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.
The presentation of a desired or preferred article, toy, food, or praise given to the canine once the detector canine has alerted and responded to the odor(s)/scent(s) for which the canine is trained to detect/locate.
Red, Green, Blue used to represent color pixels comprised of a specified number of bitsto represent each of these primary color components.
Row of continuous rubber or disconnected tire tread blocks that run circumferentially around a tire to form the tread pattern, further distinguished as center, intermediate, or shoulder ribs.
A raised portion of the epidermis on the palmar or plantar skin, consisting of one or moreconnected ridge units of friction ridge skin.
A section of a ridge that connects two minutiae; a single non-intersecting portion of askeletonized image.
See skeletonized image.
a procedure for carrying out a crystal-structure refinement using X-ray or neutron powder diffraction data, in which an entire powder pattern is simulated for a trial structure(s) and matched against the observed powder pattern; atomic parameters and other variables are modified to achieve an acceptable fit between the calculated and observed powder patterns (adapted from Ref (1)).
The Resource Interchange File Format is a generic file container format that issometimes used in audio and video recordings. The most common implementation ofRIFF is WAV, which uses the file extension '.wav'
The Resource Interchange File Format is a generic file container format which can be used to store audio data.
The diameter of the rim that supports the tire bead and is expressed in inches, such as 13', 16', 16.5' etc.
The degree of peril; the possible harm that might occur that is represented by the statistical probability or quantitative estimate of the frequency or severity of injury or loss.
An uncertain event or condition that, if it occurs, has a negative effect on a softwares reliability and performance.
A systematic process for deciding the risk level associated with a particular software or module.
A commercial device for measuring foot length and width.
Experiments performed to measure the capability of a procedure to remain unaffected by small but deliberate variations in method parameters and provide an indication of reliability during normal usage.
Long, thin crystals with squared off ends.
Long, thin crystals with squared off ends
Region of interest.
In facial identification, an intrinsic rotation of the head about a horizontal front-to-back (sagittal) axis measured in degrees. DISCUSSIONFrontal poses have a roll angle of 0. Positive angles represent faces tilted toward their right shoulder (counter-clockwise rotation around the axis). A roll angle of 0 denotes that the left and right eye centers have identical vertical coordinates. The roll axis is typically defined as the Z-axis (positive forward).
In facial identification, an intrinsic rotation of the head about a horizontal front-to-back (sagittal) axis measured in degrees
A fingerprint image collected by rolling the finger across a livescan platen or paperfingerprint card from nail to nail. Rolls may be from livescan devices or scanned frompaper fingerprint cards.
A seven-mil Estar film base material designed to wet rollers and pick up loose particles on all types of roller transport photo-processing machines used along with fingerprint powder to produce known impressions of footwear and tires.
A commercial product, which is a seven-mil Estar film base material designed to wet rollers andpick up loose particles on all types of roller transport photo-processing machines used along withfingerprint powder to produce known impressions of footwear and tires.
The linear distance traveled by a tire in one revolution under load.
The linear distance traveled by a tire in one revolution under load.
See flameover.
The structure that anchors a hair to a follicle and from which cells divide and produce the hair shaft. DiscussionThe portion of follicular tissue surrounding a root structure is the sheath.
the structure that anchors a hair to a follicle and from which cells divide and produce the hair shaft.
Discussion—The portion of follicular tissue surrounding a root structure is the sheath.
a compact and flexible, torsionally balanced structure produced from strands which are laid, plaited, or braided together to produce a product which serves to transmit a tensile force between two points.
A compact and flexible, torsionally balanced structure produced from strands which are laid, plaited, or braided together to produce a product which serves to transmit a tensile force between two points
Canine training conducted with regularity that maintains the canine's operational capabilities.
Canine training conducted with regularity that maintains the canine's operational capabilities.
In forensic audio and video analysis, device or software or both used to direct the path of one or more signals into one or more devices. (Compare produc- tion switcher.)
In forensic audio and video analysis, device or software or both used to direct the path of one or more signals into one or more devices. (Compare production switcher.)
A document providing comprehensive information about a substance or mixture for using in workplace chemical management as adopted by the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). Note: Previously known as a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).
A document providing comprehensive information about a substance or mixture for using in workplace chemical management as adopted by the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). NOTE Previously known as a material safety data sheet (MSDS).
A water-proof, coated, thread-wrapped cord with a black powder core designed to be used to initiate a non-electric blasting cap. DISCUSSION: Safety fuse is larger in diameter than hobby or pyrotechnic fuse; has higher quality construction; and has better reproducibility in timing (distance burned per second).
An action by the handler, canine or canine team that if done in operational environment, could place the canine team in jeopardy.
A group of items, test results or portions of material, taken from a large collection of items, test results or portions of material, that serves to provide information that may be used as a basis for making a decision concerning the larger collection.
Subset of a population made up of one or more sampling units
A representative portion of the specimen selected and prepared for analysis that is expected to exhibit all of the elemental characteristics of the parent specimen.
A representative portion of the specimen selected and prepared for analysis that is expected to exhibit all of the elemental characteristics of the parent specimen.
Obtain the values of a function for regularly or irregularly spaced distinct values fromits domain. From: ISO 2382-2:1976.
Only within this guide, sample or specimen smaller than approximately 0.2 mm
Only within this guide, sample or specimen whose greatest dimension is less than approximately 50 m
Sample or specimen larger than approximately 0.2 mm
Sample preparation method using progressively finer abrasives to achieve a flat, smooth sample surface
Totality of items under consideration
A collection of hairs from a specific somatic region that reflects the range of characteris tics of a persons hair in that area.
For the purposes of this guide, the following terms are used to describe sample size with the actual size demarcation between each being somewhat arbitrary