FINAL by: OSAC Program Office; Version 2, January 13, 2020 1

OSAC RESEARCH NEEDS ASSESSMENT FORM

Title of research need: Development, Testing & Validation of 3D Imaging Technologies for Footwear & 

Tire Impression Evidence

Describe

the need:

There is a need to develop, test and validate 3D imaging technologies and associated 

products (used for both acquisition and output) for use in the recovery and examination of 

footwear/tire impression evidence. In addition to validating a specific technology or 

product currently on the market, there is a need to set 3D imaging standards (i.e., establish 

minimum requirements and specifications) to ensure that the data acquired (and its 

associated output) and new products created meet the needs of the footwear/tire 

impression evidence community. Specifically, the technology/product must be able to 

reproduce footwear/tire impression evidence with sufficient “resolution” to record fine 

detail (including manufactured texturing and small wear features) and the dimensional

characteristics of the evidence. It must be able to meet these requirements with both 

precision and accuracy. In addition to these requirements, the product should be 

affordable (for law enforcement agencies at all levels), portable, and easy to use. There is a 

need to improve the precision and accuracy of recovered evidence in order to ensure highquality results are consistently produced. Currently, the recovery methods consist of two--

dimensional DSLR photography and casting or lifting. These methods are highly dependent 

on the crime scene technician’s expertise in the detection, collection and enhancement of 

this type of evidence and his/her ability to apply the best practices to the evidence 

encountered. The proper technique for capturing exam‐quality photographs of this

evidence include: placing a scale adjacent to the impression at the same depth as the 

bottom of the impression, placing the camera on a tripod, aligning the plane of the 

camera’s sensor with the plane of the impression, using the appropriate aperture setting 

(to maximize the depth of field), and illuminating the impression from various angles (to 

maximize the impression detail). However, the evidence often prohibits adherence to this 

protocol so even the best photographers are unable to apply the proper technique in every 

case. In addition to the fact that casting and lifting require experience to perform correctly, 

these processes can be destructive so there is normally only one opportunity to capture 

the impression. Note that despite the positive impact that 3D imaging could have on 

evidence collection methods, the 3D data acquired must be useful to the laboratory 

examiner. This means that there must be an interface between the field and the lab for this 

technology to be adopted. Therefore, the examination process and laboratory capabilities 

must be considered when evaluating a technology/product and validating its use for 

footwear/tire impression evidence. Moreover, the examiner community will best be able 

to interpret the results of any research related to 3D imaging technology if the 

technology/product is evaluated against existing recovery and examination methods.

Keyword(s): Laser Scanning, Structured light, 3D Printing, 3D acquisition, Three Dimensional 

Impressions, Footwear, Tires

Submitting subcommittee(s): Footwear & Tire Subcommittee Date Approved: October 24, 2022
FINAL by: OSAC Program Office; Version 2, January 13, 2020 2

Background Information:

1. Does this research need address a gap(s) in a current or planned standard? (ex.: Field identification system 

for on scene opioid detection and confirmation)

2. Are you aware of any ongoing research that may address this research need that has not yet been published 

(e.g., research presented in conference proceedings, studies that you or a colleague have participated in but 

have yet to be published)?

This is an active topic of research. Please review conference proceedings and NIJ’s funded projects abstracts for 

additional information regarding research currently under investigation.

3. Key bibliographic references relating to this research need: (ex.: Toll, L., Standifer, K. M., Massotte, D., eds. 

(2019). Current Topics in Opioid Research. Lausanne: Frontiers Media SA. doi: 10.3389/978-2-88963-180-3)

Yi‐Hong Liao, Jae‐Sang Hyun, Michael Feller, Tyler Bell, Ian Bortins, James Wolfe, David Baldwin, Song Zhang. (2020). 

Portable high‐resolution automated 3D imaging for footwear and tire impression capture. J Forensic Sci, Vol. 66, No. 

1. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.14594

Andalo, F., Calakli, F., Taubin, G., & Goldenstein, S. (2011). Accurate 3D footwear impression recovery from 

photographs. 4th International Conference on Imaging for Crime Detection and Prevention 2011 (ICDP 2011).

Buck, U., Albertini, N., Naether, S., & Thali, M. J. (2007). 3D documentation of footwear impressions and tyre tracks in 

snow with high resolution optical surface scanning. Forensic Science International. Vol. 171(2‐3), pp. 157‐164.

Gamage, R. E., Joshi, A., Zheng, J. Y., & Tuceryan, M. (2013). A high resolution 3D tire and footprint impression 

acquisition for forensics applications. 2013 IEEE Workshop on Applications of Computer Vision (WACV).

4. Review the annual operational/research needs published by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) at 

https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/forensic-science-research-and-development-technology-working-groupoperational#latest? Is your research need identified by NIJ?

No.

5. In what ways would the research results improve current laboratory capabilities?

The examiner is limited by the information that can be gleaned from the evidence submitted. The current evidence 

collection methods provide challenges to reproducing the same level of impression detail observed at the scene and 

the impression’s dimensional characteristics accurately. Current methods are time‐consuming and difficult to execute 

without extensive training and experience. The results of this research could identify technology/products that 

improve the quality of the evidence and make the collection process quicker and easier to perform. If the process is 

easier, more evidence will be collected, and more information will be available for consideration by the examiner. 

Ultimately, 3D imaging technology has potential to reduce the number of inconclusive results provided by examiners 

in laboratories.
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6. In what ways would the research results improve understanding of the scientific basis for the 

subcommittee(s)?

This research would allow the Subcommittee to understand the potential and tradeoff-space of using 3D imaging 

technology over conventional 2D capture and reproduction methods.

7. In what ways would the research results improve services to the criminal justice system?

Possible benefits: increase quality of evidence, improved evidence collection, improved evidence examinations (since 

examiners would spend less time grappling with what to do with distorted photos and/or broken casts), a decrease in 

the number of inconclusive opinions, an increase in the number of conclusive opinions, improved evidence 

integration across cases for investigators/attorneys/juries/judges.

8. Status assessment (I, II, III, or IV): II

Major gap in 

current 

knowledge

Minor gap in 

current 

knowledge

No or limited

current research is 

being conducted I III

Existing current 

research is being 

conducted II IV

This research need has been identified by one or more subcommittees of OSAC and is being provided as an 

informational resource to the community.