Preliminary Study on the Uniqueness of Barefoot Impressions

Abstract

This paper describes a study to determine the uniqueness of barefoot impressions. A computer based search process has been developed in an attempt to demonstrate that the morphology of a human foot creates an impression that is unique to that individual. Using inked barefoot impressions from volunteers, the computer search uses 38 different measurements taken for each pair of feet. Searches through the present database of more than 3800 impressions, produced a possible match only when the print being searched is already in the data base. In these cases, a visual examination of the “matched” foot prints was sufficient to determine that they were from the same individual. The results to date, therefore, are consistent with the idea of the uniqueness of barefoot impressions.