Automated Identification Technologies 

(AIT): Improving the Management of 

Forensic Evidence

American Academy of Forensic Science (AAFS) Annual Meeting

Friday, February 21, 2014

Shannan Williams

Associate, Forensic Science Program

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
NIST Forensic Sciences (FS) Program

NIST Mission: Advance measurement science, standards, 

and technology in ways that −

• Promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness

• Advance measurement science, standards, and technology

• Enhance economic and physical security

• Improve our quality of life 

Forensic Science Program 

Manages programs and directs research to advance 

forensic science technologies by developing performance 

standards, guidelines, and reports of research findings
Technical Working Group on Biological 

Evidence Preservation (TWGBEP)

• Convened from August 2011 - January 2013

• Charged to: “create best practices and guidance to ensure 

the integrity, prevent the loss, and reduce the premature 

destruction of biological evidence after collection through 

post-conviction proceedings”

• Key Output: The Biological Evidence Preservation 

Handbook published in April 2013
TWG wanted to conduct an assessment of AIT technologies 

to:

• Identify, categorize, and evaluate where AIT is already 

being explored or used in the forensic evidence process

• Assist in defining process changes and leveraging AIT, 

which could provide greater visibility into the forensic 

evidence processes

• Develop a model to conduct a return on investment 

analysis to determine “business case” for implementing 

RFID 

Automated Identification Technology (AIT) 

Assessment Project
Based on results of the assessment, TWGBEP 

created Recommendation IV-6.

Recommendation IV-6 of The 

Biological Evidence Preservation 

Handbook reads,

“Overall, it is highly 

recommended that jurisdictions 

consider automated identification 

technologies to enhance chainof-custody recordkeeping and 

tracking, to facilitate inventories, 

and to allow for efficient retrieval 

of evidence.” 

Published April 2013

Available at: 

http://www.nist.gov/oles/

forensics/bioev.cfm
Automated identification technologies (AIT) enables the 

capture, collection, and transfer of data in order to 

automatically identify objects and enter data about that 

object directly into computer systems with little to no human 

involvement. 

Examples of AIT include:

- Barcodes

- Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

What are automated identification 

technologies (AIT)?
RFID is an established AIT that uses radio waves to perform 

automatic data acquisition.

A typical RFID system includes:

• RFID Tag – Has information about item programmed into it

• Reader/Antenna – Retrieves the data from the tags

• RFID Middleware – Makes sense of data retrieved from 

reader

• Enterprise Applications and Database – Integrates data 

with business applications

What is Radio Frequency Identification 

(RFID)?
What is Radio Frequency Identification 

(RFID)?
There are three types of RFID tags: 

What is Radio Frequency Identification 

(RFID)?

Type Description Example

Active RFID RFID Tag that is equipped with a battery that can be used as a partial or 

complete source of power for the tag's circuitry and antenna. It can be 

read at distances of 100 feet or more, greatly improving the utility of 

the device. The onboard battery can also be used to power sensors (i.e., 

temperature, open/close status, etc.). 

Passive RFID RFID Tag that does not contain a battery; the power is supplied by the 

reader. When radio waves from the reader are encountered by a passive 

RFID tag, the coiled antenna within the tag forms a magnetic field. The 

tag draws power from it, energizing the circuits in the tag. The tag then 

sends the information encoded in the tag's memory. The tag can be 

read only at very short distances, typically a few inches for high 

frequency and up to 20 feet for ultra-high frequency. It is typically not 

possible to include sensors on passive tags because they lack an 

onboard power source. 

Battery 

Assisted RFID

BAP RFID tags, like Active RFID, contain an integrated power source. 

This power source eliminates the need to gather energy from the reader 

and wake up the chip. For management’s budget, BAP tags can be much 

less expensive than Active RFID tags. Some BAP tags can also support 

sensors. 
Barcodes versus RFID

Type Description Example

Linear Barcodes Linear Barcodes are composed of bars and spaces all 

in a single line. Linear Barcodes cannot store much 

data. They can typically store nine data characters 

for every inch of horizontal barcode space. Linear 

Barcodes can be read by virtually every scanner in 

the world and are easy to print. The UPC is an 

example of a Linear Barcode. 

2D Barcodes 2D Barcodes consist of black and white "cells" or 

modules arranged in either a square or rectangular 

pattern. The information to be encoded can be text 

or raw data. Unlike Linear Barcodes, 2D Barcodes 

can store up to 2 kilobytes of data. Most state 

motor vehicle associations use 2D Barcodes when 

issuing drivers licenses. 
Barcodes versus RFID

Advantages of Barcoding

• Barcodes are the least expensive way to identify 

assets/items.

• Barcodes offer a simple method to automate the data 

capture of the data on a barcode. 

Advantages of RFID

• UHF and battery-assisted tags can be read at far greater 

distances, scanned much faster, and can be automatically 

scanned 

• RFID tags can be read and written in large numbers 

• RFID-enabled applications can be engineered in such a 

way that the movement, number, and specific type of the 

items, as well as timing and frequency of events, can all 

be monitored at a distance. 
RFID Return on Investment (ROI) Analysis

• Hypothetical model based on estimated cost savings in 

reduced time to conduct standard searches, exception 

searches, and inventories

Estimated 

payback 

time is 

smaller in 

larger 

agencies 

with larger 

numbers of 

tracked 

evidence 

items 
Barriers to RFID Adoption

1. Magnitude of Startup Cost

2. Reliability of Technology

3. Process Standardization 

As a result, only a handful of law enforcement 

agencies have successfully implemented RFID 

based property and evidence solutions.

Examples:

- Netherlands Forensic Institute

- Santa Clara Crime Lab
Proposed Recommendations

1. Law enforcement agencies should analyze current 

evidence handling process to identify areas that can 

benefit from AIT adoption. 

Excerpt from 

draft report

Agencies 

should 

record and 

analyze 

business 

processes 

to see 

where AIT 

can improve 

efficiency
2. Law enforcement agencies should work to optimize 

the use of AIT technologies such as RFID by enhancing 

agency coordination, data exchange methods, process 

management, and automation. 

Proposed Recommendations
3. Law enforcement agencies management should 

utilize the experiences of commercial organizations to 

overcome barriers to adoption in law enforcement. 

Proposed Recommendations

Excerpt from 

draft report

Commercial 

organizations 

have 

encountered 

similar 

problems in 

implementing 

RFID and 

can provide 

insight on 

solutions
Proposed Recommendations

4. Regional and state level agencies need to address 

several foundational issues to facilitate the adoption of 

AIT throughout the law enforcement community. These 

issues include the creation of: 

a. Numbering standards;

b. Evidence labeling standards; and 

c. Data exchange methodology. 

1 G 1 J F 2 7 W 1 7 8 2 2 7

Forensic Evidence Identification (FEID)

County Juris. Case No.

Identification Number State

Law 

Enforcement

Property 

Evidence 

Room

Attorneys Crime Lab

Courts

Central 

Exchange

Law 

Enforcement

Property 

Evidence 

Room

Attorneys Crime Lab

Courts
4. Federal level stakeholders should take steps to 

facilitate further research into the existence of 

standards applicable to AIT’s use in law enforcement 

and convene relevant participants to develop standards 

where there are gaps. 

Proposed Recommendations
RFID Technology in Forensic Evidence Management: 

An Assessment of Barriers, Benefits, and Costs to 

Implementation 

Publication Scheduled for Spring 2014

Will be located at: 

http://www.nist.gov/oles/forensics/bioev.cfm
Questions?

Shannan Williams

Shannan.Williams@nist.gov

301-975-8021