24 months. _x000D__x000D_TECHNOLOGY AND MARKET APPLICATION_x000D_The project marks an important step in medical spectral imaging; it brings within reach what is perceived to_x000D_be future technology. Within the project the foundation is laid for a technology platform which enables the_x000D_realization of handheld spectral-polarimetric imaging. This generic technology can be used to fulfil a large_x000D_variety of applications which have already been defined. _x000D_HAWKEYE will be a professional tool for forensic typing and aging of blood stains, wounds and bodily fluids, such as the analysis of blood spatters at crime scenes. But it can also serve to determine the age of bruises resulting from trauma (e.g. child abuse). Besides the forensic applications, there are many other areas that could benefit from a professional handheld spectral imaging device, for example for monitoring neonates in hospitals. In addition the compact and low-cost hardware may find several applications in the agro, food and process control industries. The total markets for these applications may amount from 100 Mio€ to several Billion €. _x000D__x000D_PROJECT PS AND THEIR EXPERTISE_x000D_- Avantes BV (SME, prime proposer, NL) - Components for optical spectroscopy, illumination and polarimetry;_x000D_- SPECIM, Spectral Imaging Oy Ltd. (SME, FI) - Systems for high-end spectral imaging;_x000D_- Cosine Research BV (SME, NL) - Innovative solutions for measurement systems and image processing;_x000D_- Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam (Research, NL) - Know-how on medical and forensic_x000D_ spectral imaging.
| Acronym | HAWKEYE (Reference Number: 8257) |
| Duration | 01/11/2013 - 31/10/2015 |
| Project Topic | Three SMEs and a biomedical forensics group will develop a low-cost, handheld spectral-imaging camera for professional use in medical forensics and dermatology. The HAWKEYE camera should become an important tool for police, crime scene investigators, medical practitioners and dermatologists. |
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Project Results (after finalisation) |
The CO result for SPECIM in the HAWKEYE project was the finalization of the design and realization of the prototype of the TinyM imaging spectrometer. |
| Network | Eurostars |
| Call | Eurostars Cut-Off 10 |
Project partner
| Number | Name | Role | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Academic Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam | Partner | Netherlands |
| 4 | Avantes BV | Coordinator | Netherlands |
| 4 | cosine Research BV | Partner | Netherlands |
| 4 | SPECIM, Spectral Imaging Oy Ltd. | Partner | Finland |