Biometric Authentication Using Pruned Fingerprints

Project Investigators Dr. Waleed H. Abdulla & Dr. Sing Kiong Nguang Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Synopsis Biometric authentication is an international emerging field with great intellectual challenge and commercial potential. This project will investigate novel techniques to implement a reliable fingerprint system. This system is a member of the family of biometric authentication methods, which rely on voice, face features, iris, retina, and hand geometry. All biometrics provide an advantage over the use of passwords or PIN numbers alone, in that the personal existence is required in activating any operation requiring secure access. Recently, the motivation for research in this field is much stronger because of the increasing needs to reliable authentication systems and there is a lot at stake. We are requesting funding for an innovative, self-contained research initiative that is outside the normal criteria of the Staff Research Fund. The proposal is to develop novel techniques for automated fingerprint authentication. Two primary functions required in fingerprint processing, these are classification and matching. We will also develop efficient pruning technique, as a pre-processing stage, to remove wrinkles, scars, and excessively worn prints that result in images contain many false minutia structures. Our pre-processing technique will also tackle non-ideal characteristics of an individuals finger, such as relatively oily or dry skin, which lead to cloud like images. We will also investigate new approaches in classification and matching stages based on statistical modelling and Neural Networks. Figure 1 depicts the block diagram of the system.
Memory

Classification & Matching

Fingerprint Image

Pre-processing & Pruning

Feature Extraction

Template Matching

Decision Making

Figure 1 General Bock Diagram

Generally, the classification and matching involve the analysis of large numbers of fingerprints acquired by various, not necessarily compatible means such as lifted latent prints, scanned ink prints, or electronically captured prints from live scan devices. These problems are the main disadvantages of the fingerprint authentication systems. In our approach we will develop new approaches that expected to minimise the effect of these problems. The key opportunities likely to result from this research are the development of intellectual property and expertise in the area of pattern recognition, statistical modelling and image processing. An optimistic scenario is that a successful outcome will encourage interested companies or even the government to invest in it. For these objectives to be met we need a quality postgraduate student to devote himself to the project for 12 months. The department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering will provide some of the necessary equipment. The proposal is a union of the pattern recognition and statistical modelling work of Dr. Waleed Abdulla and the image processing work of Dr. Sing Kiong Nguang. As a conclusion We propose developing innovative technique in fingerprints recognition. This project will definitely attract people working in law enforcement and security departments. The outcome of this project will perform the core negotiation base to attract external funds from the government and interested companies. This project supports the priority of attracting high quality postgraduate students to the university. This project will very well fit with the outcomes of other research activities in the school in image processing.