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?

Accredited digital evidence laboratories (DELs) are required to validate software used for any 

purpose, including enhancement, processing, and analysis. Due to this requirement, DELs spend 

significant amounts of time to test and validate software used in analysis, however, to date no effort 

has been made to standardize the process used for testing and validation. Further, no (or few) 

DELs share lists of previously validated software or information related to their testing procedures, 

which propagates this problem. VITAL requests a study be done on commonly used software 

within DELs, and a repository be created that includes what the software is, testing done to validate 

the software, and limitations suggested for tested software.

The research would improve current laboratory capabilities and conceivably reduce backlogs by 

eliminating the need for accredited laboratories to independently test and validate commonly used 

software.

Software Validation Repository

Software, Validation, Processing, Enhancement, Digital 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

Testing and validating software would improve understanding of the limitations of each software, 

which should help improve results of DEL examiners.

Due to the decreased administrative workload for examiners, additional time could be spent 

conducting examinations. This should allow for a reduction in backlogs, a swifter return of 

examinations, and a quicker implementation of novel software in scientific procedures. This would 

also allow for reduced challenges of software in a courtroom environment.

III
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

6/15/16