Q:How long has Mideo been involved with imaging for forensics?

A: Mideo has provided imaging solutions to forensic labs and law enforcement agencies throughout the county for over 20 years. 

 

Q: What products does Mideo provide?

A: CASEWORKS is an asset management software.  It is designed to be used in a client-server mode to provide secure image management, accessibility, reporting, and image historical record functions to forensic lab and law enforcement agencies.  This provides a long-term infrastucture to create SOP’s that can be easily enforced without day to day modifications.  

CASEWORKS LIMS Connect is a “middleware” imaging software program that is LIMS specific and is designed to integrate with information from the LIMS, providing temporary storage, and then submitting information to the LIMS for permanent storage.  It is custom built for a specific LIMS.

    CASEWORKS COMPARE MODULE provides comparative analysis tools specifically designed for forensic scientists.

    CASEWORKS KIOSK MODULE  provides a wizard-like workflow for high volume applications such as Photo Lab.

    LATENT PRINT WORKFLOW MODULE is a workflow engine specifically for latent print

    examiners.  It is based on the ACE-V workflow model and follows the SWGIT and SWGFASTguidelines.

    LATENT PRINT TRAINING MODULE provides electronic testing, grading, assessment and

    analytics for latent print examiners.

    EZDoc 2.0 is provided as a standalone software package for documentation and comparative analysis.  It does not require a database and images can be saved into traditional Windows file folders.

 

Q: Do I need an image server to use the Mideo software products?

A: No.  While an image server is ideal for certain large scale situations, it is not necessary.  Mideo personnel can work with you to build a design that best meets your existing infrastructure.

 

Q: Can Mideo manage all of the digital assets throughout out an agency beyond the forensic lab, including crime scene images?

A: CASEWORKS can handle the volume generated in the forensic lab, the photo lab, and remote substations.  This allows an agency to have all of their digital assets ((lab and investigative services) managed under a central database.     

 

Q: What if I already have existing cameras, microscopes, and other digital input devices that I am using?

A: For labs that have existing microscopes and would like to be able to add imaging functionality, Mideo provides a complete line of scientific cameras with multiple levels of resolution and c-mount adapters.
For labs that have existing cameras or output devices, they can be used through the TWAIN interface.

 

Q: Will using Mideo help our lab more comply with ISO and ASCLD standards?

A: Yes, all Mideo products were developed in compliance with ISO and ASCLD requirements.

 

Q: Can I use my handheld digital camera with the Mideo software?

A: Yes.  Any standard image file format (.jpg, .tif, .png, .bmp) can be opened within any Mideo software product

 

Q: Does Mideo track images in the database?

     A: Yes.  When using the Mideo CaseWorks EIS software all imaging activities are audited. 

         This includes an individual image history, documentation of any enhancements, and

         versioning for any modifications that can be linked back to the original.

 

 

Q. Is a database better than a file system for storing images?

 A:   A database is more secure - hands down. Database technology has been getting better over the last few years and is more capable than ever of handling larger files than it was before. Certainly images of nearly any size are well within the realm of easily being stored in a database.

    A database can provide a number of automated (ready to go) tools. This includes replication, transaction backups and logging, reporting services and more. These tools are extremely powerful and something not offered by a simple file system.

         Database provide more control over how the data is stored - it can be partitioned into 

        separate areas or moved to different discs as necessary.

 

Q: Is CASEWORKSeis database even better than a normal database?

   A: CASEWORKSeis only writes images to the database it never REwrites (updates) the images. This is a significant disadvantage of a database versus a file system - one that Mideo doesn't share because of our unique image processing methodologyPeople often talk about databases as being "closed". Mideo has provided a number of tools to extract images from the CASEWORKSeis database without any hassles and without needing any help/input from Mideo.

    While a normal database is extremely secure, CASEWORKSeis takes this one level further - we allow the digital assets to be encrypted inside of the database. In this way, there are two layers of security protecting this data - the database itself and an extra layer of encryption.

         Mideo still uses tools such as SHA (HASH) totals and transaction logging to verify data  

         integrity.