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New Update - MailXaminer Introduces its New Subscription Plan

Geological Location Image Mapping

Forensics Extraction & Mapping of Geo-location from Images

Geolocation Image Mapping helps users to identify the location, where the image was taken. Generally while capturing an image, the device saves related information of the image like its “Name, Dimensions, Date taken, Item type, path, etc”. But, if GPS settings of the device are enabled, it also stores its location details along with the other Meta details as Geotag. It contains “Latitude, Longitude, and Altitude” value. During the Geolocation image search, this information helps to extract Geolocation from image.

Geolocation Image Mapping

Importance of Geolocation Image Mapping In Digital Forensic Investigation

Geolocation artifacts are the most prevalent form of digital forensic evidence. Effective searching and mapping of latitude and longitudinal data may often lead the investigators to hit at the most accurate spot. During the investigation of email repositories, a tremendous amount of image attachments are often obtained as the primary source of evidence.

In digital forensic investigation, an image plays a major role during the examination procedure. But if an image is obtained as evidence without any related information, it is being the most difficult situation for investigators. Then, the only solution is to perform the Geolocation image search and find the exact location from where it took.

Enable GPS Setting for Geolocation Tracking

Nowadays most of the images are captured using smart phones and digital cameras. Whenever the GPS setting is enabled within the system, it will automatically save its longitude, altitude and latitude values along with other Meta details of image. This information helpsinvestigators to search exact geological location of the image. MailXaminer is a beneficial Geotag photo locator loaded with highly sophisticated algorithms to provide most suitable approach of "Geolocation Image Mapping" of such images.

gps

The Smartphone users are being provided with an option of turning their device Location on/off. If the Location privacy is ON and an image is clicked via the respective Smartphone, then it attaches an attribute of GPS. This attributes stores in the form of latitude, longitude and altitude within the image. MailXaminer is highly equipped Geotag location finder of such images with saved GPS attributes.

Geolocation Image Mapping

How to Extract Geolocation from Image?

During anemail investigation, the Geolocation image search is the first task followed by the investigators if the evidence contains image attachment within it. But if the mailbox contains a tremendous amount of image data then it is a difficult task to extract the longitude, altitude, and latitude values from each image to find the location. In such situation, MailXaminer is reliable Geolocation forensics software that provides an automated solution to extract GPS location from a photo. Afterscanning and traversing the suspected mailbox using software, investigators are required to proceed with the following steps:

Step 1: Go To Media Section
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After adding evidence files into the software, go to the“Media” section that displays all the available media item attachments within the scanned mailbox repository.

Media Section

Step 2: List of Media Files
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In the “Loose Files” tab, tool displays a complete list all of media data stored in scanned file.Media section allows the categorization of information stored in files according to its file formats.

Export as KML

Step 3: Select File to View GPS Location
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To view the GPS location of the image, users need to select the desired file. Then, click on "Option" button and select “Geo Location”.

Select File to View GPS Location

Step 4: View GPS Location in Photos
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Now, software will display the GPS location by mapping the location icon at the exact location on the map. A scale is also added at the screen that helps to view image details perfectly. Users can click on "+" to “Zoom In” and "-" sign to "Zoom Out".

View GPS Location

Step 5: Screen with No GPS Data
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If no Geotag information data is found in the image, then tool won't display GPS Location.

NO GPS DATA

Step 6: Export File in KML
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Users can also export the image file into KML format. It helps to extract GPS location from image and viewed on the other application (Google Earth).

Export File in KML Format

For this, software will ask for the location in your system to save the exported data and evidence will get exported into KML format.

Browse folder

Step 7: Export Report
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After the evidence gets exported, the software generates an Export Report that can be saved on the local machine. The path of the exported file is will be given in the report.

Export Report

Step 8: Find Location Using Google Earth
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An exported report in KML format can also be used to extract GPS location from the image by using other applicationssuch as Google Earth.

Now for the Geolocation image mapping and manual analysis, the investigator is required to download Google Earth. Forensic examiners can download Google Earth by using the following resource:   http://www.google.com/earth/download/ge/agree.html

Google Earth

Step 9: Launch Google Earth
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After the downloading and installation of Google earth, launch Google Earth. Then, open the Google Earth user interface.

Launch2

Step 10: Extract Geolocation
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Now to extract and view the GPS location from photo, click on “File” option and select “Open”. Then, browse the respective KML file downloaded by MailXaminer. Google Earth immediately read the KML file, then search and maps the Geotag photo location that can be viewed in its window.

Extract Location

To extract Geolocation from image online, investigators can use this Geotag location finder. MailXaminer has been tested and verified by many law enforcement agencies and thus guarantees exact analysis of data without any sort of manipulation within the evidence. Being equipped with extensive features as forensic analysis of videos, pornographic image detection, and many more, the software stands as a complete forensics suite.