Knowledge Hub
The WADFIN Knowledge Hub brings research, practice resources, open-source tools and policy awareness into one professional space. Its purpose is to turn knowledge into resources that practitioners and institutions can use.
Open Evidence Lab
A collaborative space for testing methods, developing open tools, documenting artefacts and producing reproducible technical resources.
Research Forum
A bridge between practitioners and academia for applied research questions, student projects, technical seminars and publication.
Legal & Policy Observatory
A structured programme for tracking developments that affect digital evidence, cybercrime investigation, privacy and cross-border cooperation.
Research priorities
Mobile & cloud evidence
Acquisition challenges, app artefacts, cloud-linked data and interpretation in rapidly changing ecosystems.
Browser & internet artefacts
Web history, extensions, synchronisation, third-party traces and reconstruction of online activity.
Digital evidence quality
Validation, repeatability, tool testing, documentation, peer review and quality management in resource-diverse environments.
Open-source forensics
Transparent, accessible tools and methods that can be examined, tested and adapted responsibly.
AI & emerging technology
Forensic implications of generative AI, synthetic media, connected devices and new sources of electronic evidence.
Law, policy & practice
Practical implications of legislation, procedure, privacy, admissibility and cross-border evidence processes.
Publication programme
Practice Notes
Short practitioner-facing guidance on a defined technical or procedural issue.
Technical Briefs
Focused analysis of artefacts, tools, methods or emerging technologies.
Research Reports
Longer evidence-based studies developed independently or with academic and institutional partners.
Policy Briefs
Accessible analysis of legal and policy developments affecting digital evidence practice.
Tool Validation Notes
Transparent documentation of test conditions, observations, limitations and reproducibility.
Regional Landscape Studies
Research on capability, education, professional development and digital evidence challenges across West Africa.
Open-source tools
ChronoTrace
An open-source Windows-focused Chromium artefact and timeline tool developed to support transparent forensic examination and reporting workflows.
Principle: open development does not replace validation. Users should test tools for their own environment and document limitations.
TraceFrame
An open-source initiative within WADFIN's broader goal of encouraging accessible, inspectable and practitioner-informed forensic tooling.
Technical documentation and release information will be published as project components are ready.
Responsible research principles
- Lawful and ethical use of data
- Clear separation between test data and live case material
- Reproducible methods where practicable
- Transparent limitations and conflicts of interest
- Responsible disclosure of security-sensitive findings
- Respect for privacy, confidentiality and institutional approvals
Propose research or contribute a resource
WADFIN welcomes applied research questions, technical contributions, peer reviewers and institutional research collaboration.