Physics/Pattern Interpretation Scientific Area 

Committee Update

Melissa Gische, Chair

September 30, 2020
Physics / 

Pattern 

Interpretation

SAC Outgoing 

Members

THANK YOU!

David Baldwin, Ph.D., Executive Secretary

Ted Burkes

Paul Kish

Glenn Langenburg, Ph.D.

Hal Stern, Ph.D., Statistics

Richard Lempert, Ph.D., Human Factors

David A. Stoney, Ph.D.

John R. Vanderkolk

Todd Weller, Chair, Firearms and Toolmarks SC

2
Physics / 

Pattern 

Interpretation

SAC for OSAC 

2.0

Melissa Gische, Chair

Lesley Hammer, Vice Chair

David Kanaris, Chair, Footwear and Tire

Gerald LaPorte, Chair, Forensic Document 

Examination

Holly Latham, Chair, Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

Erica Lawton, Chair, Firearms and Toolmarks

Henry Swofford, Chair, Friction Ridge

3
PSAC 

Subcommittees 

4

• BPA – Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

• FATM – Firearms and Toolmarks

• FDE – Forensic Document Examination

• FR – Friction Ridge

• FWT – Footwear and Tire
AAFS 

Standards 

Board (ASB) 

5

Physics/Pattern Interpretation SAC 

subcommittees use the AAFS Standards 

Board (ASB) as the Standards 

Development Organization (SDO) for 

completed documents. The ASB has three 

types of documents.

• Standards (S)

• Best Practice Recommendations (BPR)

• Technical Reports (TR)
PSAC

Subcommittees

6

Submitted to ASB - 42

Published by ASB - 13

OSAC Registry - 1
BPA 

Accomplishments

Added to OSAC Registry

ASB Technical Report 033, Terms and Definitions in Bloodstain Pattern 

Analysis, First Edition, 2017 (effective June 3, 2020) 

Published by ASB

1. ANSI/ASB Standard 030, Standard for a Quality Assurance 

Program in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, First Edition, 2019

