Imaging Wound Ballistics – Taking Full Advantage of the Electromagnetic Spectrum: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Forensic Sciences (ISSN 2673-6756).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 846

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
Interests: forensic radiology; postmortem imaging; postmortem 1H-MRS
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Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
Interests: 3D imaging; photogrammetry; photography; postmortem imaging; multispectral imaging; computed tomography; 3D reconstruction and visualization; gunshot wounds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We set up the Special Issue “Imaging Wound Ballistics” in Forensic Sciences, which covers the use of any imaging technique across the electromagnetic spectrum to document, detect, preserve, and examine gunshot-related injuries or the effectiveness of a bullet in ballistic experiments.

The standard imaging technique used for the documentation of gunshot-related injuries is certainly photography. The result, a photograph, is a two-dimensional (2D) image created by visible light, which is defined as electromagnetic radiation within the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that can be perceived by the human eye. Visible light lies between ultraviolet (shorter wavelengths) and infrared radiation (longer wavelengths). The latter is commonly used for the detection and visualization of gunshot residues. Recent approaches apply photogrammetry to reconstruct three-dimensional (3D) models based on multispectral photographs (within the range of ultraviolet and near-infrared radiation). Moreover, 3D multispectral imaging allows one to document the entire external body within a broad range of electromagnetic radiation. Furthermore, it enables detecting and visualizing latent injuries and bruises in the subcutaneous tissue. To obtain information from the inside of the body, electromagnetic radiation with very short wavelengths (X-ray imaging) or very long wavelengths (magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)) is necessary. Radiographs (X-rays) are used to locate lodged bullets and are applied to detect bone injuries. Furthermore, 3D (X-ray) computed tomography (CT) additionally provides better soft tissue contrast than radiographs and allows one to align the dataset according to the bullet path. MRI, in turn, yields a much higher soft tissue contrast than X-ray imaging and facilitates the detection of small soft tissue injuries. Therefore, CT and MRI are valuable imaging techniques in radiologic wound ballistics.

Since wound ballistics can be considered as the interdisciplinary intersection of forensic medicine and terminal ballistics, the imaging of ordnance gelatin, ballistic soap, or other simulants used in experimental studies are of great interest to this Special Issue.

The Special Issue “Imaging Wound Ballistics” welcomes articles (reviews, communications, original studies, technical reports, and case reports) that focus on the application of imaging techniques in gunshot-related injuries in humans, animals, or simulants in a forensic context.

Mr. Dominic Gascho
Guest Editor

Mr. Sören Kottner
Guest Editor Assistant

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Keywords

  • radiologic wound ballistics
  • terminal ballistics
  • forensic imaging
  • forensic photography
  • surface scanning
  • photogrammetry
  • multispectral imaging
  • X-ray imaging
  • computed tomography
  • magnetic resonance imaging
  • micro-CT
  • Microscopy
  • high-speed camera
  • gunshot residue
  • projectile
  • bullet trajectory
  • shooting incident reconstruction
  • virtual autopsy

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

12 pages, 4314 KiB  
Review
Virtual Bullet Examination: Forensic Insights from CT Imaging in Gunshot Victims
by Dominic Gascho
Forensic Sci. 2025, 5(2), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/forensicsci5020023 - 20 May 2025
Viewed by 204
Abstract
The decision to remove a bullet from a gunshot victim depends on its location and associated medical risks, with surgical extraction often not indicated. Radiological imaging plays a vital role in assessing gunshot wounds and locating bullets, and it is essential in both [...] Read more.
The decision to remove a bullet from a gunshot victim depends on its location and associated medical risks, with surgical extraction often not indicated. Radiological imaging plays a vital role in assessing gunshot wounds and locating bullets, and it is essential in both clinical and forensic contexts. This narrative review examines the use of computed tomography (CT) for virtual bullet analysis, providing insights into shape, design, fragmentation, and material composition. Traditional 2D X-ray imaging, though commonly used, has limitations in accurately assessing caliber and position due to magnification and its 2D nature. In contrast, CT scans generate 3D reconstructions for detailed and precise examination, overcoming challenges such as metal artifacts with techniques such as extended Hounsfield unit (HU) reconstructions. These methods enhance the visualization of metal objects, allowing for better analyses of lodged bullets. Dual-energy CT further differentiates materials, such as lead and copper, using HU value differences at two energy levels. These advancements enable the virtual classification, shape analysis, and material identification of bullets in forensic investigations, even when the bullet remains in the body. As CT technology progresses, its forensic applications are expected to improve, providing more accurate and comprehensive differentiations of bullet types in future cases. Full article
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