Techniques used to study the earliest human footprints could help catch more criminals, thanks to new Bournemouth university research.

Bournemouth University’s newest research Institute – the Institute for Studies in Landscape and Human Evolution (ISLHE) – has been awarded a “significant grant” from the Natural Environment Research Council.

It will use the cash to explore how techniques used by forensic archaeologists to document ancient footprints can help understand modern-day crime scenes.

Professor Matthew Bennett, Head of ISLHE, said: “Footwear impressions can provide an important source of evidence from crime scenes. They can help to determine the sequence of events and – if distinctive – can even link a suspect to multiple crime scenes."

He added: “Evidence can either be 2D, for example when mud or bodily fluids leaves impressions, or 3D, when a footprint impression is left in a soft substance, such as soil.

“However, despite rapid advances in technology in forensic science, methods of examining 3D traces [at crime scenes] have changed little over the last fifty years.”

The researchers say the cost of existing imaging software means that police and investigators are often reliant on outdated methods, such as plaster casts and visual comparison.

Professor Bennett has extensive field experience and in recent years has focused on the analysis of human footprints and development of technology and software, which aids the recovery of footprints in hostile conditions.

In 2014 the earliest human footprints outside of Africa were discovered on the Norfolk Coast. Using 3D scans scientists were able to confirm that they were made 800,000 years ago by five people; a man and some children, before the tide washed the evidence away.

By applying this expertise and technology, ISHLE will work with a software engineer and forensic experts at Bournemouth University to develop cost-effective 3D imaging software which can be deployed at any crime scene.

Professor Bennett said: “Once completed and made available, the software has the potential to make a significant difference to the way police forces and forensic agencies across the UK examine and interpret crime scenes.

“By making the software much more cost-effective and free to use, we can enable 3D imaging to become the norm rather than the exception when investigating crime scenes.”