LAUSR

Light field cameras, also called plenoptic cameras, capture a field of light rays traveling in space, i.e., the intensity and direction of light rays. This is contrary to conventional still-picture cameras that acquire the aggregated intensity of incident light rays from all directions. A light field camera can be achieved by placing an array of microlenses between the imaging sensor and the main lens. Since a light field camera is essentially viewed as multiple cameras in a 2D array, it can function as a 3D camera based on multiple-view geometry. In crime scene investigations, 3D forensic evidence such as tire tread and shoe imprints in substances like mud or snow can often provide useful information to identify suspects and victims. This work focuses on evaluating lateral and depth resolutions of the light field cameras that are hand-held, easy to use, and affordable [1] to understand their suitability for forensic applications.