Chicago, Illinois

The TopMatch-3D system is designed and developed by Cadre Forensics, an American company with headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. Beginning in 2013, recognizing the need for new technology within the forensic community, three PhDs and an experienced firearms examiner began development of the technology that would become the TopMatch system.

The project developed as an application of their research areas within Computer Science, Engineering, and Machine Learning. The system’s core imaging sensor is based on patented MIT research and is being further developed by GelSight Inc, a small business located in Massachusetts. The sensor utilizes a proprietary nondestructive gel to remove the influence of unwanted optical characteristics on the measurement process ensuring accuracy, repeatability, and consistent performance.

Cadre continues the founders' academic tradition via ongoing collaboration with academic colleagues, dissemination of results with conference presentations, and publication of peer-reviewed academic papers. Development also greatly benefits from collaboration with local, state, and federal US firearms examiners as well as grants from NIST and NIJ.