Forensic scientists around the nation will benefit from a science being studied at the Ames Laboratory.

The Ames Laboratory took on the challenge of developing a toolmark identification system. The system is a method to prove the uniqueness of tools such as crowbars, screwdrivers and pliers used in criminal activities.

“When a criminal uses a screwdriver to jimmy a door, there are microscopic marks that are transferred to the door,” said David Baldwin, scientist at the Ames Laboratory.

“[Forensic scientists] compare the marks on a door or doorjamb and test the mark the tool makes on a piece of lead, or another soft metal, to see if it matches.”

Stan Bajic is an associate scientist at the Ames Laboratory and a co-principal investigator for the visual toolmark identification project. He said two undergraduate students assisted — Molly Schiel, senior in anthropology, and Amber Umble, senior in microbiology.

Baldwin said the judicial system wants toolmark identification to be based on science rather than experience. He said the judicial system was becoming skeptical about tire tread marks and toolmarks identifications as proof of innocence or guilt.

“The FBI would like to be able to particularize how sure they are what tool was used to commit a crime,” said Max Morris, professor of statistics. “My assistant and I developed a computer algorithm to analyze data taken from images [of the tools] to see if any match up.”

Bajic said the toolmark identification system will help prevent the questioning of the identifications made by the forensic scientists.

“The study looks at a huge number of tools and their toolmarks,” he said. “The undergraduate students did a lot of the grunt work in acquiring 13,000 to 14,000 images of toolmarks.”

Bajic said there was a major challenge in the court system as to whether each manufactured tool is unique or if all are the same.

“We’re developing statistical tools to be used to validate a proposition challenged by the courts,” Bajic said. “The proposition is toolmarks.”

Baldwin said the second part of the project was facilitated in the Midwest Forensic Research Center, which is a part of the Ames Laboratory.

The second part of the project is using a profliometer, which is similar to a record player’s needle, that measures the depth and height of scratches and imperfections on a tool to make a three-dimensional map of the tool.

“Hopefully, this will be an aide or a screening tool for the [forensic] scientist,” Baldwin said.

He said the biggest thing that needed to happen to keep this research from fading away is to get follow-up funding for the projects.

“There is more work to be done,” Baldwin said.