The use of neural networks for fingerprint classification

In the field of criminal investigation the task of classifying fingerprints consumes much time and labour. Numerous attempts have been made to automate the classification process using conventional image processing techniques but very few have been embraced by law enforcement agencies due to their limited successes in solving the problem. The reemergence of interest in neural networks in recent years has caught the attention of those involved in fingerprint recognition as they begin to recognise the potential advantages of a neural network approach. This paper details the current research in this area at the University of Essex