2. ANSI/ASB Standard 031, Standard for Report Writing in Bloodstain 

Pattern Analysis, First Edition, 2020 

3. ANSI/ASB Standard 032, Standards for a Bloodstain Pattern 

Analyst’s Training Program, First Edition, 2020

4. ANSI/ASB Standard 072, Standard for the Validation of Procedures 

in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, First Edition, 2019 

7
BPA 

Accomplishments

Submitted to ASB

1. Guidelines for Developing Standard Operating Procedures for 

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

2. Guidelines for Proficiency Testing in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

Other

Bloodstain Pattern Process Map (December 2019) posted to OSAC BPA 

website

8
BPA Priorities

FY21 Priorities

• Methodology

• Certification

• Area of Origin

• Technical Review

• Classification

• Documentation

• Bloodstains on absorbent surfaces/clothing

• Research Needs

9
FATM 

Accomplishments

Published by ASB

ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 068, Safe Handling of 

Firearms and Ammunition, First Edition, 2020

Submitted to ASB

1. Standard for Barrel and Overall Length Measurements for Firearms

2. Standard for 3D Measurement Systems and Measurement Quality Control 

for Firearm and Toolmark Analysis

3. Standard for Topography Comparison Software for Firearm and Toolmark

Analysis

4. Implementation of 3D Technologies in Forensic Laboratories for Firearm 

and Toolmark Analysis

5. Standard Test Method for the Examination and Testing of Firearms

6. Standard Method for the Examination and Documentation of Ammunition 

and Ammunition Components

10
FATM 

Accomplishments

Submitted to ASB continued

7. Range of Source Conclusions and Criteria in Toolmark Examinations

8. Minimum Education Requirements for Firearm and Toolmark Examiner 

Trainees

9. Best Practice Recommendation for Measuring Trigger Pull of a Firearm and 

Estimating its Uncertainty

10. Standard for Verification of Source Conclusions in Toolmark Examinations

11
FATM Priorities

FY21 Priorities

• Toolmark Examination

• Minimum Requirements for an Examiner Training Program

• Training Manual

• Documentation of Comparisons

• Standard for 3D Virtual Comparison Microscopy for Firearm and 

Toolmark Analysis

• Reporting

• Distance Determination

• Process map

12
FDE

Accomplishments

Published by ASB

1. ANSI/ASB Standard 044, Standard for Examination of Documents 

for Indentations, First Edition, 2019

2. ANSI/ASB Standard 117, Standard for Examination of Stamping 

Devices and Stamp Impressions, First Edition, 2020

Submitted to ASB

1. ASB STD 011: Scope of Expertise in Forensic Document 

Examination

2. ASB STD 035: Standard for the Examination of Documents for 

Alterations

3. ASB TR 071: Forensic Document Examination Terms and 

Definitions

4. ASB STD 117: Standard for the Examination of Stamp Impressions 

and Stamping Devices

13
FDE

Priorities

FY21 Priorities

• Minimum Training Requirements for Forensic Document Examiners

• Standard for the Examination of Handwritten Items

• Standard for the Preservation and Examination of Charred 

Documents

• Standard for the Preservation and Examination of Water Soaked 

Documents

• Standard for Reporting Examination Results (Conclusions)

• Standard for the Examination of Documents Produced with Toner 

Technology

• Standard for the Examination of Documents Produced with Inkjet 

Technology

• Standard for the Non-destructive Examination of Paper

• Standard for the test Methods for Writing Ink Comparison

• Standard Guide for the Examination of Financial, Identification, and 

Other Authorized Documents

• Comprehensive Training Program for Forensic Document Examiners 

(currently a 54 page document)

14
FR

Accomplishments

Submitted to ASB

1. Best Practice Recommendation for Articulating a Source 

Identification in Friction Ridge Examination

2. Standard for Friction Ridge Examination Conclusions

3. Standard for Friction Ridge Examination Training Program

4. Best Practice Recommendations for Technical Review in Friction 

Ridge Identification

5. Best Practice Recommendations for the Resolution of Conflicts in 

the Course of Friction Ridge Examination

6. Best Practice Recommendations for the Verification Component in 

Friction Ridge Examination

7. Standard for Reporting Results from Friction Ridge Examinations

8. Standard for Consultation During Friction Ridge Examination

15
FR

Priorities

FY21 Priorities

• Standard for Friction Ridge Examination

• Best Practice Recommendation for Analysis

• Best Practice Recommendation for Comparison & Evaluation

• Standard for Proficiency Testing

• Best Practice Recommendation for Testimony Monitoring

• Best Practice Recommendation for Limited Examinations

• Standard for Feature Selection

• Re-evaluation of the Friction Ridge Process Map

• Re-evaluation of Friction Ridge Research Needs

Strategy

• Examination methodology

• Quality assurance practices (e.g., proficiency testing, testimony 

monitoring, etc.)

• Operational throughput (e.g., Limited Examinations) and peripheral 

tasks (e.g., evidence handling, method validation, personnel 

selection, digital processing, etc.)

16
FWT

Accomplishments

Published by ASB

1. ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 021, Best Practices for 

the Preparation of Test Impressions from Footwear and Tires, First 

Edition, 2019

2. ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 049, Best Practice 

Recommendation for Lifting of Footwear and Tire Impressions, 

First Edition, 2020

3. ANSI/ASB Standard 095, Standard for Minimum Qualifications and 

Training for a Footwear/Tire Forensic Science Service Provider, 

First Edition, 2020

4. ASB Technical Report 097, Terminology Used for Forensic 

Footwear and Tire Evidence, First Edition, 2019

5. ANSI/ASB Standard 099, Standard for Footwear/Tire Examination 

Proficiency Testing Program, First Edition, 2020

17
FWT

Accomplishments

Submitted to ASB

1. Best Practice Recommendation for Documentation and 

Photography Documentation of Footwear and Tire Evidence

2. Scope of work for a Footwear and Tire Examiner Technical Report

3. Best Practice Recommendation for the Detection of Footwear and 

Tire Impression Evidence

4. Best Practice Recommendation for Casting of Footwear and Tire 

Impression Evidence

5. Standard for Examination and Documentation of Footwear and 

Tire Impression Evidence

18
FWT

Priorities

FY21 Priorities

• Submitting approved ANSI/ASB documents for OSAC Registry 

consideration

• Best Practice Recommendation for Articulation, Interpretation, 

and Conclusions in Footwear and Tire Report Writing and 

Testimony

• Intelligence document

• Process map

• Outreach on value of FWT evidence

19
Thank you

https://www.nist.gov/topics/organization-scientific-area-committees-forensic-science