Image Degradation Analysis (IDA): Forensic Applications for Light Physics, White Paper

Modern digital forensics often relies on Error Level Analysis (ELA) to detect local splicing anomalies. However, ELA is insufficient for evaluating the physical authenticity of a scene's global illumination. This paper introduces Image Degradation Analysis (IDA), a forensic framework formerly designated as Photoelectromagnetic (PEM) Image Analysis. IDA operates on the premise that light leaves a physical "fingerprint" on surfaces; a geometric energy distribution that becomes visible when an image is subjected to extreme algorithmic stress. By utilizing a standardized compression coefficient of (Q = 5) IDA isolates the mathematical skeleton of light diffusion, enabling analysts to distinguish between the parallel, chaotic signature of natural sunlight and the localized, geometric uniformity of artificial lighting.