Physics/Pattern Interpretation 

Scientific Area Committee

Melissa Gische, Chair
Physics / 

Pattern 

Interpretation

SAC 

Leadership

Melissa Gische, Chair, U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation

Lesley Hammer, Vice Chair, Hammer Forensics

Thomas Busey, Ph.D., Executive Secretary, Indiana University, 

Bloomington

Michael Gorn, Chair, Footwear and Tire, Federal Bureau of 

Investigation 

Gerald LaPorte, Chair, Forensic Document Examination 

National Institute of Justice

Henry Swofford, Chair, Friction Ridge, HJS Consulting, LLC

Todd Weller, Chair, Firearms and Toolmarks Oakland Police 

Department, Criminalistics Laboratory

Toby L. Wolson, Chair, Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, Noslow

Forensic Consultations, LLC

2
Physics / 

Pattern 

Interpretation

SAC Members 

and Liaisons

David Baldwin, Ph.D., Special Technologies Laboratory; Division of 

Mission Support and Test Services, Nevada National Security Site

Ted Burkes, FBI Laboratory

Paul Kish, Paul Erwin Kish Forensic Consultant & Associates, 

Corning, N.Y.

Glenn Langenburg, Ph.D., Elite Forensic Services, LLC

Hal Stern, Ph.D., University of California, Irvine

David A. Stoney, Ph.D., Stoney Forensic, Inc., Chantily, VA

John R. Vanderkolk, Indiana State Police Laboratory

Richard Lempert, Ph.D., Eric Stein Distinguished University 

Professor of Law & Sociology, emeritus, Self-employed (HFC)

Jules Epstein, Professor, Temple Beasley School of Law (LRC)

Jason Bundy, Forensic Quality Manager, Florida Department of Law 

Enforcement (QIC)

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)

• Technical Reports (TR)

• Best Practice Recommendations (BPR)
SAC Role

• Provide direction and oversight 

for 5 subcommittees

• Interface with the resource 

committees

• Communicate activities, 

progress, recommendations

• Review and approve standards, 

best practice recommendations, 

and technical reports
Roadmaps

7

Competency

BPA

BPA: Guidelines for the 

Minimum Education and 

Training Requirements For 

Bloodstain Pattern 

Analysts

FATM

FATM: Minimum 

Education Requirements 

for Firearm and Toolmark

Examiner Trainees

FATM: Minimum 

Requirements for an 

Examiner Training Program

FDE

FDE: Standard Guide for 

Minimum Training 

Requirements for Forensic 

Document Examiners

FDE: Standard Training 

Program for Forensic 

Document Examiner

FR

FR: Standard for Friction 

Ridge Examination 

Training

FWT

FWT: Minimum 

Qualifications and Training

for Footwear and Tire 

Examiner

FWT: Training Manual

Part of roadmap for PSAC

S = document at SDO = work in progress = research needed

S S S S
Standards 

approved by 

ASB

BPA: ANSI/ASB TR 033: Terms and Definitions in 

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, First Edition, 2017

BPA: ANSI/ASB STD 072: Standard for the 

Validation of Procedures in Bloodstain Pattern 

Analysis, First Edition, 2019

8
Standards in 

Process – at 

ASB

BPA: ASB BPR 031: Guidelines for Report Writing 

in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

BPA: ASB STD 032: Standard for Minimum Training 

and Education Requirements for Bloodstain 

Pattern Analysts 

BPA: ASB STD 030: Standard for a Quality 

Assurance Program in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

9
Standards in 

Process – at 

ASB

FATM: ASB STD 062: Standard for Topography Comparison Software for Firearm and 

Toolmark Analysis

FATM: ASB STD 063: Implementation of 3D Technologies in Forensic Firearm and 

Toolmark Comparison Laboratories 

FATM: ASB STD 061: Firearms and Toolmarks 3D Measurement Systems and 

Measurement Quality Control 

FATM: ASB BPR 060: Guidelines for Barrel and Overall Length Measurements for 

Firearms

FATM: ASB BPR 068: Safe Handling of Firearms and Ammunition

FATM: ASB STD 105: Minimum Education Requirements for Firearm and Toolmark

Examiner Trainees

FATM: ASB STD 093: Test Method for the Examination and Testing of Firearms

FATM: ASB STD 100: Range of Conclusions and Criteria in Toolmark Examination 

FATM: ASB BPR 068: Safe Handling of Firearms and Ammunition, First Edition (comment 

deadline, July 8, 2019)

10
Standards in 

Process – at 

ASB

11

FDE: ASB STD 011: Scope of Expertise in Forensic 

Document Examination

FDE: ASB STD 044: Standard for the Examination 

of Documents for Indentations

FDE: ASB STD 035: Standard for the Examination 

of Documents for Alterations 

FDE: ASB TR 071: Forensic Document Examination 

Terms and Definitions
Standards in 

Process – at 

ASB

FR: ASB BPR 012: Best Practice Recommendation for 

Articulating a Source Identification in Friction Ridge 

Examinations 

FR: ASB STD 013: Standard for Friction Ridge 

Examination Conclusions

FR: ASB STD 014: Standard for Friction Ridge 

Examination Training Program

FR: ASB BPR 012: Best Practice Recommendation for 

Articulating a Source Identification in Friction Ridge 

Examinations, First Edition (comment deadline, July 

8, 2019)

