Forensic Science
PNNL researchers continue to drive innovation for bench-scale and deployable tools to enable more rapid analysis of trace forensic evidence with greater sensitivity and selectivity. PNNL provides its clients with unique or specialized scientific analytical forensics capabilities and investigative support tools not otherwise available to the forensic and law enforcement community.
Our science-based solutions for crime scene investigation and attribution support the discovery, identification and collection of evidentiary materials. This makes possible actionable and identifiable leads that help connect crime evidence to the responsible person.
Areas of Expertise
- Investigative support beginning with crime scene evaluation techniques and technologies, as well as evidence identification with informed "intelligent" collection.
- Forensics support that explores and validates applications of new analytical techniques, processes, methodologies and equipment.
- Cyber investigations and forensics tools for computer investigations and digital evidence standards.
- Crime mapping and analysis using advanced data archival methods, data visualization and analysis tools.
- Statistical analysis of evidence through statistical support of trace evidence analysis.
- Communications security including equipment and security evaluation and infrastructure protection.
Sample Project: Information Visualization — Protecting critical infrastructures
Expertise in energy reliability and national security enables PNNL to play a key role in electric power grid security and reliability for numerous clients, including the U.S. Departments of Energy and Homeland Security, as well as within the electric utility industry. PNNL established a unique facility to conduct comprehensive research on detecting and defending cyber attacks called CIPAL, for the Critical Infrastructure Protection Analysis Laboratory. CIPAL is an isolated network that enables simulated attacks in a protected environment. The facility serves as a safe test bed for research and development for independent verification ofthe evaluation of existing technology and validation of cyber systems.
In addition to CIPAL, the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, or SCADA, provides critical monitoring and control functions for the command and control systems for many of the nation's major energy infrastructures, such as power plants and refineries. PNNL has been involved in research, led security training for SCADA systems in the electricity industry and is conducting advanced training for federal agencies and companies.