Version 1 / Date of Issue: 10.29.15 / Issuing Authority: Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB)

OSAC Research Needs Assessment Form

Title of research need:

Keywords:

Submitting subcommittee(s): Date Approved:

(If SAC review identifies additional subcommittees, add them to the box above.)

Background information:

1. Description of research need:

2. Key bibliographic references relating to this research need:

3a. In what ways would the research results improve current laboratory capabilities?

Only anecdotal evidence exists of the minimum resolution required when recording shoe and/or 

tire impressions and marks. Without knowing the size of the smallest detail required for 

comparison, there is no way to verify if the current, arbitrary standards for recording such 

impressions are valid or if those standards can be used in OSAC documents. Research exists for 

latent prints, but not for tires/shoes.

“Effect of Photographic Technology on Quality of Examination of Footwear Impressions”, Herbert 

Blitzer, Richard Hammer, Jack Jocobia, Journal of Forensic Identification, 2007.

“The Mount Bierstadt Study: An Experiment in Unique Damage Formation in Footwear”, T.W. Adair, 

J. Lemay, A. Mcdonald, R. Shaw, R. Tewes, Journal of Forensic Identification, 2007.

Current research is limited to comparisons to film based capture methods (equivalent to 35mm 

film, but not 120mm film, etc.) Knowing a minimum resolution enables the purchase of 

appropriate equipment as well as capture settings.

Determination of the size of the smallest detail required for tire and/or 

shoe comparisons.

Shoe impression, tire mark, tire track, minimum resolution, digital imaging, digital 

capture, photography, fine detail, evidence

VITAL 1/28/16
Version 1 / Date of Issue: 10.29.15 / Issuing Authority: Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB)

3b. In what ways would the research results improve understanding of the scientific basis for the 

subcommittee(s)?

3c. In what ways would the research results improve services to the criminal justice system?

4. Status assessment (I, II, III, or 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.

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

It is known that reproduction of fine detail is directly related to the capture settings. 

Understanding the lower limit of resolution required for comparison will enable VITAL to create 

appropriate guidelines and standards.

Images with insufficient resolution may prevent an examiner from being able to include or exclude 

a source from an examination. Without knowing what resolution is needed, images may be 

taken/recorded/captured at resolutions that are either too low which require recapture, or too 

high that use excessive amounts of storage.

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Version 1 / Date of Issue: 10.29.15 / Issuing Authority: Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB)

// Approval date:

(Approval is by majority vote of subcommittee. Once approved, forward to SAC.)

1. Does the SAC agree with the research need? Yes ⃝ No ⃝ 

2. Does the SAC agree with the status assessment? Yes ⃝ No ⃝

If no, what is the status assessment of the SAC:

Approval date:

(Approval is by majority vote of SAC. Once approved, forward to NIST for posting.)

1/28/16 Subcommittee

SAC