OSAC Lexicon
The OSAC Lexicon is a compendium of forensic science terms and definitions. This terminology tool was created to help bring consistency and understanding to the way terms are used by the various forensic science. Use of the OSAC Lexicon does not replace the need to reference the original published source.
The terms and definitions in the OSAC Lexicon come from the published literature, including documentary standards and technical reports. It is continually updated with the latest work from OSAC units, as well as terms from newly published documentary standards and standards elevated to the OSAC Registry.
Gradually terms are evaluated and harmonized by the OSAC to a single term. This process results in an OSAC Preferred Term. An OSAC Preferred Term is a term, along with its definition, that has undergone review and evaluation by the FSSB Terminology Task Group and has been approved by the FSSB. The FSSB recommends that subcommittees use OSAC Preferred Terms when drafting standards.
The OSAC Lexicon should be the primary resource for terminology and used when drafting and editing forensic science standards and other OSAC work products.
Machine Resolution, Optical Resolution
Machine Resolution, Optical Resolution
a nominal resolution specification for a flatbed scanner based on the actual number of pixels per inch in the sensor array and the number of individual steps per inch that the stepper motor can move the sensor array. This is to be distinguished from the maximum resolution specification that is based on resampling. This is also called optical resolution.
Committee
Video/Imaging Technology & Analysis
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025.
Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Macroscopic
Macroscopic
a term that describes characteristics large enough to be perceived without magnification.
Committee
Trace Materials
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025.
Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Magnitude Of Reinforcement
Magnitude Of Reinforcement
The size, strength, or duration of a reward following a behavior.
Committee
Dogs & Sensors
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ANSI/Academy Standards Board (ASB), Crime Scene/Death Investigation - Dogs and Sensors - Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2017.
Source link
Main Explosive Charge
Main Explosive Charge
the final explosive in an explosive train.
Committee
Interdisciplinary
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025.
Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Maintenance Training
Maintenance Training
Continuing training conducted beyond the initial training of a discipline, designed to maintain a level of proficiency by ensuring the canine team's capability to perform desired tasks.
Committee
Dogs & Sensors
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ANSI/Academy Standards Board (ASB), Crime Scene/Death Investigation - Dogs and Sensors - Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2017.
Source link
manner of death
manner of death
Classification system based on the circumstances under which death occurred and any available postmortem findings, as known to the MDI authority at the time of certification; usually consists of accident, homicide, natural, suicide, and undetermined. Manner of death classification is a statutory function of the medicolegal death investigation authority, as part of death certification for purposes of vital statistics and public health, and does not imply a legal or judicial conclusion.
Committee
Medicolegal Death Investigation
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ASB TR 151 , Medicolegal Death Investigation: Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2025.
Source link
Manual Comparison
Manual Comparison
See photographic comparison.
Committee
Facial & Iris Identification
Digital Evidence
Video/Imaging Technology & Analysis
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025.
Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
manual typewriter
manual typewriter
A typewriter whose operation depends solely upon the mechanical action powered by the operator. (SWGDOC E04)
Committee
Forensic Document Examination
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ASB Technical Report 071 Forensic Document Examination: Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2025.
Source link
Manufactured Fiber
Manufactured Fiber
a class name for various genera of filament, tow, or staple produced from fiber-forming substances which can be (1) polymers synthesized from chemical compounds, (2) modified or transformed natural polymers, or (3) glass.
Discussion—Acrylic, nylon, polyester, olefin, urethane, and polyvinyl are examples of fiber synthesized from chemical compounds. Cellulose-based fibers, such as acetate and rayons, and alginate fibers are examples of modified or transformed polymers.
Committee
Trace Materials
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025.
Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Manufactured Fiber
Manufactured Fiber
a class name for various genera of fibers (including filaments) produced from fiber-forming substances which can be (1) polymers synthesized from chemical compounds [synthetic fibers], (2) modified or transformed natural polymers [regenerated fibers], and (3) minerals, for example, glasses.
Committee
Trace Materials
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025.
Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Manufacturing Defect
Manufacturing Defect
Unintended damage, defects or flaws in the footwear outsole or tire tread that occurs during manufacturing, which depending on their cause, could result in class or randomly acquired characteristics.
