Digital Forensic Engineering

Samet Yılmaz Temel
Techpioneers
Published in
5 min readJul 26, 2023

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Fırat University
Faculty Of Technology
Digital Forensic Engineering

In today’s rapidly advancing digital world, technological progress is also impacting forensic processes and legal matters. Digital evidence now plays a crucial role in solving crimes and collecting legal proof. It is at this intersection that Forensic Informatics Engineering emerges as a vital discipline designed to combat digital crimes and contribute to the pursuit of justice.

Forensic Informatics Engineering is a field that combines computer science and law, utilizing technological tools and methods to solve forensic cases. This discipline aims to train individuals specialized in the processes of collecting, analyzing, preserving, and using digital evidence in court.

In addition to this, the field covers cybersecurity topics and provides students with the necessary skills through courses. The curriculum includes network analysis, network and system security, information security, cryptology, and other critical areas in forensic informatics, such as data recovery, forensic informatics software, basic law, and forensic informatics legislation.

Let’s discuss the opportunities available within our department:

1. Expert Academic Staff: The Forensic Informatics Engineering department at Fırat University boasts a qualified teaching staff comprised of specialists in their fields. Students receive education from instructors who follow the latest developments in the industry and possess extensive experience.

2. Courses and Educational Content: Since there was no previous example, the curriculum was independently designed from scratch, making it unique and independent. It includes fundamental and advanced courses in forensic informatics. Students learn about critical topics such as digital evidence collection methods, data analytics, cybersecurity, and hacking. This comprehensive knowledge and skill set prepare graduates for a successful career in forensic informatics and cybersecurity.

3. High-Budget and Advanced Laboratory Facilities: Our department is equipped with high-budget laboratories dedicated to research and practical applications in forensic informatics. Students have access to up-to-date technologies, allowing them to enhance their practical skills and develop solutions to real-world problems. Here are the labs affiliated with our department:

Cybersecurity Lab

Forensic Informatics Software Lab

Forensic Informatics Hardware Lab

Network and System Lab

Biometric Systems Lab

Audio and Video Analysis Lab

Mobile Device Analysis Lab

Data Recovery Lab

4. Double Major and Minor Opportunities: Our department offers students various double major and minor opportunities, opening the doors to interdisciplinary education. Numerous options for double majors and minors are available within our university.

5. Separate Semester Internships and Workplace Training: Our department organizes separate semester internships and workplace training to enable students to apply their theoretical knowledge in practice. This allows students to interact with professionals in the field and gain valuable work experience.

6. International Opportunities: Our department offers students the opportunity to gain international experience. Students can study at leading international universities through Erasmus programs, participate in research, and enrich themselves personally and academically by experiencing different cultures. They can also leverage their network gained during their studies to undertake their internship and workplace training abroad.

7. Departmental Academic Work and Award-Winning Projects: Our department places great emphasis on academic research and aims to make students active researchers. Students can participate in academic projects within the department and have the opportunity to be involved in award-winning projects at national and international levels. They can also form individual research teams and conduct comprehensive research projects at the national/international level as part of club activities.

8. Four Academics in the Stanford University World’s Top 2% of Scientists List: Our department collaborates with leading academics in the field. Four academics from our department, who have gained international recognition in forensic informatics, are listed in the Stanford University World’s Top 2% of Scientists. This provides students with the opportunity to learn the most current information in the field and interact with experts of global repute. Here are the three academics from our department listed:

• Professor Şengül DOĞAN

• Associate Professor Türker TUNCER

• Associate Professor Fatih ERTAM

• Associate Professor Orhan YAMAN

Forensic Informatics Engineering:

As technology rapidly advances, crimes are increasingly shifting to the digital realm, impacting forensic processes. Forensic Informatics Engineering has become an essential discipline to adapt to the requirements of this new era. In this article, we will provide a detailed look at what Forensic Informatics Engineering is, its functions, and its interaction with today’s legal system.

What is Forensic Informatics Engineering?

Forensic Informatics Engineering is a discipline that analyzes and interprets digital evidence related to crimes. Digital evidence refers to data found at crime scenes or on digital devices. Forensic informatics engineers collect, analyze, and make this data usable in forensic processes. For example, they can trace a hacker’s activities or evaluate cell phone data in a murder case.

Forensic Informatics Engineering and the Legal System:

Forensic Informatics Engineering closely interacts with the legal system. Digital evidence presented in courts plays a significant role in solving crimes and ensuring justice. Forensic informatics experts present the data they collect and analyze to prosecutors, lawyers, and the court. The accuracy and evidential value of this data are crucial in these proceedings.

Career Opportunities in Forensic Informatics Engineering:

The work areas of forensic informatics engineers are diverse. They can work as cybersecurity experts in private companies, serve in forensic informatics units within police departments, or work in forensic informatics laboratories. They can specialize in areas such as data recovery, digital evidence analysis, and preventing cyber-attacks.

Education and Career Path in Forensic Informatics Engineering:

Forensic Informatics Engineering education focuses on computer science and digital data analysis in a bachelor’s program. Students learn data recovery methods, digital evidence collection and analysis, cybersecurity topics, and the legal system. Graduates have the opportunity to work as forensic informatics engineers in various institutions.

Research and Academic Work in Forensic Informatics Engineering:

Academic work in Forensic Informatics Engineering contributes to the continuous development of the discipline. Research in this field leads to the discovery of new methods and helps prevent digital crimes. Students can support the advancement of the discipline by participating in academic projects.

Forensic Informatics Engineering and Technological Law:

Forensic Informatics Engineering is intertwined with technological law. While technological law focuses on resolving issues arising in the digital world, forensic informatics engineering plays a significant role in this process. The validity of evidence and the lawful use of technology are ensured through the collaboration of forensic informatics engineers and technological law experts.

Digital Evidence Studies in Forensic Informatics Engineering:

Forensic informatics engineers analyze digital evidence found at crime scenes or on digital devices to uncover important information. For instance, they can identify the source of a data breach or trace a person’s digital footprint. These studies have a significant impact on solving crimes.

The Future Role of Forensic Informatics Engineering:

The role of forensic informatics engineers is expected to become even more critical in the future. As digital crimes increase, forensic informatics engineers will play a crucial role in combating these crimes. The development of technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud technology, and big data analytics will further elevate the importance of forensic informatics engineers’ work.

Forensic Informatics Engineering has become an indispensable discipline in the digital age. As crimes move into the digital world, the role of forensic informatics engineers has increased, and they have become closely integrated with the legal system. Those who wish to work in the field of forensic informatics can play an important role by keeping up with developing technologies and ever-changing crime models. It is clear that forensic informatics engineers will hold an increasingly important position in the future, and the impact of this discipline will continue to grow.

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