FACTS is an advanced automatic fingerprint identification system, developed by CMC, with state-of-the-art digital image processing, neural networks and pattern recognition techniques. It automatically extracts fingerprint features for matching, using CMC's proprietary high-speed and high-accuracy unified matcher algorithm (UMA).

Built by using an industry-standard, open platform and a modular approach, FACTS does not need special matching hardware. This enables users to benefit from rapid advances in hardware technology.

Earlier, fingerprint experts used manual procedures, which meant archival of large volumes of paper slips, which would deteriorate over time, and ever-increasing workloads. Using a manual search takes several hours to match a rolled print and several days (sometimes, this can be humanly impossible) to identify a chance print. Using FACTS, these tasks take a few seconds to a few minutes.

This application can easily handle very high volumes of workload and can search large collections of fingerprint data without any loss of accuracy. FACTS is a field-proven technology in the automation of fingerprint identification for law enforcement agencies.

FACTS has applications in two major areas:

Law enforcement
Police in a number of states are using FACTS automatic fingerprint identification systems for rolled prints and chance prints.

Civilian population identification
People have to be accurately identified for various governmental requirements such as issuing passports, identification cards, welfare grants and loan distribution. The databases for such applications normally run into records of millions of people.

Though other biometric identification technologies such as hand recognition or eye retina pattern identification exist, fingerprints remain the only proven technology which can be used for positive identification over large population databases.

Also see: Bas for TAM

FACTS functionality
The FACTS central system is a high-end Unix server storing information of 150,000 or more 10-digit fingerprints. The server is connected to multiple workstations (Windows 2000 Professional or Windows XP), which are, in turn, connected to fingerprint scanners. This environment is suitable for state-level implementation, which has the capacity to handle large database sizes and searches. The FACTS central system has been set up for the Mumbai Police.

FACTS remote query workstations (RQWs) allow investigating officers to conduct fingerprint searches on the FACTS central system from a remote location.

FACTS has the following functionalities:

	Scanning rolled prints and chance prints
	Encoding and quality check
	The fingerprint data is transmitted to the central site for search
	Search and verification of results is carried out at the central site and the results are transmitted back

A FACTS central system with remote query workstations has been set up for the Chennai Police.

FACTS finder
An independent PC or a low-end Windows NT server can provide the entire functionality of the automatic fingerprint identification system (AFIS). It is the ideal system for maintaining fingerprint records at district fingerprint bureaus or at police stations for performing localised rolled print and chance print searches. A FACTSfinder system has been set up for the Meghalaya State Police.

Several independent FACTSfinders can be connected to a central AFIS system, using a WAN. The application combines the power of a small AFIS system and a remote query terminal in a single powerful PC-based workstation. The FACTS central system and FACTSfinders have been installed in districts of Andhra Pradesh.

The main difference between the FACTSfinder and the remote query workstations is that the former is a complete FACTS system by itself, with its own database, whereas the remote query workstations cannot function unless they are connected to a FACTS central system.

Criminal attribute database (CADB)
The CADB offers a comprehensive database of criminal attributes such as name, aliases, date of birth, gender, nationality, identification marks, modus operandi, crime details, conviction details, with an option for photographs and signatures. It operates on a client-server architecture and is built using a relational database management system (RDBMS).

The criminal attribute data is maintained on a server. Data input and searches are performed using a PC-based client. CADB can be used as a stand-alone system or can be integrated with the FACTS system. When integrated with FACTS, CADB can be used for non-fingerprint queries such as a phonetic name search, search on identification marks, etc., to generate a candidate list prior to fingerprint matching.

Technical architecture, hardware and software platforms
CMC's FACTS technology can be adapted to any hardware platform which has the required computing power. It is available on Windows as well as on UnixWare, Tru64 Unix, HP-UX, Linux or SUN Solaris. The entire software is modular and can be adapted very easily for other applications. FACTS uses an 'open' two-tier client-server architecture.

FACTS solution architecture

Strengths

	Configurability
	Ease of scalability
	Open standards
	Standards conformance: FACTS communication conforms to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standards for AFIS connectivity. FACTS supports wavelet scalar quantisation (WSQ) image compression standards specified by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.
	Time-tested: FACTS uses the time-tested unified matching algorithm that offers high levels of accuracy in matching even partial, poor-quality crime scene prints.

Experience
CMC has a specialised core team at our research and development centre at Hyderabad, India, working for the development and enhancement of the FACTS product line.

Benefits

	More than 400 cases solved
	Faster turnaround time for criminal identification
	Faster crime investigation
	Higher hit rates
	Many old cases solved
	Better records management
	Better utilisation of fingerprint experts
	Better image and morale
	State-of-the-art technology at low cost

Indicative client list (law enforcement applications)

	Mauritius Police Force – Mauritius
	National Crime Records Bureau
	Jammu & Kashmir Police
	Delhi Police
	Haryana Police
	Meghalaya Police
	Mumbai Police
	Goa Police
	Andhra Pradesh Police
	Tamil Nadu Police
	Kerala Police

Civilian applications

	National Securities and Depositories Limited, Mumbai
	Employee Provident Fund Organisation, New Delhi

Case studies

	National Securities and Depositories Limited, Mumbai
	Andhra Pradesh Police

Contact Head - eGov CMC House C-18, Bandra-Kurla Complex Bandra (East) Mumbai - 400 051 Tel: 022-26591000-2 Fax: 022-26591046 Email: egov@cmcltd.com

Notes
Rolled print: Police officials take fingerprints of arrested criminal suspects by rolling the fingers from left to right.
Chance print: Police officials search for fingerprints at the crime scene. Entire fingerprints may not be available but only parts, called latent prints or chance prints.