The Science of Gait Analysis

As facial recognition reaches its limits, the science of how we walk is emerging as a powerful new tool in forensic investigation. In today’s world, where surveillance cameras are present everywhere, identifying a suspect is no longer restricted to only fingerprints and facial recognition. Modern forensic science has shown that the way a person walks provides valuable evidence during a criminal investigation. This unique walking pattern, known as gait, has emerged as a valuable behavioural...

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As facial recognition reaches its limits, the science of how we walk is emerging as a powerful new tool in forensic investigation. In today’s world, where surveillance cameras are present everywhere, identifying a suspect is no longer restricted to only fingerprints and facial recognition. Modern forensic science has shown that the way a person walks provides valuable evidence during a criminal investigation. This unique walking pattern, known as gait, has emerged as a valuable behavioural biometric. By analysing gait from CCTV footage, forensic experts help investigators identify suspects, particularly when other methods of identification are unavailable. This makes gait analysis useful in cases involving masked offenders like kidnappings, murders, robberies, terrorist attacks and other crimes captured on surveillance cameras. Although gait analysis is now an important forensic tool, it originated in the medical field, where doctors studied walking patterns to diagnose movement disorders. Over time, researchers discovered that every individual has unique walking patterns, influenced by their age, height, body structure, injuries, habits, and footwear. Advances in video technology, computer-based analysis, and artificial intelligence have transformed gait analysis into an important scientific tool in criminal investigations. Notable Cases India has witnessed several notable cases in which gait analysis played a key role in criminal investigations. One of the most notable examples is the 2021 Saki Naka rape and murder case in Mumbai. The CCTV footage captured the accused's body movements near the crime scene. As facial recognition alone was insufficient, forensic experts compared the accused's walking patterns with the individual seen in the footage. The gait analysis report, along with CCTV evidence, witness statements and other findings, strengthened the prosecution’s case. Rather than serving as a standalone proof, gait analysis acted as corroborative evidence. Recently, during the investigation of the 2026 Ketan Agarwal murder case in Pune, investigators compared the accused’s gait with CCTV footage, as the suspect’s face was allegedly hidden with a hoodie. Investigators recreated the suspect’s walk under similar conditions to compare it with CCTV footage, highlighting how gait analysis is becoming a valuable investigative source in India when traditional methods of identification are limited. In State of Tamil Nadu v. Ponnusamy (2026 INSC 507), the Supreme Court observed that Gait analysis is a useful scientific technique for identifying suspects; however, the court also clarified that gait analysis should not be treated as the only evidence but rather should be used alongside CCTV footage, witness testimony, and other forensic findings. This approach encourages the use of scientific evidence while protecting the fairness and credibility of the judicial process. Recent scientific research highlights advanced forensic gait analysis through artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning. Unlike fingerprints or facial features, gait can remain useful even when a suspect’s face is concealed or the image quality is poor. By examining factors such as stride length, walking speed, body movement and the timing of each step, experts can identify patterns that may help establish whether two video recordings show the same individual. Modern systems combine spatiotemporal and biomechanical gait measurements for analysing walking patterns, even from low-quality CCTV footage, which makes gait analysis faster, more accurate, and increases its value in criminal investigation. The growing importance of forensic gait analysis highlights the work of experts and institutions across the world. In India, experts such as Dr. T.D. Dogra and Dr. B.R. Sharma made remarkable contributions in the field of forensic science. Internationally, Professor Mark S. Nixon pioneered gait recognition research. Government organisations such as the Directorate of Forensic Science Services (DFSS), Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs), and the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), along with private organisations like Truth Labs, support research and the use of modern forensic technologies in criminal investigations. As forensic science continues to emerge, gait analysis opens up with new possibilities in solving crimes and delivering justice. While it only serves as one piece of the puzzle, it provides valuable clues when used with other evidence. After all, every step has a story to tell, and sometimes, that story leads investigators to the truth. (Writers are experts in forensic matters. Views personal.)

Numbers Matter

Correspondent

2 hours ago

2 min read

Records in sport are often treated as monuments to individuals. But they are also documents of their times. Virat Kohli’s milestone in crossing 15,000 runs in One-day Internationals, during India’s first ODI against the West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram is worth examining beyond the customary applause. He is only the second batsman after Sachin Tendulkar to reach the mark. But the more interesting question is what the number tells us about the evolution of ODI cricket.

Kohli reached 15,002 runs in 315 matches and 303 innings. Tendulkar accumulated his world-record 18,426 in 463 matches. The careers of the two greats belong to different eras, with different rules, playing conditions and approaches to batting. Yet the gap in the number of innings required to reach 15,000 underlines the extraordinary rate at which Kohli has accumulated runs.

His average of 58.83 is perhaps more significant than the milestone itself. So too is a strike rate above 94. These figures indicate not merely longevity but sustained productivity. Kohli has combined volume with efficiency in a manner that few batsmen in ODI history have managed. His 54 centuries and 80 fifties reinforce the point.

The historical leaderboard puts the achievement in perspective. Kumar Sangakkara, with 14,243 runs, is third; Ricky Ponting has 13,704 and Sanath Jayasuriya 13,430. The list is effectively a condensed history of ODI cricket. Tendulkar represents its long transition from a largely conservative 50-over game into an increasingly aggressive contest. Jayasuriya helped redefine the possibilities of the opening overs. Ponting belonged to an Australian side that made relentless winning a habit while Sangakkara embodied the refinement of Sri Lankan batting. Kohli represents another stage: the era of extreme fitness and an increasingly unforgiving international calendar.

There is also a useful distinction here between accumulation and conversion. Jayasuriya’s 13,430 runs came with 28 centuries while Ponting’s 13,704 included 30 centuries; Sangakkara’s 14,243 produced 25. Kohli has reached 15,000 with 54 centuries. The comparison illustrates how Kohli’s career belongs to a period in which the modern ODI batsman is expected not merely to survive an innings but to dominate it.

A player who survives for two decades will naturally have opportunities unavailable to a shorter-lived career. Kohli’s numbers are difficult to explain on longevity alone. He has converted a large number of opportunities into substantial scores, while maintaining an efficiency that separates him from most of the field.

Then there is the eternal debate over whether ODI cricket has been diminished by the rise of Twenty20 cricket. The format may no longer command the cultural monopoly it once did, but 15,000 runs remain a formidable measure of sustained international performance. Reaching such a milestone requires repeated adaptability to changing opponents, pitches and expectations.

In an age obsessed with speed and instant results, Virat Kohli’s 15,000 ODI runs are a reminder of how longevity and consistency have transformed cricket’s record books.

The Science of Gait Analysis

Numbers Matter

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