We all know of the uses that MATLAB has in the world of numerical computing and programming. But not many of us realize that it has advantages beyond mathematics and coding; MATLAB is also being used a tool to process forensic images.
When we think of image processing software, our minds go to Adobe’s Photoshop and similar applications. But although these are pretty easy and effective to use for both amateurs and pros, there are reasons why MATLAB is the best when it comes to processing images for forensic purposes.
- It is easier to verify the authenticity of digitized images when we use processing software that allows access to the algorithms that are used for the processing. Since MATLAB allows you to access the source code, it is easier to prove or refute challenges in court.
- MATLAB allows you to record and document every single step of processing performed on the image. This allows you to validate the processing when submitting the image as evidence in court. While commercial image processing applications do record a certain number of steps involved in the image manipulation procedure, they are not conducive to accessing all the details involved in the manipulation, be it enhancement or any other purpose.
- MATLAB ensures accuracy throughout the processing and manipulation stage. It is more numerically precise than any commercial image processing software.
- Although this is not a well-known fact, MATLAB has image processing features and algorithms that are more powerful that those that come in commercial image processing software.