Quantitative evaluation of features for Forensic Handwriting Examination

We propose a quantitative approach to both feature evaluation and comparison that combines Forensic Handwriting Examination best practices with Pattern Recognition methodologies. The former provide a set of features that are meant to capture the distinctive aspects of handwriting, the latter the computational tools for the quantitative evaluation of the features values as well as for their comparison. We will show that such a combined approach leads to a procedure that is theoretically sounds and can be expressed in terms the document examiners are familiar with. Eventually, we will suggest possible ways of using the results of the proposed approach in forensic handwriting examiners casework.