Thesis
Latent Fingermark Visualisation From Submerged Glass: A Comparative Evaluation of Three Visualisation Techniques
Masters by Research, Murdoch University
2026
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60867/00000141
Abstract
The recovery of latent fingermarks from items submerged in aquatic environments represents one of the most challenging scenarios in forensic evidence processing. This review examined the methods of latent fingerprint visualisation from submerged glass substrates, with a focus on comparing small particle reagent and disulfur dinitride. A systematic search of Chemical Abstracts Service SciFinder, PubMed, and Scopus identified 15 relevant studies published from the year 2000 onwards. The articles were critiqued on their methodological quality, relevance, and forensic applicability. Findings indicated that small particle reagent has the strongest empirical support, consistently demonstrating effective fingermark development on submerged glass across varying water types and submersion periods. In contrast, although disulfur dinitride has shown high sensitivity and effectiveness on metal substrates, its mechanism of action is inapplicable to glass, and its application has not been examined on submerged glass. Overall, the evidence base is limited by inconsistent methodologies, small sample sizes, and a reliance on groomed marks, particularly in studies directly relevant to submerged glass. Consequently, small particle reagent remains the most evidence-supported method currently available, while the absence of data on disulfur dinitride represents a significant research gap. Future work should prioritise systematic, standardised comparative studies of these techniques under lab-controlled and simulated case-work conditions to supplement the latent fingermark visualisation evidence base.
Details
- Title
- Latent Fingermark Visualisation From Submerged Glass: A Comparative Evaluation of Three Visualisation Techniques
- Authors/Creators
- Joshua T Munt
- Contributors
- John Coumbaros (Supervisor) - Murdoch University, School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences
- Awarding Institution
- Murdoch University; Masters by Research
- Identifiers
- 991005904176807891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Note
- Master of Forensic Science (Professional Practice) of Murdoch University
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