Advances in physical evidence traceability: An integrated framework of analytical techniques and chemometric algorithms

Evidence tracing technology enables the generation of information that is tamper-resistant, easily verifiable, and efficient. These attributes, being essential for judicial integrity and robust social governance, have established it as a prominent research focus. This review aims to facilitate the construction of immutable evidence chains along with accurate identification of liable parties. It systematically outlines the conceptual foundation, technical value, operational principles, strengths, and limitations of core applicable devices, in addition to their typical application scenarios. The mathematical foundations of key chemometric algorithms, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Support Vector Machines (SVM), and Random Forests (RF), are also explored. By analysing multiple traceability cases across diverse contexts, a multi-dimensional integrated technical framework, validated in practice, is proposed. This framework provides a reference for selecting methodologies in future similar cases. In conclusion, key current challenges are discussed, and promising future research directions are outlined.