Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
As crime and security challenges become more complex, forensic science is emerging as a critical component of modern criminal investigations.
Artificial intelligence, digital forensics and advanced evidence analysis are transforming the way crimes are investigated and justice is pursued.
Dr Mohammad AlShamsi, Head of the Firearms and Toolmarks Section at Dubai Police and one of five Fellows in the National Experts Program's (NEP) fourth cohort, is among the professionals leading this evolution in the UAE.
Launched in 2019, the NEP is a launchpad for Emirati experts committed to playing a leading role in the transformation of future-growth sectors aligned with the UAE’s national priorities.
Dr AlShamsi’s doctoral research at the University of Dundee focuses on the quantitative measurement of toolmarks on bone and cartilage. It is a work that sits at the frontier of making firearm and toolmark evidence more measurable and reproducible.
In an interview with Aletihad, Dr AlShamsi discussed how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, 3D ballistic imaging, as well as digital crime scene reconstruction are transforming forensic investigations.
Dr AlShamsi noted that forensic ballistics – the scientific examination of firearms, ammunition and projectiles used in criminal investigations – and evidence analysis have undergone significant transformation in recent years, driven by advances in technology and scientific methods.
"Forensic ballistics has changed more in the past decade than in the several before it. When I began my career, firearm and toolmark examination relied almost entirely on the examiner’s eye at a comparison microscope.”
He said modern technologies such as 3D imaging and automated comparison systems now allow forensic experts to analyse bullets and cartridge cases more quickly, accurately and consistently.
He added that his research helps quantify toolmarks statistically.
"My own research is part of this shift. I work on quantifying toolmarks left on bone and cartilage, turning what was once a subjective visual judgment into something that can be measured and statistically described.”
He noted that advances in DNA and gunshot residue analysis now help detect evidence that was previously overlooked.
Enhancing Public Trust in Forensics
Regarding the role of precision forensic science in strengthening trust and credibility in criminal investigations, Dr AlShamsi said forensic findings must be based on validated methods and recognised international standards, given their potential impact on judicial outcomes.
"Every forensic conclusion can influence whether a person is charged, convicted, or cleared, so the standard of proof we hold ourselves to has to be very high," he said.
He said transparent and evidence-based methods strengthen the reliability of forensic findings while helping build public trust in the justice system.
"In firearms work specifically, the discipline has faced legitimate scrutiny in recent years over how identifications are expressed," he said.
Innovation and research, according to Dr AlShamsi, are both essential, with research ensuring new forensic technologies are scientifically validated and legally reliable before being used in real cases.
"I expect the next decade to be shaped by artificial intelligence, advanced data analytics, and digital forensics. But I hold a firm position on where the line sits: these tools should support the examiner by improving consistency and speed, while the interpretive conclusion, the actual identification, must remain the responsibility of a qualified human examiner," he said.
He said AI is valuable for identifying potential matches, but human experts must remain responsible for final decisions.
"For the UAE, investing in validated research is what turns promising technology into national capability we can stand behind."
National Experts Programme
Dr AlShamsi said his participation in the National Experts Program aims to advance forensic science capabilities and strengthen security expertise in the UAE.
"Crime and technology both evolve faster than traditional systems adapt, and the NEP exists to close that gap by building expertise that can anticipate change rather than react to it," he said.
The programme, according to Dr AlShamsi, provides a platform for collaboration between experts from technology, policy and public service, helping shape more integrated approaches to national security and public safety.
"Most future security challenges will not be solved inside a single discipline, and those exchanges are where genuinely integrated approaches to national security and public safety take shape."
Cross-disciplinary collaboration – engineering, data science, cybersecurity, or medical and legal – is helping create more advanced, accurate and reliable investigative systems.
"A modern case is rarely just physical evidence. A single investigation may combine a firearm examination, digital footprints, data analytics, and medical findings, and no one discipline sees the whole picture on its own," he noted.
It also allows findings to be validated from multiple perspectives, strengthening the reliability and scientific integrity of forensic evidence.
"When independent disciplines converge on the same conclusion, blind spots shrink, and the scientific integrity of the evidence is far harder to challenge, which is exactly what a reliable investigative system should deliver."
