AFIS (automated fingerprint identification system)

What is AFIS in simple words

AFIS (automated fingerprint identification system) is a software and hardware complex for entering, storing, searching and comparing fingerprints. In simple words, it is a huge fingerprint database that can automatically find matches in seconds.

Imagine that you have a library with millions of books, and you need to find one specific book by a few words from the text. Without a computer, it would take years. But with a computer, you find the book in seconds. AFIS works on the same principle: a police officer scans a fingerprint found at a crime scene, uploads it to the system, and AFIS checks it against millions of records in the database in seconds, finding possible matches.

AFIS is used in law enforcement (Ministry of Internal Affairs, FSB, FMS), migration services and access control systems for identity identification by fingerprints. The systems are based on the uniqueness of papillary patterns for each person — even identical twins have different fingerprints.

AFIS technology has significantly accelerated crime solving. If earlier forensic experts had to compare fingerprints manually, which took days and weeks, now it happens automatically in seconds. This has made it possible to solve thousands of crimes that previously remained unsolved.

How AFIS works

The AFIS process includes several stages:

• Fingerprint scanning: A fingerprint scanner (optical, semiconductor or ultrasonic) reads a fingerprint with high resolution (at least 500 dpi). It is important that the image is clear and contains all papillary lines.
• Minutiae extraction: The system analyzes the fingerprint image and highlights special points — minutiae. These are the endings and bifurcations of papillary lines. It is the combination of minutiae that makes each fingerprint unique.
• Building a mathematical model: Based on the location of minutiae, the system builds a mathematical template — a digital code that describes the unique structure of the fingerprint. This code is irreversible — it is impossible to restore the original fingerprint image from it.
• Searching for matches in the database: The resulting template is compared with millions of other templates in the database. The system searches for matches by the location of minutiae and returns a list of the most likely matches.
• Expert verification: Automatically found matches are checked by a forensic expert who confirms or refutes the result. This is an important stage, since the final decision is always made by a person.

Modern AFIS, such as Biomark, process millions of records in seconds. Big data technology allows processing huge amounts of information in real time, which is critically important for law enforcement.

VPN and CIPF tools are used to protect transmitted data between AFIS components. This guarantees that confidential fingerprint information will not be intercepted by attackers during transmission between departments.

Application of AFIS

AFIS is used in a wide variety of areas:

• Law enforcement (Ministry of Internal Affairs, FSB): For solving crimes, identifying suspects and maintaining fingerprint records. This is the main application of AFIS, where the system helps investigate grave and especially grave crimes.
• Migration services (FMS): For identifying foreign citizens upon entry into the country, obtaining visas, patents and residence permits. This helps track the movement of foreigners and prevent illegal migration.
• Customs services: For identity checks at checkpoints and identifying persons on the wanted list.
• Corporate security systems: At enterprises with high security requirements (defense plants, nuclear power plants, bank vaults) for employee access control.

The Biomark product from the Fintech company provides high performance and reliability of identification. It can be used both as part of government AFIS and in corporate security systems.

Installation services include equipment installation and integration with other security systems. This is a complex process requiring high qualification, since AFIS must work with maximum accuracy and without failures. Read more about biometric solutions in the technologies section.