Committee
Footwear & Tire
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ASB TR 097, Terminology Used for Forensic Footwear and Tire Evidence. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2019.
Source link
Manufacturing Variable
Manufacturing Variable
Features that occur during the manufacturing process that do not appear on all of the footwear/tires but may appear on more than one. Examples would be the precise positioning of foxing strips, the precise cutting of die cut or Wellman cut soles, the positioning of stitching that is added to the bottom of some soles, or a bent sipe blade in a tire mold, etc.
Committee
Footwear & Tire
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ASB TR 097, Terminology Used for Forensic Footwear and Tire Evidence. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2019.
Source link
manuscript
manuscript
(See hand printing.) (SWGDOC T01)
Committee
Forensic Document Examination
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ASB Technical Report 071 Forensic Document Examination: Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2025.
Source link
Mark
Mark
The point where a needle has pierced the skin, usually associated with drug use.
Committee
Interdisciplinary
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2011 Update:2015 Data Format for the Interchange of Fingerprint, Facial & Other Biometric Information. ANSI/National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2011.
Source link
Marker
Marker
a colored grain of smokeless powder to assist in the visual identification of a bulk reloading smokeless powder.
Committee
Ignitable Liquids, Explosives & Gunshot Residue
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025.
Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Marker (Dna)
Marker (Dna)
A gene or specific DNA sequence of known location on a chromosome or genome.
Committee
Wildlife Forensic Biology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 047 Wildlife Forensics Validation Standard - Validating New Primers for Sequencing. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2019.
Source link
marker (DNA)
marker (DNA)
A gene or specific DNA sequence of known location on a chromosome; used as a point of reference in the mapping of other loci.
Committee
Wildlife Forensic Biology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 046 Wildlife Forensics Validation Standards—STR Analysis. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2019.
Source link
Masking Odor/Scent
Masking Odor/Scent
The presence of an odor/scent that impedes detection of the target odor/scent source.
Committee
Dogs & Sensors
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ANSI/Academy Standards Board (ASB), Crime Scene/Death Investigation - Dogs and Sensors - Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2017.
Source link
mass spectrometry (MS)
mass spectrometry (MS)
study of matter through the formation of gas-phase ions that are characterized using mass spectrometers by their mass, charge, structure, and/or physicochemical properties
Committee
Forensic Toxicology
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ASB Technical Report 208, Forensic Toxicology: Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2025.
Source link
Mass-To-Charge Ratio
Mass-To-Charge Ratio
The mass of an ion divided by its charge.
Committee
Forensic Toxicology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 098 Standard for Mass Spectral Analysis in Forensic Toxicology. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2023.
Source link
Massively Parallel Sequencing
Massively Parallel Sequencing
One of a number of high throughput DNA sequencing techniques. Also referred to as Next Generation Sequencing (NGS).
Committee
Human Forensic Biology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 131 Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Sequencing using Capillary Electrophoresis. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2021.
Source link
Master Evidence
Master Evidence
the original retrieved data irrespective of media (for example, if the recorded video from the DVR hard drive was downloaded to CD/DVD, that CD/DVD is defined as the master).
Committee
Facial & Iris Identification
Digital Evidence
Video/Imaging Technology & Analysis
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025.
Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Match
Match
The determination that two samples are not distinguishable from each other given available data and/or information. When used in a DNA testing report, a match refers to genetic profiles that show the same types at all loci tested in common; a match statement does not confirm that an individual is the source of the DNA.
Committee
Dogs & Sensors
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ANSI/Academy Standards Board (ASB), Crime Scene/Death Investigation - Dogs and Sensors - Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2017.
Source link
match between ink samples
match between ink samples
The inability to distinguish between ink samples at a given level of analysis. (SWGDOC M01)
Committee
Forensic Document Examination
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ASB Technical Report 071 Forensic Document Examination: Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2025.
Source link
match between samples
match between samples
The inability to distinguish between two or more samples or items at a given level of analysis. (SWGDOC M01)
Committee
Forensic Document Examination
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ASB Technical Report 071 Forensic Document Examination: Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2025.