12
Standards in 

Process – at 

ASB

FWT: ASB BPR 021: Best Practices for the 

Preparation of Test Impressions from Footwear 

and Tires

FWT: ASB STD 099: Standard for Footwear/Tire 

Examination Proficiency Testing Program

FWT: ASB STD 095: Standard for Minimum 

Qualifications and Training for a Footwear/Tire 

Forensic Science Service Provider 

FWT: ASB TR 097: Terminology Used for Forensic 

Footwear and Tire Evidence

13
Standards in 

Process –

Under 

Development

BPA: Conclusion statements for bloodstain pattern 

identifications

BPA: Conclusion statements for BPA reconstructions

BPA: BPA taxonomy for use in classification of bloodstain 

patterns

BPA: Guidelines for a BPA Certification Program

BPA: Guidelines for Developing Standard Operating 

Procedures for Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

BPA: Guidelines for Proficiency Testing in Bloodstain 

Pattern Analysis

BPA: BPA process map

14
Standards in 

Process –

Under 

Development

FATM: Minimum Requirements for an Examiner Training Program

FATM: STD 096: Standard Test Method for the Examination and Testing 

of Ammunition 

FATM: ASB STD 101: Standard for Supporting Documentation of Source 

Conclusions in Toolmark Examinations

FATM: ASB BPR 102: Guidelines for Peer Review of Source Conclusions 

in Toolmark Examinations

FATM: ASB BPR 103: Guidelines for Reporting of Source Conclusions in 

Toolmark Examinations

FATM: ASB STD 104: Standard for 3D Virtual Comparison Microscopy 

for Firearm and Toolmark Analysis

FATM: ASB BPR 107: Best Practice Recommendation for Measuring 

Trigger Pull of a Firearm and Estimating Its Uncertainty

15
Standards in 

Process –

Under 

Development

FDE: ASB STD 070: Standard for Examination of Handwritten Items

FDE: Standard Guide for Minimum Training Requirements for Forensic Document Examiners (Standard Training 

Program for Forensic Document Examiners)

FDE: Standard for Source Conclusions

FDE: Forensic Document Examination Bibliography

FDE: Standard for Collection of Known Writing

FDE: Standard for Initial Assessment of Questioned Document Evidence

FDE: Standard for the Examination of Writing Inks

FDE: Non-destructive Examination of Paper

FDE: Examination of Documents Produced with Liquid Ink Jet Technology

FDE: Examination of Documents Produced with Toner Technology

FDE: Examination of Typewritten Items

FDE: Standard for the Examination of Rubber Stamp and Stamped Impressions

FDE: Standard for the Examination of Dry Seals and Dry Seal Impressions

FDE: Examination of Financial, Identification, and Other Authorized Documents

FDE: Standard for the Examination of Charred Documents

FDE: Standard for the Examination of Liquid Soaked Documents

16
Standards in 

Process –

Under 

Development

FR: ACE-V Process Map

FR: Examination Method

FR: Verification

FR: Technical Review

FR: Terminology

FR: AFIS Best Practices

FR: Conflict Resolution

FR: Consultation

FR: Reporting Results

17
Standards in 

Process –

Under 

Development

FWT: Chemical Enhancements of Footwear and Tire Impressions

FWT: ASB BPR 052: Best Practice Recommendation for the Detection 

of Footwear and Tire Impression Evidence

FWT: ASB TR 051: Scope of Work for a Footwear/Tire Examiner 

FWT: Articulation of Conclusions in Footwear and Tire Report Writing 

and Testimony

FWT: ASB BPR 049: Best Practice Recommendation for the Lifting of 

Footwear and Tire Impression Evidence

FWT: ASB BPR 050: Best Practice Recommendation for Photographic 

Documentation of Footwear and Tire Impression Evidence 

FWT: Guide for the Casting of Footwear and Tire Impression Evidence 

at the Crime Scene

18
Research 

Needs

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis:

• Behavior of Blood Outside the Body

• Bloodstain Pattern Classification 

• Examiner Reliability Study: Black and White Box Studies 

on Bloodstain Pattern Analysts

• Interaction of Blood and Fabrics

19
Research 

Needs

Firearms and Toolmarks:

• Assessment of Examiners' Toolmark Categorization Accuracy

• Blind Verifications Needs Assessment

• Cognitive Bias: To What Extent Does It Affect Firearm and Toolmark

Comparison Outcomes

• Consistency of Examiner Evaluation of Distance Determination GSR 

Patterns

• Effect of New Technology on Quantitative Consecutive Matching Striae ID 

Criteria

• Evaluation of Examiner Conclusions Utilizing a Five-Point Scale

• Resolution Requirements for 3D Virtual Comparison Microscopy

• Study to Assess the Accuracy and Reliability of Firearms and Toolmark

Examinations

20
Research 

Needs

Footwear and Tire:

• Examiner Reliability Study: Black/White Box Study on 

Footwear and Tire Examiners

• National Footwear Database/Reference Collection

• Population Frequency of Class Characteristics: Footwear 

in the United States

• Probability of Randomly Acquired Characteristics

• Testing & Validation of 3D Imaging Technologies for 

Footwear & Tire Impressions Evidence

21
Research 

Needs

Forensic Document Examination:

• Comparability and Complexity in Handwriting

• Hand Printing Complexity and Comparability

• National Database of Handwriting

• Validation of Conclusion Scale

22
Research 

Needs

Friction Ridge:

• ACE-V Bias

• Assessing the Sufficiency and Strength of Friction Ridge 

Features

• Close Non-Match Assessment

• Examiner Consistency During Friction Ridge Feature 

Mark-Up

• Friction Ridge Statistical Modeling

• Latent Fingerprint Image Quality Usage

23
Thank you

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