Standardization News

A proposed new ASTM International standard will provide a framework for the general public to understand terminology used by forensic professionals in the examination of digital and multimedia evidence.

WK27106, Terminology for Digital and Multimedia Evidence Examination, is being developed by Subcommittee E30.12 on Digital and Multimedia Evidence, part of ASTM International Committee E30 on Forensic Sciences.

WK27106 will be a compilation of terms and definitions from the areas of computer forensics, image analysis, video analysis, forensic audio and facial identification. Among the terms to be defined in the proposed standard are digital forensics, photogrammetry and steganography. The standard will formalize the glossary of terminology prepared jointly by the Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence, the Scientific Working Group on Imaging Technology and the Facial Identification Scientific Working Group.

"The scientific working groups had established glossaries for their best practices and now WK27106 will formalize them," says Rhesa Gilliland, assistant laboratory director, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and chairman of E30.12. "Individuals performing this type of analysis will now have a standard to reference in their casework and when testifying in court."

All interested parties are encouraged to join in the standards developing activities of E30.12. Those who are currently involved with forensic examinations, electronic discovery work and legal actions that involve digital and multimedia evidence are especially welcome.

"E30.12 is a small subcommittee but growing," says Gilliland. "Digital and multimedia is the newest area of forensic science and it covers a very diverse and changing field."

CONTACT Technical Information: Rhesa G. Gilliland, U.S. Postal Inspection Service • Dulles, Va. • Phone: 703-406-7150 | ASTM Staff: Robert Morgan • Phone: 610-832-9732