A team from the Division of Optic of the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences has successfully proposed a project entitled Increasing the Effectiveness of Latent Fingerprint Visualization Methods (EfektOP, VK02010123). The aim of the project is to improve the detection of invisible (latent) dactyloscopic traces, especially on problematic surfaces, and thus contribute to the success of forensic investigations. The project was supported by the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic as part of the OPSEC security research program and will be implemented in 2026–2029 in cooperation with the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, and the Criminalistics Institute of the Police of the Czech Republic.
New approaches developed within the EfektOP project offer modernization of methods for visualizing latent dactyloscopic traces. Thanks to a combination of physical, chemical, and technical innovations, even fingerprints on complex or unusual surfaces can become a crucial clue in investigations, both in the field and in the laboratory.
The proposed approach combines several advanced technologies – from the use of non-thermal plasma enabling direct visualization of prints at the crime scene, through an innovative method of cyanoacrylate smoking with colour- or luminescence-modified cyanoacrylates, to electrochemical techniques and the use of controlled environmental conditions (e.g., optimized humidity or reduced pressure). The project also involves the use of MALDI analysis, which allows additional chemical information to be obtained from a fingerprint – for example, the ratios of specific substances that may indicate certain characteristics of the person who left the fingerprint.
Řešitelé projektu EfektOP: Michal Novotný (FZU) - hlavní řešitel projektu, Gabriela Broncová - spoluřešitelka (VŠCHT), Petr Hlavín spoluřešitel (Kriminalistický ústav)
"The FZU has been cooperating with the Criminalistics Institute of the Police of the Czech Republic and the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague since 2023 as part of the Advanced Methods of Visualization of Dactyloscopic Tracesproject. The EfektOP project is the second in a series that further develops Czech know-how in the field of modern dactyloscopy. The direct involvement of the Criminalistics Institute in the project ensures the effective application of the results achieved in criminal investigation practice. The projects demonstrate how well synergistic links between research institutions, universities, and government agencies can work," says Michal Novotný, principal investigator for both projects and deputy head of the Department of Analysis of Functional Materials.
"The interdisciplinary focus of the Division of Optics and its scientific and technical background enable it to effectively tackle projects that overlap into various areas, including the defence and security sector. It is inspiring to see how cutting-edge science can have a direct impact on protecting society," said Alexandr Dejneka, head of the Division of Optics.
Klíčové osoby vědeckého týmu FZU - Přemysl Fitl, Jan Remsa, Petr Písařík, Michal Novotný