Fingerprint Research in Brazil (2020–2024): A Systematic Review of Trends, Technologies, and Institutional Collaborations

Résumé

This article presents a systematic review of Brazilian scientific output on fingerprint identification between 2020 and 2024. The objective is to analyze the thematic, methodological, and institutional evolution of national research, while situating it within global scientific trends. The search was conducted through the Web of Science database, following PRISMA guidelines, and resulted in the selection of 62 studies affiliated with Brazilian institutions. Data were thematically coded and graphically analyzed using Python tools. The findings reveal a strong concentration of studies on the development of chemical reagents for latent fingerprint visualization, particularly involving fluorescent materials, nanoparticles, and environmentally friendly compounds. While research involving artificial intelligence, spectrometry, and postmortem identification is emerging, most techniques remain at early validation stages. The Federal University of Pelotas, the University of Brasília, and the Brazilian Federal Police are the leading institutions in this field, reflecting the consolidation of interdisciplinary research networks. However, the majority of Brazilian studies are still in the initial phases of forensic research, according to IFRG standards. The review concludes that Brazil has a growing and thematically aligned research landscape, but further efforts are needed in statistical validation, real-world testing, and integration with automated biometric systems.

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