Source link
Match Factor
Match Factor
A mathematical value that indicates the degree of similarity between an unknown spectrum and a reference spectrum.
Committee
Forensic Toxicology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 113 Standard for Identification Criteria in Forensic Toxicology. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2022.
Source link
Match Factor
Match Factor
A mathematical value that indicates the degree of similarity between an unknown spectrum and a reference spectrum.
Committee
Forensic Toxicology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 098 Standard for Mass Spectral Analysis in Forensic Toxicology. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2023.
Source link
Matching Scent Trail
Matching Scent Trail
A pathway laid by a human subject whose scent matches the scent on the article presented to the canine.
Committee
Dogs & Sensors
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ANSI/Academy Standards Board (ASB), Crime Scene/Death Investigation - Dogs and Sensors - Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2017.
Source link
Matching-To-Sample Mts
Matching-To-Sample Mts
A procedure where upon presentation of a comparison stimulus, an animal chooses the same stimulus amongst an array of stimuli. For example, a canine is presented with scent of Person X and then identifies the scent contributor amongst an array of persons.
Committee
Dogs & Sensors
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ANSI/Academy Standards Board (ASB), Crime Scene/Death Investigation - Dogs and Sensors - Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2017.
Source link
Material First Ignited
Material First Ignited
The fuel that is first set on fire by the heat of ignition; to be meaningful, both a type of material and a form of material should be identified.
Committee
Fire & Explosion Investigation
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
NFPA 921:2021 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA, 2021.
Source link
maternal inheritance
maternal inheritance
Any genetic information passed from the mother to the offspring.
Committee
Wildlife Forensic Biology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 111 Standard for Training in Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Analysis for Taxonomic Identification . AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2020.
Source link
Matrix
Matrix
A specific biological fluid or tissue. Examples include blood, plasma, serum, urine, vitreous fluid, hair, and tissue.
Committee
Forensic Toxicology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 113 Standard for Identification Criteria in Forensic Toxicology. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2022.
Source link
Matrix
Matrix
the physical material, such as burned debris or clothing, which is being tested for ignitable liquids; also known as substrate.
Committee
Ignitable Liquids, Explosives & Gunshot Residue
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025.
Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
matrix
matrix
specific biological fluid (e.g., blood, plasma, serum, urine, oral fluid, vitreous fluid), hair, tissue, or non-human/animal substitute
Committee
Forensic Toxicology
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ASB Technical Report 208, Forensic Toxicology: Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2025.
Source link
Matrix color
Matrix color
dominant or background color component of a soil sample, soil aggregate, ped, clod, or horizon.
Committee
Trace Materials
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025.
Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Mbyte
Mbyte
Megabyte (of digital storage) this normally refers to 1024*1024 (1,048,576) bytes in digital applications thoughothers may intend 1000*1000 or 1,000,000 bytes.
Committee
Speaker Recognition
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
AES 76-2022 AES Standard for Audio Forensics - Speech Collection Guidelines for Speaker Recognition: Interviewing at a Temporary Location. Audio Engineering Society, Inc., 2022.
Source link
Md5
Md5
A widely used cryptographic hash function producing a 16-byte hash value, typically expressed in text format as a32-digit hexadecimal number. MD5 is commonly used to verify data integrity.
Committee
Speaker Recognition
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
AES 76-2022 AES Standard for Audio Forensics - Speech Collection Guidelines for Speaker Recognition: Interviewing at a Temporary Location. Audio Engineering Society, Inc., 2022.
Source link
Meaningful Difference
Meaningful Difference
a feature or property of a sample that does not fall within the variation exhibited by the comparison sample, considering the limitations of the sample or technique, and therefore indicates the two samples do not share a common origin.
Discussion—The use of this term does not imply the formal application of statistics.
Committee
Trace Materials
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025.
Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Meaningful Difference(s)
Meaningful Difference(s)
a feature or property of a sample that does not fall within the variation exhibited by the comparison sample, considering the limitations of the sample or technique, and therefore indicates the two samples do not share a common origin. The use of this term does not imply the formal application of statistics.
Committee
Trace Materials
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025.
Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Measurand
Measurand
Quantity intended to be measured. VIMa
Committee
Firearms & Toolmarks
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 107 Best Practice Recommendation for Measuring Trigger Pull of a Firearm and Estimating Its Uncertainty. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2022.
Source link
Measurand
Measurand
A physical quantity or property which is measured.
Committee
Forensic Odontology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ADA 1077-2020 Human Age Assessment by Dental Analysis. American Dental Association (ADA), 211 East Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL, 60611, 2020.
Source link
Measurand
Measurand
Quantity intended to be measured (see Section 2.3 of International Vocabulary of Metrology (VIM)— Basic and General Concepts and Associated Terms.
Committee
Firearms & Toolmarks
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 060 Guidelines for Barrel and Overall Length Measurements of Firearms . AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2021.
Source link
measurand b
measurand b
Quantity intended to be measured
Committee
Forensic Toxicology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 056 Standard for Evaluation of Measurement Uncertainty in Forensic Toxicology . AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2025.
Source link
Measure
Measure
Make a measurement.
Committee
Interdisciplinary
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ISO/IEC 25040:2011 Systems and software engineering -- Systems and software Quality Requirements and Evaluation (SQuaRE) -- Evaluation process. International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission, Chemin de Blandonnet 8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland, 2011.
Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ISO, copyright International Organization for Standardization, 1214 Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland. A copy of the complete standard may be purchased from ISO, https://www.iso.org/store.html
Measurement Coordinate System
Measurement Coordinate System
System of coordinates that represent the geometry of the measured surface.NOTE If the nominal surface is a plane (or portion of a plane), it is common to use a rectangular coordinatesystem in which the axes form a right-handed Cartesian set, the X-axis being the direction of tracing co-linearwith the mean line, the Y-axis also lying on the nominal surface, and the Z-axis being in an outward direction(from the material to the surrounding medium).
Committee
Firearms & Toolmarks
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 061 Firearms and Toolmarks 3D Measurement Systems and Measurement Quality Control. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2021.
Source link
measurement standard b(Mod)
measurement standard b(Mod)
Reference, with a stated value and associated measurement uncertainty, used to calibrate or verify measuring instruments or measuring systems
Committee
Forensic Toxicology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 056 Standard for Evaluation of Measurement Uncertainty in Forensic Toxicology . AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2025.
Source link
Measurement Uncertainty
Measurement Uncertainty
non-negative parameter characterizing the dispersion of the quantity values being attributed to a measurand, based on the information used (also uncertainty of measurement, uncertainty.)
Discussion—Measurement uncertainty includes components arising from systematic effects, such as components associated with corrections and the assigned quantity values of measurement standards, as well as the definitional uncertainty. Sometimes estimated systematic effects are not corrected for but, instead, associated measurement uncertainty components are incorporated. The parameter may be, for example, a standard deviation called standard measurement uncertainty (or a specified multiple of it), or the half-width of an interval, having a stated coverage probability. Measurement uncertainty comprises, in general, many components. Some of these may be evaluated by Type A evaluation of measurement uncertainty from the statistical distribution of the quantity values from series of measurements and can be characterized by standard deviations. The other components, which may be evaluated by Type B evaluation of measurement uncertainty, can also be characterized by standard deviations, evaluated from probability density functions based on experience or other information. In general, for a given set of information, it is understood that the measurement uncertainty is associated with a stated quantity value attributed to the measurand. A modification of this value results in a modification of the associated uncertainty.
Committee
Interdisciplinary
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025.
Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
measurement uncertainty (uncertainty of measurement)
measurement uncertainty (uncertainty of measurement)
estimate of the potential variability of a quantitative measurement based on the information known about the measurand and the measurement me
Committee
Forensic Toxicology
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ASB Technical Report 208, Forensic Toxicology: Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2025.
Source link
Measuring Aperture
Measuring Aperture
element in the optical path of a MSP system that limits the area of illumination reaching the detector focal plane.
Committee
Trace Materials
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025.
Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Media Characterization
Media Characterization
the process of inspecting, identifying, and noting the properties of media.
Committee
Facial & Iris Identification
Digital Evidence
Video/Imaging Technology & Analysis
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025.
Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org