Friction ridge analysis in disaster victim identification (DVI): Brazilian case studies

Depending on the magnitude and nature of a disaster, identifying the victims can be a complex task that requires coordinated work by disaster victim identification (DVI) teams based on pre-established protocols. Thus, the analysis of fingerprints has been presented as a method to establish, when pos...

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Main Authors: Marco Antonio de Souza, Gabriel de Oliveira Urtiaga, Renata Cristina Grangeiro Ferreira, Luciene Marques da Silva, Jade Kende Gonçalves Umbelino, Flávio Roberto de Melo, Simone de Jesus
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Oxford University Press 2021-02-01
Series:Forensic Sciences Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20961790.2021.1882745
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author Marco Antonio de Souza
Gabriel de Oliveira Urtiaga
Renata Cristina Grangeiro Ferreira
Luciene Marques da Silva
Jade Kende Gonçalves Umbelino
Flávio Roberto de Melo
Simone de Jesus
author_facet Marco Antonio de Souza
Gabriel de Oliveira Urtiaga
Renata Cristina Grangeiro Ferreira
Luciene Marques da Silva
Jade Kende Gonçalves Umbelino
Flávio Roberto de Melo
Simone de Jesus
author_sort Marco Antonio de Souza
collection DOAJ
description Depending on the magnitude and nature of a disaster, identifying the victims can be a complex task that requires coordinated work by disaster victim identification (DVI) teams based on pre-established protocols. Thus, the analysis of fingerprints has been presented as a method to establish, when possible, the identity of the victims during the DVI process. This study discusses the importance of this primary method of identification and the results obtained in four different disasters in which Brazilian DVI teams were involved: the Air France Flight AF447 plane crash in the Atlantic Ocean, floods and mudslides in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the LaMia Flight 2933 plane crash in Colombia, and the tailings dam collapse in Brumadinho, Brazil. Here, we also report the use of the automatic fingerprint capture and identification system, called Alethia, developed by the Federal Police of Brazil and used in the victim identification process in the two latter events mentioned above.Key points • This article presents four different disasters that occurred in Brazil and overseas and involved Brazilian DVI teams in the identification process, focusing on fingerprint identification (Air France Flight AF447, floods and mudslides in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, LaMia Flight 2933, and the Brumadinho tailings dam collapse). • This article also describes the evolution of the DVI process in Brazil, including a description of the technology currently used by Brazilian fingerprint experts (Alethia). • This article reports how the Alethia System was used in the disasters and how it optimized the human identification process when compared to traditional methods.
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spelling doaj.art-4b90b07f86a848489091ea9c3f3fdca02023-08-02T02:11:37ZengOxford University PressForensic Sciences Research2096-17902471-14112021-02-01001710.1080/20961790.2021.18827451882745Friction ridge analysis in disaster victim identification (DVI): Brazilian case studiesMarco Antonio de Souza0Gabriel de Oliveira Urtiaga1Renata Cristina Grangeiro Ferreira2Luciene Marques da Silva3Jade Kende Gonçalves Umbelino4Flávio Roberto de Melo5Simone de Jesus6Instituto Nacional de Identificação, Polícia FederalGrupo de Identificação, Superintendência Regional da Polícia FederalDepartamento de Polícia Técnica, Polícia Civil do Distrito FederalInstituto Nacional de Identificação, Polícia FederalInstituto Nacional de Identificação, Polícia FederalNúcleo de Identificação, Superintendência Regional de Polícia FederalInstituto de Identificação, Polícia CivilDepending on the magnitude and nature of a disaster, identifying the victims can be a complex task that requires coordinated work by disaster victim identification (DVI) teams based on pre-established protocols. Thus, the analysis of fingerprints has been presented as a method to establish, when possible, the identity of the victims during the DVI process. This study discusses the importance of this primary method of identification and the results obtained in four different disasters in which Brazilian DVI teams were involved: the Air France Flight AF447 plane crash in the Atlantic Ocean, floods and mudslides in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the LaMia Flight 2933 plane crash in Colombia, and the tailings dam collapse in Brumadinho, Brazil. Here, we also report the use of the automatic fingerprint capture and identification system, called Alethia, developed by the Federal Police of Brazil and used in the victim identification process in the two latter events mentioned above.Key points • This article presents four different disasters that occurred in Brazil and overseas and involved Brazilian DVI teams in the identification process, focusing on fingerprint identification (Air France Flight AF447, floods and mudslides in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, LaMia Flight 2933, and the Brumadinho tailings dam collapse). • This article also describes the evolution of the DVI process in Brazil, including a description of the technology currently used by Brazilian fingerprint experts (Alethia). • This article reports how the Alethia System was used in the disasters and how it optimized the human identification process when compared to traditional methods.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20961790.2021.1882745forensic sciencesdisaster victim identificationdvifingerprintridgeologyalethia system
spellingShingle Marco Antonio de Souza
Gabriel de Oliveira Urtiaga
Renata Cristina Grangeiro Ferreira
Luciene Marques da Silva
Jade Kende Gonçalves Umbelino
Flávio Roberto de Melo
Simone de Jesus
Friction ridge analysis in disaster victim identification (DVI): Brazilian case studies
Forensic Sciences Research
forensic sciences
disaster victim identification
dvi
fingerprint
ridgeology
alethia system
title Friction ridge analysis in disaster victim identification (DVI): Brazilian case studies
title_full Friction ridge analysis in disaster victim identification (DVI): Brazilian case studies
title_fullStr Friction ridge analysis in disaster victim identification (DVI): Brazilian case studies
title_full_unstemmed Friction ridge analysis in disaster victim identification (DVI): Brazilian case studies
title_short Friction ridge analysis in disaster victim identification (DVI): Brazilian case studies
title_sort friction ridge analysis in disaster victim identification dvi brazilian case studies
topic forensic sciences
disaster victim identification
dvi
fingerprint
ridgeology
alethia system
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20961790.2021.1882745
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