Which scientist coined the term "ridgeology"?

The term "ridgeology" was coined by David Ashbaugh, who developed it as part of his work on the analysis of fingerprint patterns and ridge characteristics. Ridgeology refers specifically to the study of the uniqueness and patterns of skin ridges on fingers and palms, which are used in forensic science for fingerprint analysis. Ashbaugh's contributions have been significant in establishing a systematic approach to understanding and utilizing these ridge characteristics for identification purposes, and he is known for advancing the field of latent print examination by emphasizing the importance of ridge detail and how it can be compared and classified. This foundational work has played a crucial role in modern forensic fingerprint methodologies.