ELFT Evaluation

These comments provided by Neurotechnology are based on the submission results, reviewed on August 28, 2024.

In August 2024, Neurotechnology improved its latent fingerprint recognition technology, placing the company among the top performers in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Evaluation of Latent Friction Ridge Technology (ELFT).

What is ELFT?

ELFT (Evaluation of Latent Friction Ridge Technology) studies the computational performance and accuracy of automated open set latent identification algorithms and their associated feature extraction algorithms. These algorithms are typically components of an ABIS. In ELFT, software libraries under test assemble a reference database of images and search that database with one or more latent image probes. NIST reports on the computational performance and accuracy of these algorithms in public analysis reports.

See ELFT official results page for more information.

The base gallery contains 1.6 million identity records. Each record includes impressions of 10 rolled and 10 plain fingerprints. Some records can also include palmprint impressions. All testing scenarios share these records.

Each testing scenario also incorporates specific gallery and probe samples from real cases provided by US Government agencies or law enforcement entities. The gallery samples are used to create additional identity records in the main gallery for this testing scenario. Later, the probe samples are used for the algorithm's matching accuracy assessment across the entire gallery.

The ELFT utilized two key metrics:

• FPIR @ FNIR – False Positive Identification Rate at a given False Negative Identification Rate. This metric is used to measure how well the system would perform in a fully automated mode. A threshold is set for a certain FPIR (i.e., the allowable number of errors), and the corresponding FNIR (i.e., the percentage of missed identifications) is observed.
• FNIR @ Rank – False Negative Identification Rate at a given Rank. Representation of a semi-automated mode, where the system provides a list of candidates, and an expert can review up to any number of candidates. The rank indicates how many candidates need to be reviewed, while the FNIR shows the percentage of missed identifications.

Evaluation results of the latest algorithm submission, Neurotechnology+010F, are provided below for each testing scenario with specific datasets. The analysis follows the same principles as NIST results reporting, showing only the best-performing submission from each vendor and highlighting the differences between algorithm providers.

The results of Section 5 are based on searches of the sequestered dataset FBI Laboratory. This dataset consists of 49 operational latent distal phalanx probes. Examiners at the FBI annotated several of the probe images with EFS features, possibly with algorithm assistance. These examiners then confirmed the ground truth mate. All probes searched were a single sample depicting a region from a distal phalanx. EFS data provided with the probe image may include:

• Pattern classification
• Minutia locations (unconfirmed source)

The testing scenario included 38 sample images, which were added to the base dataset to form the gallery dataset, and 49 probe latent prints.

Neurotechnology's algorithm processed all of the provided images without any failures.

The results of Section 6 are based on searches of the sequestered dataset FBI-Provided Solved Dataset #1. This dataset consists of 516 operational probes collected from a particular type of crime. Examiners at the FBI annotated several of the probe images with EFS features, possibly with algorithm assistance. These examiners then confirmed the ground truth mate. All probes searched were a single sample depicting a region from a distal phalanx. EFS data provided with the probe image may include:

• Pattern classification
• Core locations (unconfirmed source)
• Delta locations (unconfirmed source)
• Minutia locations (unconfirmed source)

The testing scenario included 173 sample images, which were added to the base dataset to form the gallery dataset, and 516 probe latent prints.

Neurotechnology's algorithm processed all of the provided images without any failures.

The results of Section 7 are based on searches of the sequestered dataset Michigan State Police. This dataset consist of of 2,174 operational latent probes. No EFS data was provided for probes or mated exemplars.

All probes searched were a single friction ridge sample from somewhere on the hand. Because the ELFT API indicates to implementations whether an image comes from the distal or palm region, analysis is separated between the two.

Note: While NIST biometric technology evaluations typically use sequestered law enforcement data, a literature search indicates that this collection of data may have been supplied to other research organizations that are not subject to the same strict sequestration policies as NIST.

The testing scenario included 1,365 sample images, which were added to the base dataset to form the gallery dataset, and 2,174 probe latent prints. Two tests were performed with this dataset – fingerprint and palmprint search.

Neurotechnology's algorithm processed all of the provided images without any failures.

The results of Section 8 are based on searches of the sequestered dataset DoD-Provided Dataset #1. This dataset consists of 5,259 probes collected operationally by the United States Department of Defense. All probes searched were a single sample depicting a region from a distal phalanx. No EFS data was provided. Only Subject-level ground truth information was provided.

The testing scenario included 5,289 sample images, which were added to the base dataset to form the gallery dataset, and 5,259 probe latent prints.

Neurotechnology's algorithm processed all of the provided images without any failures.