The NIST Image Group is announcing the availability of the NIST Biometric Image Software (NBIS), replacing the NIST Fingerprint Image Software (NFIS2) software package. The NBIS software is organized in two categries: Non-Export Control and Export Control. The Non-Export Control NBIS source code is managed using Perforce source code management system* on the NIST image Group Open Source Sever (NIGOS). To obtain the latest version of NBIS Non-Export Control source code (PCASYS, MINDTCT, NFIQ, AN2K, and IMGTOOLS), please visit http://www.itl.nist.gov/iad/894.03/nigos/nigos.html for the instructions on accessing NIGOS. Also, the Non-Export Control NBIS source code is available as a zip file which is updated daily at http://www.itl.nist.gov/iad/894.03/nigos/nigos.html. The Export Control NBIS source code (NFSEG and BOZORTH3) is only available on CD-ROM upon on request. It is our understanding that NFSEG and BOZORTH3 fall within ECCN 3D980, which covers software associated with the development, production or use of certain equipment controlled in accordance with U.S concerns about crime control practices in specific countries. For detailed information on how the request the Export Control NBIS source code, please follow the procedure at http://fingerprint.nist.gov/NBIS/request_ecc_cd.html.

The NBIS Non-Export Control utilities fall under five general categories:

• A neural-network based fingerprint pattern classification system called, PCASYS, automatically categorizes a fingerprint image into the class of arch, left or right loop, scar, tented arch, or whorl. This is an updated system that includes the use of a robust Multi-Layered Perceptron (MLP) neural network. It is the only known no cost system of its kind.

• A minutiae detector called, MINDTCT, automatically locates and records ridge ending and bifurcations in a fingerprint image. This system includes minutiae quality assessment based on local image conditions. The FBI's Universal Latent Workstation uses MINDTCT, and it too is the only known no cost system of its kind.

• A fingerprint image quality algorithm, NFIQ, which analyses a fingerprint image and assigns a quality value of 1 (highest quality) 5(lowest quality) to the image. Higher quality images produce significantly better performance with matching algorithms. The ability to retrain the NFIQ weights is provided with the utilities FING2PAT, ZNORMDAT, and ZNORMPAT.

• A reference implementation of the ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2000 (AN2K) "Data Format for the Interchange of Fingerprint, Facial, Scar Mark & Tattoo (SMT) Information" standard is included. This reference implementation contains a suite of utilities designed to read, write, edit, and manipulate files formatted according to this interchange standard. The utilities support updated and new record types introduced by this latest version of the standard (Record Types 9, 13, 14, & 15).

• A large collection of general-purpose image utilities (IMGTOOLS) are also included to support the processing of fingerprint images. Source code is provided for Baseline JPEG, Lossless JPEG, and the FBI's Wavelet Scalar Quantization (WSQ) encoders and decoders. (The Baseline JPEG code uses the Independent JPEG Group's compression/decompression libraries.) Utilities are also provided that support color component interleaving, colorspace conversion, and format conversion of legacy files distributed in NIST fingerprint databases.

The NBIS Export Control utilities fall under two general categories:

• A fingerprint matching algorithm, BOZORTH3, which is a minutiae based fingerprint matching algorithm. It will do both one-to-one and one-to-many matching operations. It accepts minutiae generated by the MINDTCT algorithm.

• A fingerprint segmentation algorithm, NFSEG, which will segment the four-finger plain impression found on the bottom of a fingerprint card into individual fingerprint images or it can be used to remove white space from a rolled fingerprint image.

For detail information on NBIS software, please reference to the following doucments:

• User's Guide to NIST Biometric Image Software (NBIS)
• User's Guide to Export Controlled Distribution of NIST Biometric Image Software (NBIS-EC)*
  * Only available on NBIS-EC CD-ROM. - Request a NBIS-EC CD-ROM
  * All requestes will take up to 4 to 6 weeks for delivery.

The source code has been developed using the GNU project's gcc compiler and gmake utility (www.gnu.org) , and has been tested under LINUX, Mac OS-X, and under Windows NT using the free Cygwin library and associated tools (www.cygwin.com).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* Specific hardware products identified were used in order to adequately support the development of this technology. In no case does such identification imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor does it imply that the equipment identified is necessarily the best available for the purpose.

NIST Fingerprint Image Quality

• NFIQ Compliance Testing
  • NFIQ Compliance document[336K]
  • Test Suite Tar file for NFIQ compliance[37.2M]
• NISTIR 7151[2,451K] - NIST Fingerprint Image Quality
• Appendix A[62K] - ROC's and Data set quality distributions.
  Appendix A results for each SDK are in separate files. Each file is about 1-1.4MB in size.
  
  A B C D E F G H I J K L N VTB
  Appendix A results for the DATASETS[104K]
• Appendix B[418K] - Trellis plots of feature vector components and performance.

NIST is an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department's Contact webmaster@magi.nist.gov with corrections/comments.
NIST Privacy Policy/Security Notice NIST Disclaimer FOIA
Created Novemeber 30, 2006.
Last modified August 20,2007